Winter Counts
books by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

A groundbreaking thriller about a vigilante on a Native American reservation who embarks on a dangerous mission to track down the source of a heroin influx. Virgil Wounded Horse is the local enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. When justice is denied by the American legal system or the tribal council, Virgil is hired to deliver his own punishment, the kind that’s hard to forget. But when heroin makes its way into the reservation and finds Virgil’s nephew, his vigilantism suddenly becomes personal. He enlists the help of his ex-girlfriend and sets out to learn where the drugs are coming from, and how to make them stop.They follow a lead to Denver and find that drug cartels are rapidly expanding and forming new and terrifying alliances. And back on the reservation,... The narrative encourages readers to remain attentive by offering subtle connections between events. Small details introduced earlier often gain significance later in the story. This sense of continuity rewards careful reading and enhances satisfaction. The author shows restraint in the use of dramatic elements, choosing instead to focus on authenticity. Conflicts are grounded in realistic motivations, and resolutions feel proportional to the challenges presented. This grounded approach adds credibility to the narrative.