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geoffwood's review
5.0
Top flight meth noir, albeit way lighter on the meth than like a Donald Ray Pollock. Bonus, about half the stories take place in a Springfield, MO, that is stylized into something approaching Sin City (the comic book), but with authentic local flair (there's a nod to what would seem to be Aunt Martha's), so that's fun.
wormcharmer's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
erincataldi's review
4.0
Very raw; this short story collection is very reminiscent of Frank Bill and other Appalachian writers. Meth heads, Aryan brothers, murder, prison tattoos, hillbillies, bar fights, and heists; these quick and dirty stories real you in instantly. There are no happy endings, only vindictive victories, revenges, or defeats. Not an uplifting read, but an engaging one that readers won't be able to stop thinking about.
briandice's review
5.0
UPDATE!
I carelessly neglected to mention in February when I reviewed this fabulous collection of stories that I was reading an ARC - this book is now available and I can't recommend it enough. More Harper, please!
.............................................................................
It's ok if most of these stories are culled from Harper's earlier collection [b:American Death Songs|17162036|American Death Songs|Jordan Harper|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356205476s/17162036.jpg|23587436]. If you missed that book you can catch up; if you've read ADS you can revisit stories that will make you feel like you're walking on legs recently broke and not set right.
I read the titular story aloud to my wife and made her cry. I read Lucy in the Pit before bed last night and made myself cry. I'm not here to tell that everything between the covers of this book is depressing, but I am here to say that all 16 stories play straight with their audience.
This collection will be availble for purchase in July 2015. Many thanks to friend Karen for sharing her galley copy with me. Sorry, karen not Karen. She may be all lowercase but she is all UPPERCLASS.
I carelessly neglected to mention in February when I reviewed this fabulous collection of stories that I was reading an ARC - this book is now available and I can't recommend it enough. More Harper, please!
.............................................................................
It's ok if most of these stories are culled from Harper's earlier collection [b:American Death Songs|17162036|American Death Songs|Jordan Harper|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356205476s/17162036.jpg|23587436]. If you missed that book you can catch up; if you've read ADS you can revisit stories that will make you feel like you're walking on legs recently broke and not set right.
I read the titular story aloud to my wife and made her cry. I read Lucy in the Pit before bed last night and made myself cry. I'm not here to tell that everything between the covers of this book is depressing, but I am here to say that all 16 stories play straight with their audience.
This collection will be availble for purchase in July 2015. Many thanks to friend Karen for sharing her galley copy with me. Sorry, karen not Karen. She may be all lowercase but she is all UPPERCLASS.
heathersbike's review
Overall this is just too grim for my taste but what an amazing writer.
coffeecrusader's review
4.0
Harper's prose is like running through acid rain. If anyone could claim to be the true heir of James Ellroy's prose in the "L.A. Quartet," it's probably Harper.
megan_lindell's review
4.0
These are violent little stories, almost all with surprising little twists. Like “She Rides Shotgun”, really really good, but not for the faint of heart. Favorites: “Agua Dulce”, “Prove It All Night”, “Lucy In The Pit”, “Playing Dead”, “Like Riding A Moped”.