Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and competitions right to your inbox.
Table of Contents
About The Book
From the multi-award-winning author of Winter Counts comes an unforgettable thriller about life – and death – on the Rosebud Native American Reservation.
‘A tour de force!’ S.A COSBY
Virgil Wounded Horse is trying to leave behind his past as a hired enforcer. But when a revered figure on the reservation is found murdered, he is drawn back into a world he thought he’d escaped.
As tensions rise, threats emerge from all sides: a ruthless gang from a neighbouring reservation looking to expand their reach, and a powerful politician determined to tighten his grip at any cost. With a heated tribal council election looming and long-buried truths regarding past injustices at the local Native boarding school coming to light, the pressure mounts.
For Virgil, the search for justice becomes ever more urgent – and more dangerous. Because on Rosebud, the past is never truly gone, and every answer comes with a price.
David Heska Wanbli Weiden delivers a powerful, atmospheric thriller that is not only a compelling story of justice, identity and the weight of the past, but also a vivid portrait of contemporary Native American life.
PRAISE FOR WISDOM CORNER:
‘If you want the real picture of what it is to be Native American today, read David Weiden. It’s a rare ability to entertain and enlighten at the same time, and Weiden is a master at it’ WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, author of APOSTLE'S COVE
‘A propulsive, tightly plotted thriller, but through Virgil’s eyes, it is also a subtle and thoughtful exploration of legal, political, and social inequities at a time when art is one of the few ways to widen people’s life experiences’ ALAFAIR BURKE, New York Times bestselling author of THE NOTE
PRAISE FOR WINTER COUNTS:
'Harrowing and heartfelt, assured and highly accomplished. One of the standout thrillers of the year' CHRIS WHITAKER
'An incredible novel . . . where hope and heartbreak are found in equal measure' S. A. COSBY
‘As stunning a debut as I’ve read in a long time' MARK BILLINGHAM
'Eye-opening, enlightening and entertaining, it's one hell of a good read!' AMER ANWAR
‘A tour de force!’ S.A COSBY
Virgil Wounded Horse is trying to leave behind his past as a hired enforcer. But when a revered figure on the reservation is found murdered, he is drawn back into a world he thought he’d escaped.
As tensions rise, threats emerge from all sides: a ruthless gang from a neighbouring reservation looking to expand their reach, and a powerful politician determined to tighten his grip at any cost. With a heated tribal council election looming and long-buried truths regarding past injustices at the local Native boarding school coming to light, the pressure mounts.
For Virgil, the search for justice becomes ever more urgent – and more dangerous. Because on Rosebud, the past is never truly gone, and every answer comes with a price.
David Heska Wanbli Weiden delivers a powerful, atmospheric thriller that is not only a compelling story of justice, identity and the weight of the past, but also a vivid portrait of contemporary Native American life.
PRAISE FOR WISDOM CORNER:
‘If you want the real picture of what it is to be Native American today, read David Weiden. It’s a rare ability to entertain and enlighten at the same time, and Weiden is a master at it’ WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, author of APOSTLE'S COVE
‘A propulsive, tightly plotted thriller, but through Virgil’s eyes, it is also a subtle and thoughtful exploration of legal, political, and social inequities at a time when art is one of the few ways to widen people’s life experiences’ ALAFAIR BURKE, New York Times bestselling author of THE NOTE
PRAISE FOR WINTER COUNTS:
'Harrowing and heartfelt, assured and highly accomplished. One of the standout thrillers of the year' CHRIS WHITAKER
'An incredible novel . . . where hope and heartbreak are found in equal measure' S. A. COSBY
‘As stunning a debut as I’ve read in a long time' MARK BILLINGHAM
'Eye-opening, enlightening and entertaining, it's one hell of a good read!' AMER ANWAR
About The Author
(c) Aslan Chalom
David Heska Wanbli Weiden is an enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and received his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. He was a MacDowell Fellow, a Tin House Scholar and the recipient of PEN America’s Writing for Justice Fellowship. A lawyer and professor, he lives in Denver, Colorado, with his family.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (July 16, 2026)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781398509351
Raves and Reviews
PRAISE FOR WISDOM CORNER:
‘If you want the real picture of what it is to be Native American today, read David Weiden. It’s a rare ability to entertain and enlighten at the same time, and Weiden is a master at it’ WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER, author of APOSTLE'S COVE
‘A propulsive, tightly plotted thriller, but through Virgil’s eyes, it is also a subtle and thoughtful exploration of legal, political, and social inequities at a time when art is one of the few ways to widen people’s life experiences’ ALAFAIR BURKE, New York Times bestselling author of THE NOTE
PRAISE FOR WINTER COUNTS:
'Harrowing and heartfelt, assured and highly accomplished. One of the standout thrillers of the year' CHRIS WHITAKER
'An incredible novel . . . where hope and heartbreak are found in equal measure' S. A. COSBY
‘As stunning a debut as I’ve read in a long time' MARK BILLINGHAM
'[David Heska Wanbli Weiden's writing] melds the gritty realism of Dashiell Hammett with the lyricism of Tommy Orange’ THE OPRAH MAGAZINE
'A terrific debut – tight and tense, hard-eyed and big-hearted' LOU BERNEY
'Eye-opening, enlightening and entertaining, it's one hell of a good read!' AMER ANWAR
'Enthralling from the first page to the last, this is a heartfelt and harrowing tour de force' JON COATES, S MAGAZINE
'Virtuoso fare' FINANCIAL TIMES, BEST CRIME BOOKS OF THE YEAR
'A fascinating insight into an often overlooked world, and draws the reader into a satisfying mystery' GUARDIAN, CRIME AND THRILLER PICKS OF THE YEAR
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): Wisdom Corner
eBook 9781398509351
-
Author Photo (jpg): David Heska Wanbli Weiden (c) Aslan Chalom(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
