The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

Book Description

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.

Review

Every once in a while, I pick up a book purely because the premise makes me pause. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones did just that. Set in a world where the mythic and mundane blur, the novel unfolds in an epistolary format that I found both bold and fascinating.

The format of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a bit of a literary experiment, like The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

In his novel, Jones uses letters, journal entries, voice recordings, and other documents to pull us through the story. It makes the experience intimate and slightly voyeuristic, but in the best way. There’s something incredibly immersive about learning a story the same way you might uncover a secret: piece by piece.

But while I appreciated the innovation, I struggled a bit with the perspective shifts between the three main characters. Each had a distinct voice. But at times, the rotation pulled me out of the emotional momentum just as I was getting attached to a character’s perspective.

That said, the central mystery and speculative elements held my attention. Moreover, the book raised thought-provoking questions about identity, storytelling, and the nature of truth. Even though the shifting viewpoints kept me from fully settling in, I admire what Jones attempted to do.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a haunting, ambitious, literary work. It transcends its horror trappings to confront historical truths.

It’s not light reading. But for those drawn to layered narratives or gothic Americana, it’s astonishing. That said, it’s a book that will probably most resonate with readers who enjoy myth, contrasting philosophies, and experimental narrative structures. If you’re looking for a story that shakes up the genre, and you enjoy unconventional storytelling, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is worth a read.

Content Warning

Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty (graphic), Animal death (graphic), Body horror, Cannibalism, Child death, Child rape (on-page), Classism, Decapitation, Dismemberment, Fire and burn injuries, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault (on-page), Self-harm, Stalking, Suicide ideation, Torture (graphic), War

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Elijah Pilchard on Unsplash