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drannieg's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Pacy, highly readable, rural noir.
cdjdhj's review against another edition
4.0
I have always been rather fascinated with Appalachia and the people who live in the Kentucky Hill country, so when I went to the library to pick up another book, and happened to see this one, which is set in Appalachia, on display, I just had to read it. It was a fast-moving, albeit fairly short (just over 200 pages) mystery, which I found myself enjoying more than I expected to. According to the cover jacket, the author is a screenwriter, and the book does read like a made for TV crime drama.
The main character, Mick Hardin, is a combat vet, working as an Army CID agent. He come home to Appalachia when he finds out that his wife is pregnant and about to give birth, something he did not know until his sister, the sheriff of the hardscrabble town, tells him. As Mick tries to figure out his marriage, his sister shows up at the abandoned cabin where he is staying and asks for his help solving the murder of a woman whose body is found in a wooded holler. As Mick puts together the pieces of the murder, he sees the pieces of his own life and marriage fall further apart. This is a book of betrayal, family, and vengeance, in a place where everything gets tangled up in a web of deceit as thick and hard to see through as the trees in the holler. It wasn't the best mystery I have every read, but it was good for a few hours of diversion on a weekend. I would be willing to give this author another chance if I ever see another book by him.
The main character, Mick Hardin, is a combat vet, working as an Army CID agent. He come home to Appalachia when he finds out that his wife is pregnant and about to give birth, something he did not know until his sister, the sheriff of the hardscrabble town, tells him. As Mick tries to figure out his marriage, his sister shows up at the abandoned cabin where he is staying and asks for his help solving the murder of a woman whose body is found in a wooded holler. As Mick puts together the pieces of the murder, he sees the pieces of his own life and marriage fall further apart. This is a book of betrayal, family, and vengeance, in a place where everything gets tangled up in a web of deceit as thick and hard to see through as the trees in the holler. It wasn't the best mystery I have every read, but it was good for a few hours of diversion on a weekend. I would be willing to give this author another chance if I ever see another book by him.
virginiais4lovers's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
nigellicus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
5.0
Cool, elegant, country noir, with shades of Daniel Woodrell as a an army investigator home on leave is asked by his sister the sherrif to look into a woman's death. He navigates the countryside and the people and their ways with skill and insight, trying to stave off more revenge killings
beefmaster's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty much ideal regional crime writing. The prose is a bit more commercial than in his previous work and thus only the four stars. But there are flashes of the Kentucky poetry he's known for. Recommended!
criminallygood_heer's review against another edition
2.0
Did’nt enjoy it. I mean, there literally was nothing to. A cheating wife, a not-so-good husband and a wannabe sheriff? The whole “novel” was a mess.
csanta's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
randomhero19's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
heatherv_89's review against another edition
4.0
Great read- the Kentucky back hills setting is perfection and one which I don’t read often. Chris Offut’s writing is engaging but in a sparse, almost noir like way that fits the crime subject but still manages ti be introspective. Really enjoyed the main character, Mick, and would read more in this series!