Passing Through a Prairie Country
A Novel
$37.40
- Paperback
272 pages
- Release Date
14 April 2026
Summary
A darkly humorous thriller about the ghosts that haunt the temples of excess we call casinos, and the people caught in their high-stakes, low-odds web
For decades, a dark force has terrorized the Languille Lake reservation. Spoken of only in whispers as “the sandman,” he lurks in the Hidden Atlantis Lake Resort and Casino, the reservation’s main attraction and source of revenue, leeching its patrons’ dreams and preventing the ghosts that linger there from moving on. Fleeing a breakup,…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781640097636 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1640097635 |
| Author: | Dennis E. Staples |
| Publisher: | Counterpoint |
| Imprint: | Counterpoint |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 272 |
| Release Date: | 14 April 2026 |
| Weight: | 369g |
| Dimensions: | 139mm x 209mm |
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Critics Review
Ms., A March Must Read
LGBTQ+ Reads, A Most Anticipated Book
“Wooziness pervades Passing Through a Prairie Country, in which Marion escapes the clutches of a malevolent figure known as the Sandman and—with help from cousins Alana and Cherie—is drawn into a battle between good and evil, partially fought between slot machines and blackjack tables.” —Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
“In this novel he smoothly combines a ghost story with life on the reservation and Indian-owned casinos in a lively and a-lot-of-fun story set among all the flashing lights, bells and whistles in a busy casino in northern Minnesota … Staples […] gives us a creepy and fast-paced story that details the workings of a well-run casino and the spirits of those who have been there in life. A great summer read.” —Mary Ann Grossman, Twin Cities Pioneer-Press
“Ojibwe writer Dennis E. Staples’ blend of suspense, comedy and thrills is perfect for fans of Reservation Dogs and Stephen Graham Jones.” —Lizz Schumer, People
“Illuminates how a community attempts to cope with ancestral trauma. This is worth a look.” —Publishers Weekly
“The sense of timelessness and multiple points of view add to the novel’s chaotic suspense, giving readers the impression they’re trapped in an episode of Twin Peaks. This is a quick and unique read sure to appeal to thriller fans who also enjoy gothic horror.” —Booklist
“Taking readers on a journey through the lavish Hidden Atlantis Casino, where no clocks hang on the walls, to the timeless realm of mysterious and death-dealing spirits, Dennis E. Staples delivers an otherworldly story that’s haunting, darkly humorous, and chock full of fascinating Native lore.” —Nick Medina, author of Indian Burial Ground
Dennis E. Staples
Dennis E. Staples is an Ojibwe writer from Bemidji, Minnesota, and the author of This Town Sleeps. He holds an MFA in fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts and is a graduate of the 2018 Clarion West Writers Workshop and a recipient of the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship. His work has appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction and Nightmare magazine. He is a member of the Red Lake Nation.
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