I worry about books in dialect. The characters' language (or is it a pidgin) sounds Yoda-ish in its structure but more primitive in its concepts. Reviewers have said Bowen captures the language as spoken. I'll give it a pass.
The book sympathizes with the Metis, the speakers of this language, the offspring of centuries-old couplings of French and then later English with the women of peoples inhabiting the northlands for centuries (or millennia). But that gives us white bread readers some spice you cannot find in the suburbs.
The story wanders through the Metis culture (I like that), through the homes and bars, through the killings, not quite knowing where to go. Characters are most important in the book; the land next; plot comes in a long third.
One bone to pick: To make retribution from the past acceptable, Bowen had to create some despicable characters (I didn't like that.). So bad the readers are happy when they die. I like my villains only moderately evil, like me. ( )

It is too bad main stream book stores don't find the value in this kind of story telling anymore. You won't go wrong with any of the books in this long running life story of Gabrial Du Pre and friends ( )

Protagonist: Gabriel Du Pré
Setting: present-day Toussaint, Montana
Series: #6

First Line: Du Pré and Madelaine stood at the back of the crowd.

Sociopath Larry Messmer has returned to Toussaint, Montana, to take over the ranch his parents left him after their deaths in a tragic accident. Long despised and feared by residents for his cruelty, Messmer appears to be part of an organization intent on setting up some nefarious business on the ranch. At the request of a friend in the FBI, Du Pré begins looking into the matter and discovers a long history of violence and murder. When Messmer himself is slain, however, his associates think Du Pré is responsible, and he becomes the target of their revenge.

Bowen's minimalist, lyrical style suits me right down to the ground. So do his characters. I always feel as if I'm riding with the wild crowd when I read Bowen. These are people living in a starkly beautiful and unforgiving landscape who don't care about being politically correct but always seem to stand by their principles and do the right thing. Whenever I immerse myself in the world of Gabriel Du Pré, I get a craving for pink wine and start tapping my foot to the cry of Gabriel's infectious fiddle. ( )