- Date Published:
2025 - Length:
448 pages—Listening Time: 15 hr 29 minutes - Genre:
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror - Setting:
1912 Montana, Blackfeet Reservation; 2012-3, Wyoming and Montana - Awards:
LibraryReads Monthly Pick Hall of Fame, March 2025; New York Times Best Seller, April 2025
This book was released in March 2025. I predict it will win many other awards. - Language:
English, Latin - Sensitive Aspects:
Graphic violence and horror, child death, animal cruelty, genocide and massacre, racism, colonization, rape, sexual assault, religious trauma, moral dilemma, suicidal thoughts - Movie:
As of June 2025, there is no publicly announced movie or film adaptation deal for The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. - Recommend for Book Club:
Yes, if your group can stand a little gore, this book is an excellent genre-bending read
Imagine, if you will, that Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove) and Ann Rice (Interview With a Vampire) collaborated on a book project. The final manuscript might look a lot like The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. I don't normally get into books with a lot of blood, guts, and gore, but I really enjoyed this read because it is so much more than just a horror novel.
Before I start a book by an author unknown to me, I always look them up online to see what they look like. After that, I try to learn as much as I can about their life stories, literary careers, etc. I am giving the author my time, after all, and that is precious. I was taken aback by Jones. To begin, he, like me, was born and raised in the Lone Star State and earned his master's degree from North Texas State, where I did graduate work, and his undergraduate degree at Texas Tech. Second, he has written for Marvel Comics and published a plethora of novels. He's won many awards for his work, and I predict that The Buffalo Hunter Hunter will follow suit.
Although this book has been touted as a western vampire story, I'm not sure I agree. I found the main character of Good Stab to be more of an anti-hero than a full-fledged blood-sucking vampire. Yes, he existed through the blood of his prey. Yes, he could shapeshift and appear from nowhere, but he was more of a revenge agent than a full-fledged Lestat type of vampire. Lestat killed for pleasure. Good Stab killed for revenge. He was a villain with a conscience and serves as a representation of the Native American population, particularly the Blackfeet peoples. And trust me, you don't want to get on the bad side of Stephen Graham Jones. This man knows revenge. He compels the reader to immerse themselves in the graphic atrocities perpetrated by white men against the Blackfoot Confederacy as seen through the eyes of the Native American victims. This story blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction.
The book's depth arises from its brutality, gore, and blood, which make it difficult to read; however, the violence is what constitutes the genius of the work. You will never forget this book. You will never forget what happened to the Blackfeet in Montana. Jones sees to that.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is a historical horror novel set in the American West, blending supernatural elements with real historical trauma. The narrative is framed by the discovery, in 2012, of a century-old diary hidden in a church wall. This journal, written by Arthur Beaucarne—a Lutheran pastor in early 1900s Montana—becomes the foundation for the story, which is also bookended by the voice of Etsy Beaucarne, Arthur’s great-great-granddaughter, who seeks to understand her family’s dark legacy.
At the heart of the novel is Good Stab, a Blackfeet man who, after a violent encounter with a monstrous figure known as the Cat Man, is cursed to survive only by drinking blood. Good Stab recounts his life and transformation to Arthur through a series of confessional interviews. As a revenant, he haunts the land, witnessing the devastation wrought by white buffalo hunters and the U.S. Army, particularly in the aftermath of real-life atrocities like the Marias Massacre of 1870, in which over 200 Piegan Blackfeet, mostly women, children, and the elderly, were killed by U.S. troops.
Good Stab’s story is one of revenge and survival, as he seeks retribution against those responsible forthe violence suffering of his people. The narrative is not just a supernatural horror tale but also an exploration of trauma, guilt, and the cyclical nature of violence. Arthur, initially a skeptical observer, becomes increasingly entangled in Good Stab’s dark world, his faith and sense of self unraveling as he bears witness to the horrors described.
The complex structure of the novel shifts between multiple timelines and perspectives, conveyed through found documents and fragmented testimony. By the end, Etsy inherits the burden of her family’s past, not through supernatural means but through the knowledge and confrontation with history. Her actions—destroying Arthur’s journal and confronting the monstrous legacy—suggest a desire to break the cycle of violence and trauma, though the story leaves open the question of whether such cycles can ever truly be ended.
Overall, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a gripping, visceral horror novel that uses supernatural horror as a lens to examine the enduring impact of historical violence and the struggle for redemption.
You should read The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones because it is a unique and masterful blend of horror, historical fiction, and supernatural revenge, set against the brutal realities of the American West and the legacy of colonialism.
Here are key reasons to pick up this novel:
Genre-Bending Storytelling
The book defies simple categorization, merging elements of western, horror, and fantasy. It centers on the violenceackfoot man, Good Stab, who becomes a vampire and seeks vengeance against those responsible for the devastation of his people and the buffalo.
Historical Depth and Reckoning
The story is rooted in real historical atrocities, particularly the Marias Massacre of 1870, where over 200 Blackfeet people—mostly women, children, and the elderly—were killed by the US Army. The novel confronts the violence of colonization and the erasure of Native American histories, making it both a powerful and necessary read.
Complex Narrative Structure
The novel is told through a discovered diary from 1912, written by a Lutheran pastor who transcribes Good Stab’s confessions. This frame narrative, combined with multiple perspectives, creates a layered and immersive experience that feels voyeuristic and intimate.
Rich Prose and Emotional Impact
Jones’s writing is praised for its vivid descriptions, emotional depth, and ability to blend horror with moments of humor and poignancy. The prose is both beautiful and unsettling, drawing readers into the protagonist’s suffering and the dark truths of the American West.
Exploration of Identity and Justice
The book is not just about revenge; it explores themes of identity, trauma, and the cost of seeking justice in a world shaped by violence. It asks difficult questions about who gets to tell history and what it means to become monstrous in the face of injustice.
Critical Acclaim
The novel is widely regarded as one of Stephen Graham Jones’s best works, with critics and readers alike highlighting its originality, emotional power, and importance within the horror and literary fiction genres.
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a challenging, thought-provoking, and unforgettable read that will last a lifetime, especially if you appreciate stories that blend historical truth with supernatural horror and deep moral questions.
Get Stephen Graham Jones Books
Brilliant blend of raw historical events and horror.
Bookshop.org was created as a socially conscious alternative to Amazon, with the goal of helping local, independent bookstores thrive. This is why Readers With Wrinkles supports their efforts. Please join us in this effort by purchasing your next read here.
If you enjoyed The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones—a novel that blends historical fiction, horror, and Indigenous perspectives, set against the backdrop of the American West and the Marias Massacre—there are several compelling books and authors you might appreciate. These recommendations focus on similar themes, settings, and narrative styles.
Other Works by Stephen Graham Jones
- The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
A highly acclaimed horror novel that, like The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, deals with Indigenous identity, trauma, and supernatural revenge. Its immersive storytelling and cultural depth make it a standout read for fans of Jones’ work. - I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Blends horror with introspective commentary, offering a unique narrative voice and emotional resonance. - My Heart Is a Chainsaw and the Indian Lake Trilogy by Stephen Graham Jones
These books are slasher horror with strong character development and social commentary, though less focused on historical settings. - Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones
A werewolf novel with themes of family and survival, offering a fresh take on classic horror tropes. - Earthdivers (graphic novel series) by Stephen Graham Jones
A time-traveling Indigenous sci-fi slasher that reimagines history and explores justice and survival.
Books by Other Authors with Similar Themes
- Black Hills by Dan Simmons
A historical novel set during the colonization of the American West, blending historical events with supernatural elements. - The Hunger by Alma Katsu
A horror novel inspired by the Donner Party tragedy, featuring supernatural horror and historical detail. - Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Set in the American West (circa 1915), this novel features a mysterious, supernatural element and explores themes of survival and justice. - The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
A historical horror novel set in the Jim Crow era, exploring both natural and supernatural horrors. - Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
A novella that blends horror with Indigenous identity and family trauma. - When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
Explores horror and identity, though with less historical focus. - In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson
A horror western with a supernatural edge.
Short Story Collections: Stephen Graham Jones’ After the People Lights Have Gone Off is highly recommended for fans of his horror style.
Comments