“As the Greeks used to say at the dawn of rational thought, each step to avoid your fate is but a step closer to it.”
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is horror novel with historical fiction vibes. The message of the story is what comes around goes around or as the kids like to say these days F.A.F.O. What begins in present day transports us through time to the early 1900’s where we meet our protagonist Arthur Beaucarne who’s a pastor at the church in Miles City, Montana.
Arthur, who loves to over-eat his desserts (can’t say I blame him) tells us by way of his logbook (more like a diary) of the confessions of one of his strange parishioners, a Native American by the name of ‘Good Stab’. Good Stab goes through his life story explaining many things to Arthur in his interesting way of speaking half-broken English. I actually had to use some reference material to understand exactly what he was talking about at first, but after a while you just get the gist.
Through Good Stab’s storytelling we learn that he has a strange affliction that causes him to be unable to eat actual food, and instead he is reduced to drinking the blood of his victims – siphoning that blood through his teeth – which I found fascinating.
The chapters go back and forth, some coming from the POV of Good Stab, and some coming from the POV of Arthur. We learn a little more about each of these characters as we read along. The character work in The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is extremely believable and Graham Jones does a fantastic job of immersing the reader in the world. The visual descriptions of the scenes were SO lifelike that I felt like I was watching the movie play out in my head. Speaking of that, I really hope to see this adapted as a movie one day, I think it would be a total hit!
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter was the Literal Dad Book Club pick for October 2025. Join us on Fable to help decide what to read next!
Overall, I think the book was really well done. The dynamic between the Cat Man and Good Stab was a little odd and the ending of that relationship was less interesting than what I imagined. I also feel like the ending came on quick and there could have been less and more at the same time. For instance, the sections where Etsy was talking to the ‘recorder’ and made a point of letting us know she was talking to the recorder was a little odd.
I also feel like the end leaves some questions, which I think is the intent. Is Good Stab done with Etsy? Will he be back? I guess we will have to wait and see?
Again, the writing was incredible. There are numerous quotes I would like to include but it’s hard to pick my favorites. so I’ll leave you with this.
“My blood is not Lamb’s blood, to wash away sin, but ink, to trace that sin out letter by letter, and so leave it farther and farther behind this nib”
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