Broken Criminal Justice System
In the reservations, most crimes are handled by the tribal council and serious criminal offenses are taken by federal agencies. Too many felonies are taking place in Rosebud Indian Reservation and are left unsolved by the justice system. This is where the protagonist Virgil Wounded Horse comes in, as he is the local enforcer administering justice off the books. With this in mind, the novel aims to tackle the broken criminal justice system that sees the government disregard the violent crimes in the reservations. The statistics show violent crimes such as rape and homicide increasing in the communities and the federal agency not prosecuting offenders. The narrative explores this flaw in the justice system that the protagonist is working to correct but then again, he is a one-man army.
Drug Epidemic
The menace that is drug abuse is the crux of the narrative, in this case, the heroin and opioid epidemic that is sweeping across the reservation. Virgil ups the ante after his nephew is caught in the middle of a drug ring, who is among the peddlers selling drugs in the community. The novel dives into the drug epidemic that has grown rampant in the reservations and taking over the lives of the youth. The main conflict involves Virgil going on a sole mission to save his nephew from the claws of the Mexican cartels and a street gang. Moreover, the narrative touches on alcoholism among the Natives which ties into the theme of addiction at the core.
Identity
While the novel is a crime thriller, it focuses largely on the marginalization of Native Americans through history. The neglect and mistreatment of the Natives are put on full display in view of racial dynamics in American society. However, the discrimination that Virgil experiences is among his own people since he is half-native and half-white. As such, this character falls victim to the elitism within the reservation which fosters an internal conflict that hounds him through his journey. Though the community problems become his main agenda, Virgil grapples with his Native identity in part due to prejudice and discrimination. He attempts to find meaning in his vigilantism that gives him the sense of purpose and belonging he craves.
