Author: David Joy
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Book Description: Acclaimed author and “remarkably gifted storyteller” (The Charlotte Observer) David Joy returns with a fierce and tender tale of a father, an addict, a lawman, and the explosive events that come to unite them.
When his addict son gets in deep with his dealer, it takes everything Raymond Mathis has to bail him out of trouble one last time. Frustrated by the slow pace and limitations of the law, Raymond decides to take matters into his own hands.
After a workplace accident left him out of a job and in pain, Denny Rattler has spent years chasing his next high. He supports his habit through careful theft, following strict rules that keep him under the radar and out of jail. But when faced with opportunities too easy to resist, Denny makes two choices that change everything.
For months, the DEA has been chasing the drug supply in the mountains to no avail, when a lead–just one word–sets one agent on a path to crack the case wide open . . . but he’ll need help from the most unexpected quarter.
As chance brings together these men from different sides of a relentless epidemic, each may come to find that his opportunity for redemption lies with the others.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars
Mini-Review: Let me start by saying, this would not be a book I normally pick up, however I am so glad I got a recommendation to read this, because it was well worth the time to read this story.
The story starts when Raymond receives a call that his drug addict son is in trouble unless Ray comes up with $10,000. Raymond reluctantly takes what money he has left and takes care of the issue. Bring in a DEA that has been chasing down the drug supply coming into this town, but has had zero luck. He decides that if he is ever going to break this case he will have to look for unconventional methods. What ensues, is a mystery that can be quite graphic at times.
This is a difficult book to read sometimes, because of the topics. We all know how addiction has taken over many lives and communities and this brings light to those major issues. What I really loved was Raymond taking things into his hand, and he is a solid protagonist. Very rich story, that I surprisingly enjoyed.
Obsessed Bookaholic 