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A review by rickwren
The Paperboy by Pete Dexter
4.0
From now on I'm just going to call Pete Dexter the atmosphere writer. He paints a picture of the backcountry of Florida, the swamps and the small town, and a Miami and its competitive newspaper world in such detail that I can close my eyes and be there. He re-creates the 70s with its attitudes and quirks in such a way that you can taste and smell the hotel rooms, the stately houses, and the dingy shacks.
Hillary Van Wetter was tried and sentenced to death for the murder of the sheriff of Moat County. Four years later Hillary's fiancé contacts the protagonists older brother and his writing partner at the newspaper in hopes that they can investigate the crime, prove Hillary's innocence, and get him released from death row.
But if you're looking for an investigation into the crime you're going to be disappointed. This is an investigation into the lives of two reporters, Ward James and Yardley Acherman, and the narrator of the story, Jack. It deals with the inherent bigotry, sexism, and classism of the late 60s and early 70s in the southern part of the US. It deals with betrayal, ambition, and secrets. And it deals with the manipulations of backcountry rednecks who are a lot smarter than they seem.
It's a beautiful book and so very well-written.
Hillary Van Wetter was tried and sentenced to death for the murder of the sheriff of Moat County. Four years later Hillary's fiancé contacts the protagonists older brother and his writing partner at the newspaper in hopes that they can investigate the crime, prove Hillary's innocence, and get him released from death row.
But if you're looking for an investigation into the crime you're going to be disappointed. This is an investigation into the lives of two reporters, Ward James and Yardley Acherman, and the narrator of the story, Jack. It deals with the inherent bigotry, sexism, and classism of the late 60s and early 70s in the southern part of the US. It deals with betrayal, ambition, and secrets. And it deals with the manipulations of backcountry rednecks who are a lot smarter than they seem.
It's a beautiful book and so very well-written.