Spooktober: The Only Good Indians – Guilt, Revenge, and Legacy in an Indigenous Horror

It’s a little late, but my last Spooktober book read was The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. Not gonna lie, I’m a little torn on this book. It’s decently scary, has gory scenes, and the big monster is GREAT. What I don’t like is gratuitous death, especially fridging. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not approaching a horror book and saying “Why is there death here?”

What I’m saying is that I don’t particularly like when ancillary characters are killed to either accelerate the plot or drive the character in some way, ESPECIALLY if they’re women. I had a real problem with the 3rd and 4th deaths in this book. Those deaths happen ONLY to drive another character forward toward HIS end. It didn’t sit well and kind of came off as being traumatic for trauma’s sake.

That being said, if you’re a horror fan, there’s a lot in here to love. The atmosphere is powerful, the imagery lingers in your mind, and the big bad gives you a creeping sense of dread. The Only Good Indians is worth a look, but read with caution if you’re sensitive to triggering imagery.

8/10 spookies.