a land more kind than home by Wiley Cash

Can't quite remember the source of the suggestion to reserve this from the library. MRB's friend behind the Temporary Knucksline? I've been on the wait list for what seems like months. I'll summarize in 3 words: worth the wait.

A healing service is being held at the French Broad River Road Church of Christ in Signs Following outside of Mars Hill in western North Carolina in rural Marshall. Carson Chambliss, the church's charismatic and tainted preacher feels the Lord's presence as he tries to heal the 80+ year old Molly Jameson by placing a copperhead in her hands. Predictably, it bites and it takes a few deacons to extract the beast. Molly goes home to perish alone in her tomato garden.


The story is told from the viewpoint of Addie Lyle (midwife and the town's consciousness), Jess Hall, and the middle-aged sheriff Clem Barefield. Jess Hall is a very curious 9yo boy who is the de facto watchdog over his older brother, nicknamed Stump, who has developmental issues; he's never spoken in all his 11 years. Jess has a habit of listening in on adults when he shouldn't. And it's this habit that triggers a series of events that impacts a few generations within the Hall and Barefield families.  He peeks in on a healing service for Stump.


I can't go too far into this plot as too many spoilers would be revealed.  While the snakes are the focal point of the book's violence, the real predatory snake in this tale is Pastor Chambliss who manages to get his rural parishioners to succumb to his teachings on God's healing touch and strength of faith as evidenced by handling poisonous snakes. 


Cash is from western NC and teaches at Bethany College in WV. This is his first book and in it he captures the sublime rhythm and lingo of the place. Some have called this a thriller, but most thrillers I've read usually wind up with a fairly predictable conclusion. This disturbing book wraps up with families torn apart and the remnants left in the hands of those least capable of carrying on. Good story, terrific writing, disturbing book. Helluva debut. 


East Coast Don

Rules of Prey

East Coast Don reviewed a John Sandford book more than two years ago, but this is the first time any of us guys at MRB have returned, despite ECD’s favorable review. This is a 1989 book, the first in the “Prey” series which now numbers 20 books. I agree with ECD that this is a better read than most of the ones I assign to the category of “airplane books.”

Lucas Davenport is the hero, a detective who has already killed five men in the line of duty, more than any other cop in the Minneapolis Police Department. But, before getting to Lucas, Standford introduced the serial killer “maddog” with a murder that was so graphically written, so sadistic, that I nearly put the book down at that point. I’m glad I didn’t because Lucas is a good guy, willing to act just outside the lines of the law, but of course, only for the sake of justice. Also, unlike other cops, he had legitimate outside income. He was a game creator, a game master who was paid big bucks for his new creations. He lived a life most cops could not. Meanwhile, maddog liked leaving clues to torment the police department. He had rules that he followed, and he left notes with the bodies of his victims, spelling out his rules: never kill anyone you know, never have a motive, never have a discernable pattern, never carry a weapon after it has been used, etc. The author took us through the detective process, introducing just enough info as the process continued to keep me interested. He presented the story as if two game masters were competing with each other. The Chief of Police was willing to tolerate Lucas’ behavior because he got results when no one else could. The local media was feasting on the tidbits that Lucas was feeding them, including some disinformation that was intended to help bring maddog out into the open. Lucas had romantic interest in a couple of the TV news anchors, one of whom was pregnant with his child and another who he was setting up as bait for maddog. The anchors who were fighting with each other for scoops, and then Lucas got involved with one of the near victims.

The pace of the book was excellent. Standford saved a good twist at the end.  Even though the resolution was not surprising, it was very satisfying. I’ll definitely read another Sandford. I think I’ve found a prolific and reliable author that I can turn to whenever I’m tired of other less talented writers.

The Providence Rider by Robert McCammon

Want full disclosure? scroll down to Mystery Walk.

Installment IV about Matthew Corbett, Problem Solver for the Herrald Agency of New York City, 1703 shortly after the conclusion of the Tyranthus Slaughter affair.

Matthew has been keeping the details of the Slaughter affair mostly to himself; the horrors are still very fresh in his memory. And remember, Professor Fell put a contract out on Matthew at the end of Mr. Slaughter cuz Matthew has foiled more than one of Fell's plans . But he's trying to come out of his funk by enjoying dances at Sally Almond's place and the attention of young Berry Grigsby.

Two Manhattan businesses are blown up and Matthew Corbett's name is scribbled on the walls. It's an invitation. By way of Sirki, Professor Fell's personal liason and executioner, Matthew is being summoned by Fell; Matthew is resourceful and has garnered Fell's admiration despite having bested Fell in the Slaughter affair. Fell, as head of a burgeoning crime syndicate, is sure he has a traitor amongst his chief lieutenants and who better to solve his little problem than a proven problem solver?

Some none too gentle arm twisting encourages Matthew to join Sirki on the ocean-going Nightflyer destined for warmer climes, and who thinks Matthew needs some help than sweet Berry and Zed, the fearsome African Ga warrior freed at the end of Mr. Slaughter. A 3-week voyage takes them to Pendulum, the private island domain of Professor Fell where a meeting of Fell's chief deputies is to take place.

Fell is an enigmatic crime boss who hides his identity under some creative and bizarre disguises. He makes Matthew a pretty good offer that he better not refuse: Find the traitor and be handsomely rewarded and returned safely to Manhattan. Fail, and the implication is that Matthew and his friends will never leave the island alive. To gain access, Matthew is given an alias and a history so that he can move amongst the deputies who represent weapons, finance, extortion, forgery, poisons, and murder. Add to this an Indian woman named Fancy whom Matthew thinks is connected to the Iroquois that died saving Matthew during the Slaughter affair making her another soul for Matthew to save in his own plot to find the traitor, destroy Fell's plans and his lair, and escape back to Manhattan with Berry, Zed, and Fancy.

I saw one review refer to Matthew as sort of a colonial James Bond and I thought that was a pretty apt analogy. Drop the hero in the middle of an impossible task in an exotic location against a megalomanic who wants to unleash an apocalyptic weapon at considerable profit. While the plot may look like something Bond might conquer, it's McCammon's presentation that is the real star here. His elegant and articulate prose takes us to an unfamiliar time and place to present a difficult challenge that gets solved with extreme prejudice, and without compromise or leaps of faith. Matthew Corbett is an engaging character with much to admire, but we do find fault with as he struggles with his own temptations and demons, much of which are Fell's doing, As stated, this is the 4th Corbett book. While it might help to read these in order, one really could pick these up in any order as enough links to past adventures (mostly to Mr. Slaughter) are presented. Enough clues are scattered about to make Corbett fans eager for the next installment.

With each new McCammon book, I am continually amazed at the author's skill and creativity. For me, this was an exquisite construction and recreation of crime, mystery, and adventure in colonial America. Man, am I ever glad I picked up Gone South from the library way back in 1992.

Victims: An Alex Delaware Novel

After trying to read a couple bad books, trying new authors who wrote books I couldn’t finish, I escaped to a sure thing, an Alex Delaware novel by Jonathan Kellerman. This was a good choice, the latest in the series, just released in March 2012. It was the usual cast of characters, crime psychologist Alex, his live-in girlfriend Robin, and detective Milo. Kellerman didn’t waste time on character development of these people who are already well-known. Rather, he jumped in with a grisly murder of Vita Berlin whose neck had been twisted an angle “not compatible with life.” She had also been dissected. She was one of those antagonistic bitches that pissed off everyone she came in contact with. Unable to make any headway with the case, a second dissected body was found, Marlon Quigg, a kind a well-loved man, who seemed to have nothing in common with Berlin except the method of execution. As the story unfolds and Kellerman leads us through the detective process, more murders occur. The story takes us through various mental health facilities in Los Angeles, and even to now closed massive state facilities that were functioning when I was doing psychiatric training at UCLA in the 70s. He touches on the unsavory world of the insurance-for-profit industry and pseudo-professionals who are able to dupe nearly everyone. It was a good story, disturbing in several ways, but a very good escape.

Murder Season by Robert Ellis

Robert Ellis’ Murder Season is a compelling mystery thriller.  His heroin LAPD homicide detective Lena Gamble returns for her third murder investigation filled with danger, political pitfalls, and multiple twists and turns.

Lena Gamble is assigned as lead detective to a double homicide in Hollywood’s hottest celebrity hangout, Club 3 AM.  One victim is the club’s owner, Johnny Bosco who has connections to LA’s district attorney.  The other is 25-year old Jacob Grant who was recently acquitted for raping and murdering his 16 year old neighbor, Lily Hight.  Grant escaped a guilty verdict on a technicality so the media has levied its own condemnation.  Lily’s father, Tim Hight is caught on the club’s surveillance video while leaving the building near the time of the murders.  While the press applauds the father’s supposed revenge that the authorities could not muster, Lena isn’t convinced Tim Hight is guilty.  After searching both Hight’s and Grant’s homes, she discovers Jacob and Lily had an adult relationship and that Lily was not the innocent young woman portrayed in the news.  Lena finds she must first reinvestigate and solve Lily’s murder in order to solve her own case.  In doing so, improprieties of the DA’s office as well as the LAPD are uncovered.  Lena is forced to make snap judgments on whom she can trust within city government while fearing for her job, her life, and the lives of those involved who know too much.

Murder Season is a compelling story and Ellis is a master of misdirection.  He pulls you in, convinces you the outcome is clear, then reveals another villain.  This story has more twists and turns than Mulholland Drive…. perhaps too many.  I bought into it right up to the last chapter where he finally crosses the line for me.  Still a great read but he needs to back it off a notch…fewer hairpin turns more straight aways.    He gave a first class murder mystery an implausible feel in a heartbeat.  To me this is what will keep Ellis from being the next Michael Connelly.

The Bones

After finding some entertainment in The Angry Buddhist, I tried another Seth Greenland book, but I was less impressed with this one. It’s an LA story of parasitic and opportunistic relationships of people who are seeking wealth and fame. There was no strong ethical male figure as is found in so many of the MRB blog. Frank Bones is an aging comedian, one who has been making a living but has never really made it big. Frank knows that he deserves to be a star. When he was still in New York, Frank ran into Lloyd Melnick, a not-too-talented writer. Unlike Frank, Lloyd has hit it really big by happening to be in the right place at the right time. Lloyd knows that he has been very lucky and does not deserve the fortune he has made. Both men are romantically involved with social mountaineering women. Some of the dialogue was fun. There was one scene between Frank and his girlfriend, Honey Call (really), an aspiring but untalented actress. They are having a morning together. Nearly naked, she microwaves mac and cheese for the two of them for breakfast. The author reveals that her pubic hair is shaved in the shape of a heart, but then, she insists they say a prayer before beginning the meal. That was enough absurdity to keep me reading for a while. Alas, halfway through the book, no crime had yet occurred. Given that this is mostly a crime-genre blog, the biggest crime may be that I bought the book. I put the book down, couldn’t stand it any more. It does not get my recommendation, and I don’t have plans to spend more time with Mr. Greenland.

Mystery Walk by Robert McCammon

Where full disclosure is warranted, I will . . . McCammon is one of my top 2 or 3 favorite authors and I am unlikely to find fault with anything he produces.

A couple weeks ago, McCammon’s website noted that Mystery Walk (copyright 1983) for the Kindle was on sale for something like $2 through Amazon. Having won a silent auction of beach supplies, including a Kindle, I decided this might be a good title for my first experience at using an eReader.

Mystery Walk follows two markedly different boys over about 10 years, mostly in rural northern Alabama in the 1960s.  Billy Creekmore is the son of a local resident of Hawthorne and his wife, a Choctaw Indian. Ramona comes from a lineage of healers whose special gift is to absorb the pain of people who died suddenly so that their spirit can transition to the next world. The spirit of a person who is unprepared for death lingers on earth in search of help. When a disturbed vet kills his family and himself, the town shuns the street of the death house. All the bodies were found except the son. One afternoon, young Billy is walking home from school and is strangely drawn to the house, then into the kill rooms, and finally to the basement where he sees a revenant trying to crawl out from under a pile of coal. Billy stays a second and then dashes out, terrified after seeing what he thought was his friend.

From this first experience with the dead, and the fear that surrounds the town, Billy and his mom head off to see his grandmother for his first introduction in his unique gifts and learn more about what he will face – his Mystery Walk.

JJ Falconer runs perhaps the most successful evangelical crusade in the south. When young Wayne was about 8 or so, a car critically mangled his dog. Little Wayne ran out and scooped up his dog, hugging it close and praying for God to help his dog. Within minutes, the dog’s injuries are lessening and the dog begins to recover. Witnessing this miracle, JJ realizes Little Wayne Falconer has the healing gift and starts to promote him as part of his crusade.

At a tent revival near Hawthorne, the paths of Billy and Wayne cross for the first time. Billy sees the black mist around a couple of locals even after being told by Little Wayne that they had been healed; the black mist indicates imminent death. Ramona has seen the mist too and shouts out that by telling people to stop with their meds, that the crusade was promoting murder. Needless to say, Ramona is now a pariah amongst the Hawthorn locals who live for the Crusade.

JJ is convinced that Ramona and her son are evil doing Satan’s work and does everything he can to keep Little Wayne safe. Billy is just trying to figure himself out.

From here, the story follows Wayne and Billy (Billy mostly) throughout their teen years. Wayne is healing and Billy is helping spirits of the suddenly dead move on. But each sees a similar dream of an eagle in mortal combat with a snake of fire. And Billy encounters the mysterious shape changer tempting him as he wanders his personal wilderness.

JJ dies and Wayne is guilt-ridden that he was unable to heal his father. Wayne is now in charge of a multimillion dollar enterprise, and no where mature enough to be the head. In his nightmares, JJ comes to Wayne, telling him that the Indian bitch and her son must burn in the fires of hell for Wayne to be free.

Wayne catches the eye of a Palm Springs-based financier who makes Howie Mandel’s germophobia behavior look like a mild tic. The obese Jabba the Hut wannabe becomes Wayne’s defacto father-Svengali figure, keeping him drugged and confined to be a personal healer to the mogul. To win Wayne’s devotion, and sort of fulfill the wishes of JJ’s ghost, our corporate raider tasks his people to (1) take over the crusade and (2) get rid of Wayne’s tormentors.

This classic battle of good vs. evil expertly combines Indian mysticism with religion and images of the devil vs. spirit of all that breathes. It also explores nature vs. nurture in the paths taken, and thrust upon, Billy and Wayne as each takes their own version of a Mystery Walk. Not the typical good guys vs. the bad guys, life is black and white in a gray world, pile up the bodies and don’t look back kind of fare so typical of MRB. While some of our favs have a real knack for clever, witty, dialogue amongst the characters (e.g., Stella, Higgins, Bruen, Crais, Connelly, Pelecanos, et al.), McCammon’s eloquent prose presents a lyrical image that unfolds akin to looking at a detailed, but not overpowering painting or photograph. Because of the genre of his earlier works (supernatural thrillers), he was unfairly compared to Stephen King, but never acquired King’s mass-market appeal. With all the fascination with vampires and the undead today, one would think folks would discover They Thirst, Swan Song, or maybe Stinger or The Wolf’s Hour. For me, McCammon presents skillful writing and escape at its best at every opportunity. And it only gets better in his Matthew Corbett series set in the early 1700’s New York, where I currently explore via my Kindle.

East Coast Don