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ldutch's review against another edition
3.0
I have enjoyed other books by Eskens a great deal and was hopeful for another good mystery - the book description also drew me in - a missing woman, racial prejudices, and secrets.
But it was a disappointment. Such a valuable opportunity to further explore the deep hatred in the hearts of others, but the plot fell so short of truly delving into the racism present in 1976 rural America - it sickened me to realize there are far too many who may read this book and celebrate the white supremacy mindset the book is meant to condemn. Exploring racial issues is necessary, but this wasn’t how to do it.
But it was a disappointment. Such a valuable opportunity to further explore the deep hatred in the hearts of others, but the plot fell so short of truly delving into the racism present in 1976 rural America - it sickened me to realize there are far too many who may read this book and celebrate the white supremacy mindset the book is meant to condemn. Exploring racial issues is necessary, but this wasn’t how to do it.
lurdesabruscato's review against another edition
4.0
Evoking elements of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Body, Eskens perfects his coming-of-age novel by grappling with such heavy topics as racism and death in a small Missouri town. His protagonist Boady is an excellent combination of curious and self-reflective with a naive and tender soul.
hilslovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mudder17's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I was expecting a typical mystery and thriller novel and this was way more than that. The story is narrated by an older Boady Sanden, who recalls the summer he was 15 when many events occurred that have shaped who he is now. He grew up in the Ozarks in the small town of Jessup, Missouri and when the story begins, it's apparent that he and his mother struggle to make ends meet while his mother seems to go through the motions of living, ever since they lost his father to an accident. Boady is a below-average student who dreams of dropping out of school, finding a job, and making it out to the big cities. Included amongst the mysteries: a black woman disappears, along with thousands of embezzled funds, a neighbor with a cloudy past, a "secret" white supremacist group called Corp creating fear and intimidation, a sheriff who may or may not be on the right side of the law, bullies in school who may have a link to Corp. So many questions that lead to an incredibly rich story that invokes a love for the town and its people while unearthing the ugliness of human nature. I'm not 100% sure I agree with Hoke on everything he said about racism, but it gave me a lot of food for thought. Kevin Stillwell narrated this book and he was absolutely perfect for this. It's the first book I've listened to him and I would enjoy listening to other books by him. I was drawn in right from the very beginning and I had a hard time putting it down when I needed to do other things! By the end, I had tears streaming down my face. If you're a fan of historical fiction with mystery, especially books by William Kent Krueger, you should definitely read this one. This is going on my favorites shelf for sure.
jsawyer126's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t know what it was about this book but it kept my attention from beginning to end. I loved how it intertwined multiple storylines throughout. Overall, a wonderful and relatively quick read!
michellejerome's review against another edition
It was an interesting read. Felt like something I needed to read during the times we are in. Just a mild version of the yuck and a whole lot of good.
inkdrinkerreads7's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird, this novel is a Bildungsroman concerned with the prejudices of a small American town, a story of a young boy’s maturation set against the backdrop of racism and violence. It is a compelling work with some excellent characterisation, though I felt a little uncomfortable at the lack of agency or character given to the missing black woman at the heart of the story.