Humane

‘In Humane, Anna Marie Sewell’s brings an Indigenous and poetic sensibility to the crime novel, infusing it with imagery and dance as a Metis mother of two works as an unlicensed Private Investigator. Like its Metis characters, Humane straddles two worlds, following the contours of Western-based novel but infusing it with Indigenous storytelling and allegory. It’s a wonderful read, a significant addition to the canon of authentic Indigenous crime novel.’ Wayne Arthurson, award-winning writer of the Leo Desroches novels. Who steals a dog from a shelter after receiving a dream message from their grandmother?

Hazel Lesage never expected it to be her. Then again, she didn’t plan on becoming an unlicensed PI, helping the ‘throwaway people.’ However much has changed in Amiskwaciy, the problem of poor Indigenous women and girls being expendable hasn’t. Nobody else is going to help the Augusts find out who killed their daughter Nell; so Hazel takes the case. And then she takes the dog.

What follows will force Hazel and her family to confront the question of what it means to be Human, and what it matters to be Humane.