La description

When Ralph Thomas, an Indigenous policeman, comes across graffiti of a horse in an alleyway, he is stopped in his tracks. A half-asleep Indigenous homeless man sees Ralph’s reaction and over a hot coffee on a bitterly cold day, Ralph relates a troubling moment from his childhood on when an odd little girl, Danielle, drew the same horse, a most beautiful and intriguing horse, and then disappeared. His questions about the horse and the artist have never left him.

Récompenses

  • Nominated, One Book One Aurora 2021
  • Nominated, Forest of Reading -Evergreen Awards 2020
  • Winner, PMC Indigenous Literature Award 2020

Reviews

"Drew has given us a grand mystery, a riddle, a gift. Every page was turned with growing wonder. I will be thinking about this novel for years to come . .. The elegance he's created here with Danielle's precious gift will shadow us for years. "

- Richard Van Camp, author of <i>Moccasin Square Gardens</i>

Chasing Painted Horses by Drew Hayden Taylor (Curve Lake Anishinaabe) is an enchanting novel about how finding some equestrienne graffiti in an alley compels police officer Ralph Thomas to wonder about an extraordinary girl named Danielle. In their youth, Danielle drew a horse on the creative space known as ‘The Everything Wall,’ creating a lasting image the officer must now contend with. Flashing between Thomas’ interactions with a gifted, homeless Cree named Harry and his recollections of Danielle and others, Taylor’s genius for writing didactic comedies are on full display. Taylor’s faithful readers will recognize that this novel expands on stories he explored earlier in his career, revisiting the characters and creative spaces that tug on the reins around one’s heart. ”

- Ryan Winn

"Taylor doesn’t shy away from challenging the reader, but he offers us beacons of light in the most unexpected places. "

- I've Read This

"It's a haunting novel, with flashes of wry humour. "

- The Globe and Mail

"Readers will appreciate the touching depiction of family and friendship dynamics in childhood, and the novel's suffusion with empathy makes it a worthwhile read. "

- Kerry Clare