In the novel Montana 1948, by Larry Watson, the theme of racism, and the character Frank Hayden help identify the mystery, and develop the investigation that illuminates the meaning of the work. The mystery of the novel is whether or not Frank Hayden is a molester. Frank's brother Wesley, the sheriff of Bentrock, is the one who reveals many of the clues and contributes the most in the investigation. This is an awkward situation as not …showed first 75 words of 433 total…

…showed last 75 words of 433 total…sexual rapacity as normal instinct, "You know Frank's always been partial to red meat." In the end Frank ends up committing suicide, and Wesley's immediate family moves away hoping to shake responsibility of this debacle. The investigation proves that the Indians were powerless versus the white Hayden family because of their race they are so powerful. With the investigation of the mystery in the novel Montana 1948, the true meaning of the work, racism, was illuminated.