The Pumpkin Seed Massacre

Written by Susan Slater

Narrated by James C. Jones

Tony Hillerman called it a gripping novel. Booklist says this is a series to watch. Start reading award-winning author Susan Slater's original series right here, from the beginning.

Native American psychologist Ben Pecos has returned to the New Mexico pueblo of his birth as an intern with the Indian Health Service. Still struggling with the demons of his past, he is plunged into the nightmare rampage of a mysterious illness that is killing the residents of the pueblo, including his own grandmother.

One of the victims, the powerful tribal governor, had made powerful enemies, and Ben suspects his murder was premeditated—but that doesn't explain the insidious killer now stalking the innocent. Undaunted, Ben digs deep into the motives of power and greed to root out a killer whose deadly agenda is spiraling out of control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
• Release date: Apr 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781649140869

Susan Slater

Kansas native Susan Slater lived in New Mexico for thirty-nine years and uses this enchanting Southwest setting for most of her mystery novels. Her Ben Pecos series reflects her extensive knowledge of the area and Native American tribal ways. As an educator, she directed the Six Sandoval Teacher Education Program for the All Indian Pueblo Council through the University of New Mexico. She taught creative writing for UNM and the University of Phoenix.The first in this highly acclaimed series, The Pumpkin Seed Massacre, reached Germany’s bestseller list shortly after its initial publication as a German translation. Original print versions of the first three titles were outstandingly reviewed in nationwide major media.In July, 2009, Susan made her first foray into women’s fiction with 0 to 60, a zany, all too true-to-life story of a woman dumped, and the book was immediately optioned by Hollywood.Late 2017 and 2018 brings a new era to Susan’s storytelling. Secret Staircase Books is releasing newly edited versions of her entire Ben Pecos series in paperback, and brings the series to a whole new set of readers for the first time in all e-book formats.Now residing in Florida with her menagerie of dogs and canaries, Susan writes full time and stays busy in community theatre and other volunteer projects. Contact her by email: [e-mail]

Reviews for The Pumpkin Seed Massacre

[kindleifier · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in a New Mexico pueblo, this novel gives an interesting view of Native American customs and beliefs. I picked it up largely because of the recommendation by Tony Hillerman whose Navaho stories I find totally fascinating. The plot focuses on a series of sudden deaths among elderly members of the tribe, including the grandmother of the leading character, Ben Pecos. Ben is a psychologist serving an internship at the local Indian health centre, returning after many years to the place of his birth, and uncertain whether he wants to stay there. He becomes involved in the search for the source of the deaths. I’m not clear how a psychologist fits into the situation- that part of his background doesn’t enter into the story at all.I found it interesting, but not gripping, The characters did not come to life for me, except for one minor character, a very old man who is unable to communicate verbally, but is nevertheless endearing.