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Fallen Mountains
When Transom Shultz goes missing shortly after returning to his sleepy hometown of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, his secrets are not the only ones that threaten to emerge. Red, the sheriff, is haunted by the possibility that a crime Transom was involved in seventeen years earlier—a crime Red secretly helped cover up—may somehow be linked to his disappearance. Possum, the victim of that crime, wants revenge. Laney will do anything to keep Transom quiet about the careless mistake they made that could jeopardize her budding relationship. And Chase, once a close friend, reels from Transom’s betrayal of buying his family’s farm under false pretenses and ruthlessly logging it and leasing the mineral rights to Marcellus shale frackers. As the search for Transom Shultz heats up and the inhabitants’ dark and tangled histories unfold, each one must decide whether to live under the brutal weight of the past or try to move beyond it.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2019
About the author
Kimi Cunningham Grant
7 books1,759 followersKimi Cunningham Grant is the author of four books. Silver Like Dust is a memoir about her Japanese-American grandparents and their experience in the internment camp at Heart Mountain during World War II. Her second book, Fallen Mountains, is a literary mystery set in a small town in Pennsylvania, where fracking has just begun. In her third book, These Silent Woods, a father and daughter living in the remote Appalachian mountains must reckon with the ghosts of their past. Her fourth book, The Nature of Disappearing, features a woman who must team up with the ex-boyfriend who ruined her life to trek deep into the Idaho wilderness in search of a friend who's gone missing.
Before she wrote novels, Kimi was an award-winning poet and nonfiction writer.
She lives with her family in Pennsylvania.
Before she wrote novels, Kimi was an award-winning poet and nonfiction writer.
She lives with her family in Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
March 12, 2019
5 stars!
I loved every single page of this gritty, backroads story!
Red is the sheriff in Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania. He and his secretary, Leigh, are the only employees of the small town law enforcement office. Red is ready for retirement, his resignation letter typed and waiting to be handed in, when he receives notice that Transom Schultz is missing. Transom is the son of a powerful family that has long ruled the town and also the person who Red reluctantly helped cover up a crime seventeen years prior. Worried that Transom’s disappearance may be linked to that long ago hidden crime, Red tucks his resignation letter away until the situation has been sorted and resolved.
I loved everything about this novel! The characters, the writing, the storyline, the pacing, the flow, the suspense - simply perfect! Red reminded me of Walt from the TV show Longmire which I loved. I felt an immediate connection to this story from page one, instantly sympathizing with Red and his situation. The atmosphere was thick and wrapped me up completely throughout this rugged and unforgettable tale. I will be thinking of these characters long after I have finished writing this review. It was a book that I wished would have continued further, not because I wasn’t satisfied with the ending, but simply because I didn’t want to let the characters and storyline go.
This was a Traveling Sister read with Brenda and Norma. We all loved it! To find this review, please visit our blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Thank you to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for providing me with a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved every single page of this gritty, backroads story!
Red is the sheriff in Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania. He and his secretary, Leigh, are the only employees of the small town law enforcement office. Red is ready for retirement, his resignation letter typed and waiting to be handed in, when he receives notice that Transom Schultz is missing. Transom is the son of a powerful family that has long ruled the town and also the person who Red reluctantly helped cover up a crime seventeen years prior. Worried that Transom’s disappearance may be linked to that long ago hidden crime, Red tucks his resignation letter away until the situation has been sorted and resolved.
I loved everything about this novel! The characters, the writing, the storyline, the pacing, the flow, the suspense - simply perfect! Red reminded me of Walt from the TV show Longmire which I loved. I felt an immediate connection to this story from page one, instantly sympathizing with Red and his situation. The atmosphere was thick and wrapped me up completely throughout this rugged and unforgettable tale. I will be thinking of these characters long after I have finished writing this review. It was a book that I wished would have continued further, not because I wasn’t satisfied with the ending, but simply because I didn’t want to let the characters and storyline go.
This was a Traveling Sister read with Brenda and Norma. We all loved it! To find this review, please visit our blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Thank you to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for providing me with a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 22, 2019
”You really never know people, not fully. People are strange. They hold onto things, they have secrets. And trust me we do things we didn’t think we were capable of, good and bad. All of us. People can commit all sorts of atrocities, even normal people, good people. Think of wars. How else could such barbarities occur, if the deep capacity to do evil didn’t exist in every one of us?”
Secrets.
There are all kinds of different secrets. Some of them are merely embarrassing; some of them are compromising to other people, and some of them are secrets that, if revealed, would tear down our lives, timber by timber, brick by brick.
Everyone in Fallen Mountains has a secret, and some harbor whole card decks of secrets. I grew up in a town even smaller than Fallen Mountains, and one of the things I learned very quickly was that secrets are hard to keep in small towns. Everyone is aware of what everyone else is doing. They all have the prodigious memory of elephants, and they remember everything everyone has ever done. It is hard for someone to grow into a new person in a small town with no way to escape any part of his or her past. ”The past is never dead. It isn’t even past.” --William Faulkner Secrets in small towns are handled as carefully as a crate of nitroglycerin. Once a secret is revealed, the blast tends to ripple through a community, flattening lives like a category five tornado.
Some people like the suffocating coziness of a small town, and others can’t leave fast enough. Possum, Red, Chase, Jack, Maggie, and Laney are people who have stayed in Fallen Mountains. It is home and will be home until the day people use the words “rest in peace” when they mention their names.
Now Transom Shultz, best friend of Chase Hardy, left Fallen Mountains, but he has come back. He is a polarizing figure. A man who can make people love him or hate him in equal measure. He takes what he wants and leaves behind what he is done with. Chase has a lifetime of memories shared with Transom, not that he isn’t aware of some of his fallacies, but he forgives him because he loves him like a brother.
He trusts him.
With the death of his Grandfather Jack, Chase has inherited the farm that has been in his family for over two hundred years. The Keeten family farm in Kansas has only been in our possession for 138 years, so I have to tip my hat to a family that can own a piece of land that long. It isn’t easy, as Chase is finding out. The farm is struggling. It was in trouble even before Chase inherited, and now things have become dire. Chase doesn’t want to be the one, in an unbroken string of ancestors, to lose the farm.
When Transom offers to buy the farm, it is like a rumble of thunder in the middle of a drought. Unfortunately, it isn’t until after the paperwork is signed that Chase discovers that their view of the land is different
”’It’s just land, Boss,’ Transom called.
Chase slipped into his boots and turned and looked back. ‘It was never just land to me.’”
Transom starts raping everything that can be sold off the land. Oil is pumped out of the ground by a fracking company. Old growth timber is chainsawed down and hauled off the hillsides with heavy machinery that leaves deep wounds in the earth. It would take up to three generations to regrow that timber that took mere days to destroy. By trying to save the land, Chase has destroyed it.
Transom disappears.
He has run off before. Things have gotten a little too real in the past, and he has vamoosed to somewhere far away from the trouble he is trying to duck. As Sheriff John “Red” Redifer begins to investigate, he starts to realize that this time might be different, and as much as he would like Transom’s disappearance to be connected to the oil or timber people, he has a suspicion that it might have something to do with one of his Fallen Mountains people.
It could all come back to some of those secrets. Red has his own secret, and this one particular secret is starting to eat him alive. Laney, best friends with Chase and Transom, has a secret that makes her as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof anytime someone mentions Transom. Possum has a secret that is “tied up” somehow with Red and Transom.
Red doesn’t want to know anymore secrets. The more secrets he discovers, the more exposed his own secret becomes.
Where is Transom Shultz?
I was nervous for everyone in this novel. I did not want anyone’s secrets revealed, and as the investigation proceeds, the pressure on everyone to tell what they know increases exponentially. I believe in carrying your own water, and these people have toted it through rivers and over dales. Everyone has motive, and everyone knows something that might have bearing on the case. The thing of it is, at the end of the day, does anyone in Fallen Mountains really want to know what happened to Transom Shultz? What will be the cost?
If I were to put my finger on one thing that Kimi Cunningham Grant is really good at, I’d say it has to be the psychological perceptions she brings to each of her characters. Their motivations, their decisions, their thought processes all ring true. If we cast Transom as the villain, I still can’t completely despise him because Grant gives me insight into the shards of his past that shaped him as a human being. The vulnerability of her characters is revealed to us, piece by piece until the mosaic of their individual puzzles start to resemble the soul of Fallen Mountains. By the end of the book, we know these people better than we know some of our friends, and we can’t help but root for every one of them to find some way to be happy.
I asked Kimi Cunningham Grant if she would answer a few questions, and she graciously said yes!
Jeffrey D. Keeten:I grew up in a small farming town in Kansas, so the small town feel of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, felt very familiar to me. What motivated you to set your first novel in a small town?
Kimi Cunningham Grant:When the idea for this book first came to me, I was walking on public land, and I came across a sign stating that it was going to be developed. Chase was the first character that came to me. I knew I wanted to explore the issue of feeling deeply connected to land, and a small town farmer felt like the right place to start.
Kimi Cunningham Grant
JDK:It felt to me like there were bits of Kimi Grant in most of the characters of this novel. Who did you identify with the most as you were writing this novel?
KCG:This is something I love thinking about! How our lives—who we know, what we read, where we go—shape a text. I think there are always parts of the author in everything she writes; it’s impossible to separate who I am from what I write. Related to that, of course, is my belief that readers shape the text, too. For instance, you’ll most likely have a different reading of this novel than say, a twenty-three year old British woman. You’ve read different things; you’ve experienced different things; you likely “read” the world (and texts) differently. (See T.S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” and Roland Barthes’ “The Death of the Author” if you want to tumble deeper into the rabbit hole of questions of writing, reading, and meaning!)
But I digress. None of the characters in this novel are autobiographical. As a parent, I identified with Red’s desire to protect his family. As someone who loves the natural world, I identified with Chase. I sympathized with Possum and really enjoyed developing him. The bits of Kimi Grant in these characters are more things like… my husband is a biologist who has spent years researching the effects of fracking on Pennsylvania streams, and my sons have a red wagon, and I’ve always been curious about trapping.
JDK:The book is divided into Before and After chapters. Did you write the book following the linear time and then mix the chapters, or did you write the book in the way it is published, with the two timelines intermixed by writing a chapter on one time line and then the other?
KCG:Early drafts were written linearly, but I realized that if I wanted the central mystery to be “What happened to Transom Shultz?” I couldn’t have him disappear on page 200! It needed to happen much earlier. I eventually settled on the Before and After structure, but honestly, the structure was hands-down the hardest part of writing this novel. I kept reading books in this genre to learn how successful authors handled mysteries, but it took me a long time to get it right.
JDK:I read somewhere that you write before your family wakes up in the morning. The challenge for most writers is actually finding uninterrupted time to focus entirely on what they are writing. I frequently find myself suddenly struck by a brilliant little nugget when I'm trapped in a social circumstance and unable to break away to flush out the idea. Would you share how you have structured your time for writing and how you deal with inspiration at the most “inconvenient" times?
KCG:You’re right. I do write mostly in the morning, before my family wakes up. I’m a homeschooling mom, so my kids are with me all day, every day. They like to talk to me A LOT, which is great, but it also makes it almost impossible to concentrate during the twelve hours that I’m with them each day. As far as actual writing, early morning is what works for me. I do get quiet windows here and there, and I try to make the most of them. I think about my writing a lot when I’m in the woods, and as a family, we try to be there a lot. So, sometimes I’m envisioning a scene or tweaking aspects of a character while the kids are bouldering or running down the trail. I also drive in silence if I’m alone, and I get some good mental work done then, too.
JDK:This is a novel of secrets and their impacts on those that hold those secrets and those who would have benefited from or been adversely affected by them. I enjoyed the fact that, in the course of the novel, you showed all the various ways secrets impact those who hold them and those who reveal them. How do you personally feel about secrets? The saying is that honesty is always the best policy, but is it really?
KCG:The novel IS about secrets, isn’t it? I never intended for it to be so much about secrets as it is about the simple premise that people are complicated. “Good” people can do bad things, and “bad” people can do good things. When I first began writing this, I mostly wanted to explore whether even very “good” people can, under certain tensions and in certain situations, do things they swore they’d never do. The secrets tumbled in and ended up becoming central to the book.
JDK:Fallen Mountains is slated to be published in March 2019, but what else do you have in the hopper? Another novel, I hope? I once read that Stephen King always has three completed manuscripts in his vault, so when the publisher needs the next one, he just fetches one to send them. So how full is your vault? :-)
KCG:I DO have another novel in the hopper! I’ve sent it off to my agent, Amy Cloughley, who is wonderful, and who will help me iron out any lingering problems. I have two other ideas for novels that aren’t fully fleshed out yet. One is started; one isn’t.
I want to thank Kimi Cunningham Grant and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Secrets.
There are all kinds of different secrets. Some of them are merely embarrassing; some of them are compromising to other people, and some of them are secrets that, if revealed, would tear down our lives, timber by timber, brick by brick.
Everyone in Fallen Mountains has a secret, and some harbor whole card decks of secrets. I grew up in a town even smaller than Fallen Mountains, and one of the things I learned very quickly was that secrets are hard to keep in small towns. Everyone is aware of what everyone else is doing. They all have the prodigious memory of elephants, and they remember everything everyone has ever done. It is hard for someone to grow into a new person in a small town with no way to escape any part of his or her past. ”The past is never dead. It isn’t even past.” --William Faulkner Secrets in small towns are handled as carefully as a crate of nitroglycerin. Once a secret is revealed, the blast tends to ripple through a community, flattening lives like a category five tornado.
Some people like the suffocating coziness of a small town, and others can’t leave fast enough. Possum, Red, Chase, Jack, Maggie, and Laney are people who have stayed in Fallen Mountains. It is home and will be home until the day people use the words “rest in peace” when they mention their names.
Now Transom Shultz, best friend of Chase Hardy, left Fallen Mountains, but he has come back. He is a polarizing figure. A man who can make people love him or hate him in equal measure. He takes what he wants and leaves behind what he is done with. Chase has a lifetime of memories shared with Transom, not that he isn’t aware of some of his fallacies, but he forgives him because he loves him like a brother.
He trusts him.
With the death of his Grandfather Jack, Chase has inherited the farm that has been in his family for over two hundred years. The Keeten family farm in Kansas has only been in our possession for 138 years, so I have to tip my hat to a family that can own a piece of land that long. It isn’t easy, as Chase is finding out. The farm is struggling. It was in trouble even before Chase inherited, and now things have become dire. Chase doesn’t want to be the one, in an unbroken string of ancestors, to lose the farm.
When Transom offers to buy the farm, it is like a rumble of thunder in the middle of a drought. Unfortunately, it isn’t until after the paperwork is signed that Chase discovers that their view of the land is different
”’It’s just land, Boss,’ Transom called.
Chase slipped into his boots and turned and looked back. ‘It was never just land to me.’”
Transom starts raping everything that can be sold off the land. Oil is pumped out of the ground by a fracking company. Old growth timber is chainsawed down and hauled off the hillsides with heavy machinery that leaves deep wounds in the earth. It would take up to three generations to regrow that timber that took mere days to destroy. By trying to save the land, Chase has destroyed it.
Transom disappears.
He has run off before. Things have gotten a little too real in the past, and he has vamoosed to somewhere far away from the trouble he is trying to duck. As Sheriff John “Red” Redifer begins to investigate, he starts to realize that this time might be different, and as much as he would like Transom’s disappearance to be connected to the oil or timber people, he has a suspicion that it might have something to do with one of his Fallen Mountains people.
It could all come back to some of those secrets. Red has his own secret, and this one particular secret is starting to eat him alive. Laney, best friends with Chase and Transom, has a secret that makes her as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof anytime someone mentions Transom. Possum has a secret that is “tied up” somehow with Red and Transom.
Red doesn’t want to know anymore secrets. The more secrets he discovers, the more exposed his own secret becomes.
Where is Transom Shultz?
I was nervous for everyone in this novel. I did not want anyone’s secrets revealed, and as the investigation proceeds, the pressure on everyone to tell what they know increases exponentially. I believe in carrying your own water, and these people have toted it through rivers and over dales. Everyone has motive, and everyone knows something that might have bearing on the case. The thing of it is, at the end of the day, does anyone in Fallen Mountains really want to know what happened to Transom Shultz? What will be the cost?
If I were to put my finger on one thing that Kimi Cunningham Grant is really good at, I’d say it has to be the psychological perceptions she brings to each of her characters. Their motivations, their decisions, their thought processes all ring true. If we cast Transom as the villain, I still can’t completely despise him because Grant gives me insight into the shards of his past that shaped him as a human being. The vulnerability of her characters is revealed to us, piece by piece until the mosaic of their individual puzzles start to resemble the soul of Fallen Mountains. By the end of the book, we know these people better than we know some of our friends, and we can’t help but root for every one of them to find some way to be happy.
I asked Kimi Cunningham Grant if she would answer a few questions, and she graciously said yes!
Jeffrey D. Keeten:I grew up in a small farming town in Kansas, so the small town feel of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, felt very familiar to me. What motivated you to set your first novel in a small town?
Kimi Cunningham Grant:When the idea for this book first came to me, I was walking on public land, and I came across a sign stating that it was going to be developed. Chase was the first character that came to me. I knew I wanted to explore the issue of feeling deeply connected to land, and a small town farmer felt like the right place to start.
Kimi Cunningham Grant
JDK:It felt to me like there were bits of Kimi Grant in most of the characters of this novel. Who did you identify with the most as you were writing this novel?
KCG:This is something I love thinking about! How our lives—who we know, what we read, where we go—shape a text. I think there are always parts of the author in everything she writes; it’s impossible to separate who I am from what I write. Related to that, of course, is my belief that readers shape the text, too. For instance, you’ll most likely have a different reading of this novel than say, a twenty-three year old British woman. You’ve read different things; you’ve experienced different things; you likely “read” the world (and texts) differently. (See T.S. Eliot’s “Tradition and the Individual Talent” and Roland Barthes’ “The Death of the Author” if you want to tumble deeper into the rabbit hole of questions of writing, reading, and meaning!)
But I digress. None of the characters in this novel are autobiographical. As a parent, I identified with Red’s desire to protect his family. As someone who loves the natural world, I identified with Chase. I sympathized with Possum and really enjoyed developing him. The bits of Kimi Grant in these characters are more things like… my husband is a biologist who has spent years researching the effects of fracking on Pennsylvania streams, and my sons have a red wagon, and I’ve always been curious about trapping.
JDK:The book is divided into Before and After chapters. Did you write the book following the linear time and then mix the chapters, or did you write the book in the way it is published, with the two timelines intermixed by writing a chapter on one time line and then the other?
KCG:Early drafts were written linearly, but I realized that if I wanted the central mystery to be “What happened to Transom Shultz?” I couldn’t have him disappear on page 200! It needed to happen much earlier. I eventually settled on the Before and After structure, but honestly, the structure was hands-down the hardest part of writing this novel. I kept reading books in this genre to learn how successful authors handled mysteries, but it took me a long time to get it right.
JDK:I read somewhere that you write before your family wakes up in the morning. The challenge for most writers is actually finding uninterrupted time to focus entirely on what they are writing. I frequently find myself suddenly struck by a brilliant little nugget when I'm trapped in a social circumstance and unable to break away to flush out the idea. Would you share how you have structured your time for writing and how you deal with inspiration at the most “inconvenient" times?
KCG:You’re right. I do write mostly in the morning, before my family wakes up. I’m a homeschooling mom, so my kids are with me all day, every day. They like to talk to me A LOT, which is great, but it also makes it almost impossible to concentrate during the twelve hours that I’m with them each day. As far as actual writing, early morning is what works for me. I do get quiet windows here and there, and I try to make the most of them. I think about my writing a lot when I’m in the woods, and as a family, we try to be there a lot. So, sometimes I’m envisioning a scene or tweaking aspects of a character while the kids are bouldering or running down the trail. I also drive in silence if I’m alone, and I get some good mental work done then, too.
JDK:This is a novel of secrets and their impacts on those that hold those secrets and those who would have benefited from or been adversely affected by them. I enjoyed the fact that, in the course of the novel, you showed all the various ways secrets impact those who hold them and those who reveal them. How do you personally feel about secrets? The saying is that honesty is always the best policy, but is it really?
KCG:The novel IS about secrets, isn’t it? I never intended for it to be so much about secrets as it is about the simple premise that people are complicated. “Good” people can do bad things, and “bad” people can do good things. When I first began writing this, I mostly wanted to explore whether even very “good” people can, under certain tensions and in certain situations, do things they swore they’d never do. The secrets tumbled in and ended up becoming central to the book.
JDK:Fallen Mountains is slated to be published in March 2019, but what else do you have in the hopper? Another novel, I hope? I once read that Stephen King always has three completed manuscripts in his vault, so when the publisher needs the next one, he just fetches one to send them. So how full is your vault? :-)
KCG:I DO have another novel in the hopper! I’ve sent it off to my agent, Amy Cloughley, who is wonderful, and who will help me iron out any lingering problems. I have two other ideas for novels that aren’t fully fleshed out yet. One is started; one isn’t.
I want to thank Kimi Cunningham Grant and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
May 19, 2021
The older I get, the more I appreciate main characters that are also of a certain age. Red, the sheriff of Fallen Mountains, is all ready to hand in his retirement letter. And when Transom Schultz goes missing, he wishes he had already done it. Especially since in his early days as sheriff, Red covered up a crime Transom committed.
Transom had left Fallen Mountains years ago. He returns and starts buying up farms and leasing the mineral rights to gas companies. In addition to the ill will generated by bring in frackers, Transom’s history with others in the community means there are plenty of suspects who could have done him harm. He’s an SOB and he’s pushed several decent people to the end of their ropes. Unlike with a lot of mysteries, I really didn’t have a feel for who could have done it.
This character driven mystery is beautifully written, as you would expect when a Faulkner passage figures prominently into Red’s upbringing. There’s a lot of grief here; a lot of loss. Not just the loss of loved ones, but of a way of life, of innocence.
There’s also a lot about forgiveness and getting beyond one’s anger. The ending was just flat out perfect.
This book reminds you how enjoyable a straightforward mystery can be. Nothing to strain its credibility. I recommend this for readers who like William Kent Krueger.
My thanks to netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
Transom had left Fallen Mountains years ago. He returns and starts buying up farms and leasing the mineral rights to gas companies. In addition to the ill will generated by bring in frackers, Transom’s history with others in the community means there are plenty of suspects who could have done him harm. He’s an SOB and he’s pushed several decent people to the end of their ropes. Unlike with a lot of mysteries, I really didn’t have a feel for who could have done it.
This character driven mystery is beautifully written, as you would expect when a Faulkner passage figures prominently into Red’s upbringing. There’s a lot of grief here; a lot of loss. Not just the loss of loved ones, but of a way of life, of innocence.
There’s also a lot about forgiveness and getting beyond one’s anger. The ending was just flat out perfect.
This book reminds you how enjoyable a straightforward mystery can be. Nothing to strain its credibility. I recommend this for readers who like William Kent Krueger.
My thanks to netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
May 15, 2023
If you are looking for a mystery with a great twist and great character-building, look no further! Kimi Cunningham Grant, who wrote one of my favourite books of all time - These Silent Woods - penned a suspenseful, timely novel that touches on fracking and the corporate bandits who pillage Nature's bounty, leaving behind a barren wasteland. VERY WELL DONE! I applauded at the end!
Transom surely reaped what he sowed!
Transom Shultz was a charming bully who couldn't see beyond his own selfish needs and desires. He justified his many betrayals by assuring his unwitting victims that the end result - financial prosperity - was worth the carnage his tactics left in their wake.
Chase Hardy had trusted his childhood friend - and foolishly believed that Transom loved the Hardy family farm as much as Chase did. He agreed to sell Transom the failing farm, naively believing that Transom would find a way to make it profitable again.
I was just as gutted as Chase was by the devastation of his ancestral farmlands after Transom almost immediately had the majestic forests cleared and signed away the mineral rights to frackers.
As we make our way through this cleverly crafted thriller, we uncover many more of Transom's crimes against friend and foe alike. When Transom goes missing, there is quite a long line of suspects that had plenty of motives to ensure that his disappearance was permanent.
But Transom 's greatest crime was the rape and devastation of the farm that had been his safe harbour when his own family fell apart. Chase's grandparents had given Transom a home when he could no longer stomach living with his cheating father. Sadly, Chase could never see his best friend's ingrained narcissism. Ironically they called each other "brother" - until this ultimate betrayal disclosed Transom's true devious nature.
The pieces of this intricate puzzle fell beautifully into place at that riveting ending. As we watched the investigators at the crime scene, we, the reader, knew what only one other person knew. (I felt like I was part of the final conspiracy to ensure that justice was truly done.)
There was very little pity left in me for Transom. (He symbolized for me the human race's wanton and savage pillaging of the earth's resources for its own sordid gain.) He had callously destroyed Chase's beloved home - his sanctuary. Nature (and Transom's own arrogance) conspired with the characters in this story to exact her revenge and impose Transom 's final reckoning. That ending was sheer poetic justice!
Highly, highly recommended! 5 out of 5 glowing stars!
May 16, 2019
Atmospheric, riveting and intensely entertaining!
I was immediately intrigued by the mystery of FALLEN MOUNTAINS and found the setting to be immensely appealing. I am a total sucker when it comes to dark and gritty tales set in a small rural town. They are by far one of my favorite types of reads and add in great writing, a suspenseful mystery full of secrets and a missing person - well then I am one happy and contented reader!
FALLEN MOUNTAINS by KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT is a compelling, dark, gritty, and suspenseful mystery that immediately sucked me in and had me totally absorbed within this tale. My thoughts and feelings never wavered once while reading this book. It had such a rugged down to earth feel to it that I really connected with and found to be extremely enjoyable and entertaining.
KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT delivers an atmospheric and character-driven novel here that was quite the impressive, intriguing, suspenseful and well-written read with compelling and memorable characters, an absorbing mystery and an extremely transfixing storyline. The story is told in alternating chapters starting with “After” and then “Before” the disappearance of Transom. I thought the pacing and the flow between the two was absolutely perfect for an exciting and suspenseful read.
I absolutely loved the storytelling and thoroughly enjoyed both timelines equally.
*This was a Traveling Sisters read with Brenda & Lindsay that we all thoroughly enjoyed!*
Expected Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching, haunting, suspenseful, beautiful and extremely fitting representation to storyline.
Title: I was immediately intrigued by the title of this book and definitely enticed me to read this book.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, engaging, vividly descriptive, and simply beautiful.
Plot: Suspenseful, appealing, thought-provoking, gripping, perfectly-paced, absorbing, memorable, enjoyable and extremely entertaining. I absolutely loved this storyline!
Ending: A pleasing and satisfying resolution.
Overall: I was immediately interested in this tale and thoroughly enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery, the characters and the storyline. Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for gifting me an advanced physical copy of this book. It was an absolute pleasure reading it!
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
I was immediately intrigued by the mystery of FALLEN MOUNTAINS and found the setting to be immensely appealing. I am a total sucker when it comes to dark and gritty tales set in a small rural town. They are by far one of my favorite types of reads and add in great writing, a suspenseful mystery full of secrets and a missing person - well then I am one happy and contented reader!
FALLEN MOUNTAINS by KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT is a compelling, dark, gritty, and suspenseful mystery that immediately sucked me in and had me totally absorbed within this tale. My thoughts and feelings never wavered once while reading this book. It had such a rugged down to earth feel to it that I really connected with and found to be extremely enjoyable and entertaining.
KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT delivers an atmospheric and character-driven novel here that was quite the impressive, intriguing, suspenseful and well-written read with compelling and memorable characters, an absorbing mystery and an extremely transfixing storyline. The story is told in alternating chapters starting with “After” and then “Before” the disappearance of Transom. I thought the pacing and the flow between the two was absolutely perfect for an exciting and suspenseful read.
I absolutely loved the storytelling and thoroughly enjoyed both timelines equally.
*This was a Traveling Sisters read with Brenda & Lindsay that we all thoroughly enjoyed!*
Expected Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Eye-catching, haunting, suspenseful, beautiful and extremely fitting representation to storyline.
Title: I was immediately intrigued by the title of this book and definitely enticed me to read this book.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, engaging, vividly descriptive, and simply beautiful.
Plot: Suspenseful, appealing, thought-provoking, gripping, perfectly-paced, absorbing, memorable, enjoyable and extremely entertaining. I absolutely loved this storyline!
Ending: A pleasing and satisfying resolution.
Overall: I was immediately interested in this tale and thoroughly enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery, the characters and the storyline. Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for gifting me an advanced physical copy of this book. It was an absolute pleasure reading it!
Review can also be found on our blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
December 29, 2018
Fallen Mountain is a gripping, gritty, yet simple story that explores the haunting secrets hidden in a small town. The story starts off a bit slow as we get to know our characters allowing us to connect to these flawed interesting and real like characters with some darkness to them.
Kimi Cunningham Grant does a great job creating a realistic down to earth feel through her descriptive atmospheric writing and we could feel the emotional connection the characters had to each other and their surroundings.
I loved how Kimi Cunningham Grant weaves a character-driven story with a mystery to it. The suspense builds right from the start and is maintained right to the haunting ending that left me still thinking about it.
I read this one with Norma and Lindsay and the characters left us with so much to discuss. We highly recommend for buddy reads.
Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book
Kimi Cunningham Grant does a great job creating a realistic down to earth feel through her descriptive atmospheric writing and we could feel the emotional connection the characters had to each other and their surroundings.
I loved how Kimi Cunningham Grant weaves a character-driven story with a mystery to it. The suspense builds right from the start and is maintained right to the haunting ending that left me still thinking about it.
I read this one with Norma and Lindsay and the characters left us with so much to discuss. We highly recommend for buddy reads.
Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing and Kimi Cunningham Grant for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book
August 11, 2020
Recently I have started enjoying books set in provincial towns, where everybody knows each other and where the present dynamic is driven by the past events.
The Before and After chapters give insight into the lives of people who had dealings with a man that disappears. As the story progesses, Transom Schultz turns out to be a character that cannot be called likeable, and no wonder there is a suspicion of murder lingering over Fallen Mountains.
Fallen Mountains, a rural town in Pennsylvania, with a vast national park and farms, is taken over by companies that exploit the soil and destroy everything farmers have achieved working hard for around two hundred years, just like Chase Hardy's family. The change in the landscape is a heart-breaking moment.
The characters are superbly-developed, their stories are poignant, and make you feel for them. A most engaging plot allows me to describe this book as a definite page-turner. A grand debut! A rural noir at its best!
*Many thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
The Before and After chapters give insight into the lives of people who had dealings with a man that disappears. As the story progesses, Transom Schultz turns out to be a character that cannot be called likeable, and no wonder there is a suspicion of murder lingering over Fallen Mountains.
Fallen Mountains, a rural town in Pennsylvania, with a vast national park and farms, is taken over by companies that exploit the soil and destroy everything farmers have achieved working hard for around two hundred years, just like Chase Hardy's family. The change in the landscape is a heart-breaking moment.
The characters are superbly-developed, their stories are poignant, and make you feel for them. A most engaging plot allows me to describe this book as a definite page-turner. A grand debut! A rural noir at its best!
*Many thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
February 2, 2019
Secrets and mysteries in a small town. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Wow, Fallen Mountains blew me away! If you are looking for standout in literary suspense, Fallen Mountains is IT.
Transom Schultz is missing. He has just returned to his home town of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, a quiet, atmospheric place, when he disappears. And Transom has some giant secrets.
Red is the sheriff in Fallen Mountains, and he has his share of secrets, too. He’s worried Transom’s disappearance is related to a crime he committed years ago…One Red helped him cover-up.
Who are the possible culprits in Transom’s disappearance? Possum was the victim of that long ago crime, and he wants revenge. Laney was somehow involved, and she’s desperate to keep Transom quiet. Chase used to be Transom’s best friend, but he has hard feelings over how Transom bought and mistreated his family’s farm.
Red is searching for Transom, but will he find him?
Kimi Cunningham Grant has a work of wonder right here. It has all my favorite storytelling elements, which is unusual in suspense. I loved the characterization, especially for Red. He is flawed and unforgettable; they all are really. The emotional connection between the characters is palpable and raw. The pacing and flow of the writing are both exceptional.
Overall, this is an atmospheric, well-written story centered on vivid characters with a backdrop of an intriguing mystery. I loved it!
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Wow, Fallen Mountains blew me away! If you are looking for standout in literary suspense, Fallen Mountains is IT.
Transom Schultz is missing. He has just returned to his home town of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, a quiet, atmospheric place, when he disappears. And Transom has some giant secrets.
Red is the sheriff in Fallen Mountains, and he has his share of secrets, too. He’s worried Transom’s disappearance is related to a crime he committed years ago…One Red helped him cover-up.
Who are the possible culprits in Transom’s disappearance? Possum was the victim of that long ago crime, and he wants revenge. Laney was somehow involved, and she’s desperate to keep Transom quiet. Chase used to be Transom’s best friend, but he has hard feelings over how Transom bought and mistreated his family’s farm.
Red is searching for Transom, but will he find him?
Kimi Cunningham Grant has a work of wonder right here. It has all my favorite storytelling elements, which is unusual in suspense. I loved the characterization, especially for Red. He is flawed and unforgettable; they all are really. The emotional connection between the characters is palpable and raw. The pacing and flow of the writing are both exceptional.
Overall, this is an atmospheric, well-written story centered on vivid characters with a backdrop of an intriguing mystery. I loved it!
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
April 22, 2023
Transom Shultz has gone missing in his hometown of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania. It's a small town where you either know everyone or are related to them. Small towns have long memories, and it is hard to keep your secrets a secret. Sooner or later, they come bubbling up to the surface. It's only a matter of time.
Transom is not a good man. He has bullied, lied, and betrayed. What happened to him?
Red, the sheriff has been haunted for years by choosing to do nothing when he believed a crime had been committed. He made the decision not to act and now feels as if his lack of action may have something to do with Transom's disappearance. Is he correct? Will he find Transom?
Chase, who was once a close friend of Transom, was betrayed by Transom over the ownership of Chase's family farm and what Transom does with it. Does he want revenge?
Possum was a victim of Transom's bullying in the past. Does he want revenge?
As the search continues, incidents new and old come to light. Those with secrets grow nervous, the tension mounts, self-reflection is done, and a discovery will be made. What will it mean for all involved?
I was blown away by the author's writing when I read These Silent Woods and wanted to read a previous book by her and was not disappointed. She captured small town living as well as the feelings associated with resentment, love, guilt, self-doubt, grief, and longing. She depicts toxic relationships and flawed characters brilliantly. She has her characters carrying the weight of their emotions, pasts, decisions, and feelings on their shoulders. It's a heavy burden and she pulls it off.
This is a character driven mystery which did not disappoint. If your first introduction to this author was These Silent Woods, you will enjoy this one as well. The pacing was spot on and although this book was not fast paced, it was not slow either. I put it in the "just right." category. I loved how everything came together.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job.
This book was atmospheric, dark, suspenseful, and beautifully written.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Transom is not a good man. He has bullied, lied, and betrayed. What happened to him?
Red, the sheriff has been haunted for years by choosing to do nothing when he believed a crime had been committed. He made the decision not to act and now feels as if his lack of action may have something to do with Transom's disappearance. Is he correct? Will he find Transom?
Chase, who was once a close friend of Transom, was betrayed by Transom over the ownership of Chase's family farm and what Transom does with it. Does he want revenge?
Possum was a victim of Transom's bullying in the past. Does he want revenge?
As the search continues, incidents new and old come to light. Those with secrets grow nervous, the tension mounts, self-reflection is done, and a discovery will be made. What will it mean for all involved?
I was blown away by the author's writing when I read These Silent Woods and wanted to read a previous book by her and was not disappointed. She captured small town living as well as the feelings associated with resentment, love, guilt, self-doubt, grief, and longing. She depicts toxic relationships and flawed characters brilliantly. She has her characters carrying the weight of their emotions, pasts, decisions, and feelings on their shoulders. It's a heavy burden and she pulls it off.
This is a character driven mystery which did not disappoint. If your first introduction to this author was These Silent Woods, you will enjoy this one as well. The pacing was spot on and although this book was not fast paced, it was not slow either. I put it in the "just right." category. I loved how everything came together.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a fantastic job.
This book was atmospheric, dark, suspenseful, and beautifully written.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
December 7, 2020
Simply put, this book has no flaws in it!
It is a mystery set in the small rural town of Fallen Mountains. A young man, Transom Shultz returns to his home town after years of staying away but soon disappears. At first, no one considers this to be out of the norm since he has done this many times before; that is until his fiance tells the town sheriff Red that she is sure that something is amiss since he was finally ready to settle down for good. As an investigation goes underway, not only Transom's secrets, but also of the people whose lives and histories are entwined with Transom threaten to come to the fore since all of them have a score to settle with Transom.
The pace of the book was quite in keeping with a book set in a small rural town. The entire story is told in episodes of present and past and the author maintains a smooth flow in terms of storytelling throughout. I could not put this book down and since I could not read much during the week, I spent my entire Friday evening and Saturday morning finishing this book, completely ignoring all my pending work.
Thank you #Netgally for the ARC. Highly recommended.
It is a mystery set in the small rural town of Fallen Mountains. A young man, Transom Shultz returns to his home town after years of staying away but soon disappears. At first, no one considers this to be out of the norm since he has done this many times before; that is until his fiance tells the town sheriff Red that she is sure that something is amiss since he was finally ready to settle down for good. As an investigation goes underway, not only Transom's secrets, but also of the people whose lives and histories are entwined with Transom threaten to come to the fore since all of them have a score to settle with Transom.
The pace of the book was quite in keeping with a book set in a small rural town. The entire story is told in episodes of present and past and the author maintains a smooth flow in terms of storytelling throughout. I could not put this book down and since I could not read much during the week, I spent my entire Friday evening and Saturday morning finishing this book, completely ignoring all my pending work.
Thank you #Netgally for the ARC. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2018
3.5 STARS
A character driven novel about a man who goes missing in the small rural town of Fallen Mountains.
The descriptive writing brought both the characters and the setting of the rural community to life. The chapters alternate from Before to After the crime and paint a behind the scenes peek at what went on in the town prior to Transom Schultz going missing. Again.
What was supposed to be an easy transition into retirement and Red’s last day on the job as Fallen Mountain Sheriff, has turned out to be a day of bad luck.
Everyone seems to have secrets, a story to tell and something to hide.
A well-written, multi-layered plot with a small town mystery to solve.
Many thanks to the author for my review copy. Out March 5,2019
A character driven novel about a man who goes missing in the small rural town of Fallen Mountains.
The descriptive writing brought both the characters and the setting of the rural community to life. The chapters alternate from Before to After the crime and paint a behind the scenes peek at what went on in the town prior to Transom Schultz going missing. Again.
What was supposed to be an easy transition into retirement and Red’s last day on the job as Fallen Mountain Sheriff, has turned out to be a day of bad luck.
Everyone seems to have secrets, a story to tell and something to hide.
A well-written, multi-layered plot with a small town mystery to solve.
Many thanks to the author for my review copy. Out March 5,2019
March 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this story!
Red, Sheriff of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania is ready to retire, has his resignation letter in hand, when news comes that a local young man is missing.
Red has been sheriff here for many years in this small rural town and in his early days he covered up a crime this missing man committed.
Red must put off retirement now to get to the bottom of what has happened and the book goes back and forth between BEFORE and AFTER the occurrence in alternating chapters.
This is an atmospheric and character driven novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for this Read Now ARC!
Red, Sheriff of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania is ready to retire, has his resignation letter in hand, when news comes that a local young man is missing.
Red has been sheriff here for many years in this small rural town and in his early days he covered up a crime this missing man committed.
Red must put off retirement now to get to the bottom of what has happened and the book goes back and forth between BEFORE and AFTER the occurrence in alternating chapters.
This is an atmospheric and character driven novel.
Thank you to Netgalley for this Read Now ARC!
April 20, 2022
“The past is never dead. It isn’t even past.”
This author’s name might look familiar to a lot of you seeing that her most recent release (These Silent Woods) has been running the 5 Star gamut both here and on the ‘Gram. Despite having a house on the cover and some of my most trustworthy compatriots singing its praises, I just had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a story for me . . . .
Like I have ESPN or something. When my friend Zoeytron posted a review that warned of instalove and frequent bible verses I knew I had made the right decision. Buuuuuuuut, I have FOMO so I went to see if this author had any other offerings and by golly what a gem I discovered.
Damn this book was good. The story here is about lifelong friends Chase, Transom and Laney. Transom and Laney were off again on again for the majority of their the lives, but when Transom moved away she and Chase started catching some feelings. And speaking of Transom going away – well, he came back to Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania just in time to purchase Chase’s family farm before the bank was fixin' to take it back since he’s such a “good buddy.” Yeah, good buddy that immediately starts logging the hell out of it and selling off the mineral rights to frackers. And now he’s missing to boot. Did he just run off again as he’s been known to do in the past? Or did something nefarious happen?
“Life is complicated, isn’t it? People are complicated. We think we know someone’s story, but we never do, not the whole story.”
I’ve been having a difficult time awarding all the stars this year, but there was zero hesitation when it came to Fallen Mountains. A fine contribution to the griterature genre that fans of David Joy should pick up pronto, every single thing about this one was satisfying. Like a hearty meal I felt full and a bit hungover upon finishing. And I still got my house cover!
This author’s name might look familiar to a lot of you seeing that her most recent release (These Silent Woods) has been running the 5 Star gamut both here and on the ‘Gram. Despite having a house on the cover and some of my most trustworthy compatriots singing its praises, I just had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a story for me . . . .
Like I have ESPN or something. When my friend Zoeytron posted a review that warned of instalove and frequent bible verses I knew I had made the right decision. Buuuuuuuut, I have FOMO so I went to see if this author had any other offerings and by golly what a gem I discovered.
Damn this book was good. The story here is about lifelong friends Chase, Transom and Laney. Transom and Laney were off again on again for the majority of their the lives, but when Transom moved away she and Chase started catching some feelings. And speaking of Transom going away – well, he came back to Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania just in time to purchase Chase’s family farm before the bank was fixin' to take it back since he’s such a “good buddy.” Yeah, good buddy that immediately starts logging the hell out of it and selling off the mineral rights to frackers. And now he’s missing to boot. Did he just run off again as he’s been known to do in the past? Or did something nefarious happen?
“Life is complicated, isn’t it? People are complicated. We think we know someone’s story, but we never do, not the whole story.”
I’ve been having a difficult time awarding all the stars this year, but there was zero hesitation when it came to Fallen Mountains. A fine contribution to the griterature genre that fans of David Joy should pick up pronto, every single thing about this one was satisfying. Like a hearty meal I felt full and a bit hungover upon finishing. And I still got my house cover!
February 6, 2024
The Past is Never Dead...
FALLEN MOUNTAINS by Kimi Cunningham Grant
No spoilers. 5 stars. Red is the sheriff in the small town of Fallen Mountains, where there isn't enough crime to keep him busy...
Until...
Transom Shultz, the town's golden boy and all-around rascal, is reported missing by his fiance Teresa...
Leaving town unexpectedly...
... was nothing new for Transom, who often abruptly disappeared for periods of time without telling anyone...
But this time...
Sheriff Red has reason to believe that Transom has met with foul play...
Enter P.I. Mick Dashel...
... who believes that Transom has been murdered by one of his many enemies. Dashel teams up with Red to solve the case...
Trouble is...
Transom has made so many enemies (both male and female) over the years...
... and the two men must ferret out who among them is their prime suspect...
Because...
The past is never dead. It isn't even the past...
This was an excellent small-town whodunit mystery with a handful of suspects and a terrific ending.
THESE SILENT WOODS by this author is another excellent novel of wilderness survival.
FALLEN MOUNTAINS by Kimi Cunningham Grant
No spoilers. 5 stars. Red is the sheriff in the small town of Fallen Mountains, where there isn't enough crime to keep him busy...
Until...
Transom Shultz, the town's golden boy and all-around rascal, is reported missing by his fiance Teresa...
Leaving town unexpectedly...
... was nothing new for Transom, who often abruptly disappeared for periods of time without telling anyone...
But this time...
Sheriff Red has reason to believe that Transom has met with foul play...
Enter P.I. Mick Dashel...
... who believes that Transom has been murdered by one of his many enemies. Dashel teams up with Red to solve the case...
Trouble is...
Transom has made so many enemies (both male and female) over the years...
... and the two men must ferret out who among them is their prime suspect...
Because...
The past is never dead. It isn't even the past...
This was an excellent small-town whodunit mystery with a handful of suspects and a terrific ending.
THESE SILENT WOODS by this author is another excellent novel of wilderness survival.
March 11, 2019
Fallen Mountains is the powerful, poignant debut novel of award-winning writer Kimi Cunningham Grant, and although it doesn't quite fit my usual go-to genres, I was mesmerised from the first few lines. It's a novel all about how the secrets of ones past have the capability of reemerging to impact your future regardless of how deeply you believe you've hidden them. The reason why so many of us are drawn to books in which secrets and lies form a substantial part of the plot is because we all have them; some large, some small.
We as humans tend to be fascinated by the unknown, the hidden, the salacious. Much like teenagers in the schoolyard, and when such hidden aspects of our lives come to the fore there is no shortage of spectators just hanging around and revelling in seeing you take a fall. This is especially true for small communities where everyone tends to know everyone else's business - or so they think.
Ms Grant is a proficient plotter and her writing makes it almost impossible not to be pulled into the story right from the start; I certainly didn't expect it to have such an impact on me so early on. The timeline moves from past to present and back again but never becomes confusing or disjointed which I was surprised about. Again, a testament to Grant's skill. Despite being under 300 pages in length, this is a novel that packs a punch. This is a character-driven tale where each of said characters are beautifully drawn and flawed; this makes it easy to engage with and invest in them as they are all so very human. Fallen Mountains is a fine example of the past coming back to haunt you, and no matter how far you run you can never outrun your past.
Many thanks to Amberjack Publishing for an ARC.
We as humans tend to be fascinated by the unknown, the hidden, the salacious. Much like teenagers in the schoolyard, and when such hidden aspects of our lives come to the fore there is no shortage of spectators just hanging around and revelling in seeing you take a fall. This is especially true for small communities where everyone tends to know everyone else's business - or so they think.
Ms Grant is a proficient plotter and her writing makes it almost impossible not to be pulled into the story right from the start; I certainly didn't expect it to have such an impact on me so early on. The timeline moves from past to present and back again but never becomes confusing or disjointed which I was surprised about. Again, a testament to Grant's skill. Despite being under 300 pages in length, this is a novel that packs a punch. This is a character-driven tale where each of said characters are beautifully drawn and flawed; this makes it easy to engage with and invest in them as they are all so very human. Fallen Mountains is a fine example of the past coming back to haunt you, and no matter how far you run you can never outrun your past.
Many thanks to Amberjack Publishing for an ARC.
January 6, 2019
Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania is a small town holding secrets and regrets, memories and things best forgotten. It is made up of family histories and friendships false and true. It’s a small town like any other, and when one of its members goes missing, questions and suspicions are laid bare like the neighboring forests that are being systematically mowed down by outsiders.
Possum, Transom, Chase and sheriff Red all have their family histories and secrets, some of them overlapping. When Transom disappears, Red, ready for retirement, reluctantly must face some of those secrets to get to the bottom of his absence. He must question motives from Transom’s childhood friend, Chase, and his childhood adversary, Possum.
The novel is a character study of how past events and discoveries shaped the viewpoints of these men, and what they did as a result. The writing is excellent; I felt as if I understood where each character was coming from, whether I agreed with him or not. There is suspense throughout the book, and the ending was just as it should have been – painful and perfect.
It’s a pleasure to have started the new year with a book as thoughtfully written as Fallen Mountains. Thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.
Possum, Transom, Chase and sheriff Red all have their family histories and secrets, some of them overlapping. When Transom disappears, Red, ready for retirement, reluctantly must face some of those secrets to get to the bottom of his absence. He must question motives from Transom’s childhood friend, Chase, and his childhood adversary, Possum.
The novel is a character study of how past events and discoveries shaped the viewpoints of these men, and what they did as a result. The writing is excellent; I felt as if I understood where each character was coming from, whether I agreed with him or not. There is suspense throughout the book, and the ending was just as it should have been – painful and perfect.
It’s a pleasure to have started the new year with a book as thoughtfully written as Fallen Mountains. Thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.
January 27, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for this arc.
A very compelling and atmospheric read for me. Great characters, fully developed, some likeable some not so much, but all of them wholly human and understandable. The story starts off with loss and grief and all the repercussions thereof but morphs into a human study of people just trying to cope the best they can in a world they don't fully understand. It bobbles into three different time periods with the characters' histories and the development of the story... 17 years previous, about 6 months previous and current time. While not exactly seamless, it fully explains everyone's motivations and actions. While I wouldn't term this a "feel good" read by any means, the ending was beautifully done leaving a sense of peace with a wisp or two of hope.
I'm definitely hoping for more from the author!
4.5 stars rounded up.
A very compelling and atmospheric read for me. Great characters, fully developed, some likeable some not so much, but all of them wholly human and understandable. The story starts off with loss and grief and all the repercussions thereof but morphs into a human study of people just trying to cope the best they can in a world they don't fully understand. It bobbles into three different time periods with the characters' histories and the development of the story... 17 years previous, about 6 months previous and current time. While not exactly seamless, it fully explains everyone's motivations and actions. While I wouldn't term this a "feel good" read by any means, the ending was beautifully done leaving a sense of peace with a wisp or two of hope.
I'm definitely hoping for more from the author!
4.5 stars rounded up.
March 6, 2019
4.5 Stars
In the small town of Fallen Mountains, everyone knows their neighbor and most disturbances are of the minor infraction. However, when Transom Shultz is reported missing only after having recently returned to his hometown all doesn’t seem as it appears. As such, motives are questioned and secrets threaten to expose many. As Sheriff John “Red” Redifer leads the investigation, he hopes the past will remain silent.
“And here in Fallen Mountains, you don’t really get to unhitch yourself from your past.”
Alternating between a past and present timeline, the story delves into the essence of multiple characters, pinpointing their struggles and highlighting their strengths. Richly layered and choreographed, the plot unfolds steadily peering into how complicated a simple life can become by trusting the wrong people.
“I like that about you. You see the best in people. You’ve got grace for them, I should say. You forgive.”
From the beginning, I was hooked by the quaint rural setting and the resilience of these characters. In addition to the immediate mystery, the theme of nature abounds until the layers of landscape are excavated and discarded similar to character decisions. I definitely sympathized with certain characters and the ending was quite satisfying.
Fallen Mountains is a crime mystery centered on righting wrongs.
*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*
*An ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
March 5, 2019
Genre: Murder Mystery
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Fallen Mountains was a sleepy backwater town with just over nine hundred populations. After being the town’s sheriff for years, John (Red) Redifer was ready to hang his badge. But when town royalty Transom Shultz was reported missing, skeletons from the past threatened to emerge. Burdened by his conscience, Red must now solve the case before he’s buried by guilt.
I’ve always love books with small town setting due to the different ambiance and characters’ mentality. This book made me feel the fresh air and smell the damp soil under my feet as I followed the characters through their journey.
I loved the overall storyline with the before and after timeline, slowly chipping away the characters’ pasts. However, I felt the first half of the book was a little slow and there were times I had to recheck which timeline I was on because there were flashbacks on both making it confusing to keep track of.
I enjoyed the environmental aspect of the book and the exploration of the characters’ psyche. Initially the ending might seemed anti climactic but I love the way the story concluded.
Fallen Mountains is a story of uncovering the truth. It would appeal to readers looking for a small town murder mystery.
🌿 🏔 🌿 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🌿 🏔 🌿
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Fallen Mountains was a sleepy backwater town with just over nine hundred populations. After being the town’s sheriff for years, John (Red) Redifer was ready to hang his badge. But when town royalty Transom Shultz was reported missing, skeletons from the past threatened to emerge. Burdened by his conscience, Red must now solve the case before he’s buried by guilt.
I’ve always love books with small town setting due to the different ambiance and characters’ mentality. This book made me feel the fresh air and smell the damp soil under my feet as I followed the characters through their journey.
Every day of his life, he was paying the price for their selfishness, and he’d had enough.
I loved the overall storyline with the before and after timeline, slowly chipping away the characters’ pasts. However, I felt the first half of the book was a little slow and there were times I had to recheck which timeline I was on because there were flashbacks on both making it confusing to keep track of.
I enjoyed the environmental aspect of the book and the exploration of the characters’ psyche. Initially the ending might seemed anti climactic but I love the way the story concluded.
Fallen Mountains is a story of uncovering the truth. It would appeal to readers looking for a small town murder mystery.
🌿 🏔 🌿 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . 🌿 🏔 🌿
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April 26, 2019
Secrets on top of secrets with a side of secrets sprinkled with secrets and a big heaping scoop of secrets for dessert!!
"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
That quote from the book is so true. It could even be the subtitle to this book. (Read the book and you'll understand why.) This riveting mystery just sucks you in and I loved every minute of it!!! The characters come to life right off the page and are so well developed they add such depth to the plotline. While reading this book I literally felt like I was watching the movie play out on a tiny screen in front of me. (Which this book would make a good movie adaptation....).
The author structures this book to before and after chapters from Transom's disappearance. And while this may seem confusing upon first look, it flows beautifully and just builds layers to the mystery. With each layer/chapter I thought I had everything figured out and then a new secret was revealed and another layer added that had me questioning my detective skills. There is so much raw emotion with each character as they have to face the consequences of their past. Hence, the past is never dead.
Excellent book and a great read. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed! I am so excited to have discovered this author, I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I'll be first in line to read!!
My thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"The past is never dead. It's not even past."
That quote from the book is so true. It could even be the subtitle to this book. (Read the book and you'll understand why.) This riveting mystery just sucks you in and I loved every minute of it!!! The characters come to life right off the page and are so well developed they add such depth to the plotline. While reading this book I literally felt like I was watching the movie play out on a tiny screen in front of me. (Which this book would make a good movie adaptation....).
The author structures this book to before and after chapters from Transom's disappearance. And while this may seem confusing upon first look, it flows beautifully and just builds layers to the mystery. With each layer/chapter I thought I had everything figured out and then a new secret was revealed and another layer added that had me questioning my detective skills. There is so much raw emotion with each character as they have to face the consequences of their past. Hence, the past is never dead.
Excellent book and a great read. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed! I am so excited to have discovered this author, I can't wait to see what she comes out with next. I'll be first in line to read!!
My thanks to Kimi Cunningham Grant, Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2022
What a great book! I didn't want to stop reading, even though it wasn't what you'd normally think of as an exciting book. A lot of damaged people, many holding on to their hurt for years without knowing quite what to do about it. I wanted to help them all, but in spite of my shouting advice, they didn't listen. It seems like much of the pain and suffering could have been alleviated by simply talking, but they all felt they couldn't do this for some reason. Some of them felt they needed to hold on to the pain until it went away, but that doesn't always happen. And then there was hate that lasted so many years, and destroyed the hater more than the hatee. And all for misunderstanding what is going on due again to that lack of communication. Lots of sadness in this story.
The saddest thing was that the person causing the most misery seems to be one of the most popular people in the town. I suppose that's often the case, since if someone is not liked, it's hard to get close enough to people to hurt them.
Anyway, it's hard to classify this book or talk about it without giving too much away. So all I can realy say is read it.
The saddest thing was that the person causing the most misery seems to be one of the most popular people in the town. I suppose that's often the case, since if someone is not liked, it's hard to get close enough to people to hurt them.
Anyway, it's hard to classify this book or talk about it without giving too much away. So all I can realy say is read it.
December 15, 2018
4,5 stars
What an impressive debut!
I'm a sucker for mystery novels set in a small town with its own hidden secrets, a story line full of unexpected twists and characters that are complicated enough and full of surprises. With her gripping and atmospheric debut novel Kimi Cunningham Grant has really hit the mark.
Trust but verify. Is one of the messages this book delivered. But not only.
Excitingly suspenseful, very good written, with multilayered characters and absolutely unputdownable. I read it literally in one sitting.
Highly recommended!
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
What an impressive debut!
I'm a sucker for mystery novels set in a small town with its own hidden secrets, a story line full of unexpected twists and characters that are complicated enough and full of surprises. With her gripping and atmospheric debut novel Kimi Cunningham Grant has really hit the mark.
Trust but verify. Is one of the messages this book delivered. But not only.
Excitingly suspenseful, very good written, with multilayered characters and absolutely unputdownable. I read it literally in one sitting.
Highly recommended!
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
January 22, 2019
Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a novel based in the mountains of Pennsylvania during modern times and one commonly referred to as "country" or "rural" noir.
The story is told in alternating chapters titled as "Before" and "After" and seeks to tell the tale of the disintegrating friendship of Transom Shultz and Chase Hardy. The two have grown up together, with Transom coming from an unstable home of plenty and Chase a poorer family of quality. The two are more like brothers than friends.
When Transom is reported missing by his fiance to Red, the sheriff, the story goes from there. As Red tries to determine if Transom voluntarily left the small town or is the victim of foul play, the story slowly reveals past secrets haunting each of those involved. Of the main characters, each carries past burdens which could cast suspicions on each one if it is determined Transom has befallen under suspicious circumstances.
Grant's writing is so visually descriptive, with her characters richly developed and slowly flushed out to the reader. Like other successful writers of this genre, Grant also creates characters where their human nature, or lack thereof, is more villainous than that of the wildly exaggerated cartoon-like characters found in too many other novels.
Unfortunately, there is a major plot hole that really needed to be dealt with and one that easily could have been handled. In reading other reviews, it is also surprising this has not been mentioned.
Still, even so, Fallen Mountains is remarkable and highly recommended, especially to readers that enjoy novels by writers such as David Joy, Daniel Woodrell, Brian Panowich, William Gay and Tom Franklin.
This novel is an ARC provided by Netgalley for a fair review.
The story is told in alternating chapters titled as "Before" and "After" and seeks to tell the tale of the disintegrating friendship of Transom Shultz and Chase Hardy. The two have grown up together, with Transom coming from an unstable home of plenty and Chase a poorer family of quality. The two are more like brothers than friends.
When Transom is reported missing by his fiance to Red, the sheriff, the story goes from there. As Red tries to determine if Transom voluntarily left the small town or is the victim of foul play, the story slowly reveals past secrets haunting each of those involved. Of the main characters, each carries past burdens which could cast suspicions on each one if it is determined Transom has befallen under suspicious circumstances.
Grant's writing is so visually descriptive, with her characters richly developed and slowly flushed out to the reader. Like other successful writers of this genre, Grant also creates characters where their human nature, or lack thereof, is more villainous than that of the wildly exaggerated cartoon-like characters found in too many other novels.
Unfortunately, there is a major plot hole that really needed to be dealt with and one that easily could have been handled. In reading other reviews, it is also surprising this has not been mentioned.
Still, even so, Fallen Mountains is remarkable and highly recommended, especially to readers that enjoy novels by writers such as David Joy, Daniel Woodrell, Brian Panowich, William Gay and Tom Franklin.
This novel is an ARC provided by Netgalley for a fair review.
April 5, 2023
4 🌄🌄🌄🌄
Bingo N 1 ✅
Bingo N 1 ✅
April 27, 2019
A solid mystery that did a good job in capturing the essence of small town politics and conflict. Red, sheriff of Fallen Mountains, is on the cusp of retirement when a missing persons case falls on his lap. Transom, the local high school superstar 18 years ago, has recently moved back to town. In his sudden departure years ago, he left all of his friends and the town without so much as a goodbye. After being back now for several months, Transom is picking up where he left off and making more enemies than friends. When his fiancée reports him missing, Red must dig up old wounds that are probably best kept buried. There are secrets that still linger from two decades ago. Secrets that could be responsible for Transom’s disappearance.
This was an easy read in that it didn’t require too much brain power. The plot moved along at a decent pace although there were parts that focused a little too much on grief. These parts were a bit repetitive and not essential for plot development. The plot itself was straightforward. More on the linear side yet the story kept you guessing and had an unexpected twist at the end.
Thank you to Amberjack Publishing for an ARC on NG in exchange for an honest review.
This was an easy read in that it didn’t require too much brain power. The plot moved along at a decent pace although there were parts that focused a little too much on grief. These parts were a bit repetitive and not essential for plot development. The plot itself was straightforward. More on the linear side yet the story kept you guessing and had an unexpected twist at the end.
Thank you to Amberjack Publishing for an ARC on NG in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2019
5 amazing stars to Fallen Mountains!
I knew my Goodreads friends wouldn't steer me wrong, so many 5 star reviews for this one! Count me in that number now, I loved this book, the writing and pacing were brilliant.
The book alternates with a before and after storyline. I really liked the character of Red, a 60-year-old small town sheriff who was ready to retire, even had the letter written, when a new case lands in his lap.
Transom Shultz is missing, and part of the mystery is whether this is similar to one of the other times when he just leaves town or has something happened to him? We learn throughout the book about some old grudges and a crime that date back 17 years – have they finally caught up to Transom? Has his close friend Chase had enough after he is betrayed over the family farm?
Each character has a motive for harming Transom and the author does a great job of exploring each one. Memorable characters populate the story and the suspense level is perfect. There is a subplot of ruthless logging and mineral rights explored and the concept of what is the land, something to love and enjoy or a means to make money and exploit?
I can’t wait to read what Kimi Cunningham Grant writes next and I recommend this gem!
I knew my Goodreads friends wouldn't steer me wrong, so many 5 star reviews for this one! Count me in that number now, I loved this book, the writing and pacing were brilliant.
The book alternates with a before and after storyline. I really liked the character of Red, a 60-year-old small town sheriff who was ready to retire, even had the letter written, when a new case lands in his lap.
Transom Shultz is missing, and part of the mystery is whether this is similar to one of the other times when he just leaves town or has something happened to him? We learn throughout the book about some old grudges and a crime that date back 17 years – have they finally caught up to Transom? Has his close friend Chase had enough after he is betrayed over the family farm?
Each character has a motive for harming Transom and the author does a great job of exploring each one. Memorable characters populate the story and the suspense level is perfect. There is a subplot of ruthless logging and mineral rights explored and the concept of what is the land, something to love and enjoy or a means to make money and exploit?
I can’t wait to read what Kimi Cunningham Grant writes next and I recommend this gem!
December 10, 2018
Thank you to Amberjack Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC to review. For a first novel this was wonderful.
I loved the split narrative - past and present mixing the double narrative nicely so you can understand events in their entirety without compromising the pace.
The fact that you never really know until the very end what has happened to Transom is well planned and executed by Grant. You can understand why every character in the novel would want him gone. He was a horrible human-being with little to no morals.
The rural setting in Fallen Mountains allows you to totally buy into the big city oil companies raping and pillaging their way through the picturesque landscape. So you soon realize that the story is a family saga but also an environmental commentary on the Fracking Industry and its disregard for the small town and its folks..
The characters are all broken and flawed from historical issues and bullying incidents but each of them is a likable and worthy of some empathy, including in a way Transom but only at the very end.
Chase, who has lost every person he loves, has fallen on hard times due to historical mismanagement of the farm, he is swindled by his best friend - Transom.
Laney has been in love with both boys but has never admitted it to anyone, she finally chooses Chase and Transom holds their secret over her future...
Thomas (Possum) is Transom Bullying project - their history is long and sordid and rather dangerous - Possum has never shared this history with his cousin Laney but it altered him in significant ways.
Sheriff Red could have changed a few trajectories had he been able to speak his mind earlier, but he made some very hard choices and thus allowed some things to happen that he regrets...
Every single person has a reason to hate Transom and to exact revenge but who and why will keep you riveted to the words on the page.
Excellent first novel. Hauntingly good.
I loved the split narrative - past and present mixing the double narrative nicely so you can understand events in their entirety without compromising the pace.
The fact that you never really know until the very end what has happened to Transom is well planned and executed by Grant. You can understand why every character in the novel would want him gone. He was a horrible human-being with little to no morals.
The rural setting in Fallen Mountains allows you to totally buy into the big city oil companies raping and pillaging their way through the picturesque landscape. So you soon realize that the story is a family saga but also an environmental commentary on the Fracking Industry and its disregard for the small town and its folks..
The characters are all broken and flawed from historical issues and bullying incidents but each of them is a likable and worthy of some empathy, including in a way Transom but only at the very end.
Chase, who has lost every person he loves, has fallen on hard times due to historical mismanagement of the farm, he is swindled by his best friend - Transom.
Laney has been in love with both boys but has never admitted it to anyone, she finally chooses Chase and Transom holds their secret over her future...
Thomas (Possum) is Transom Bullying project - their history is long and sordid and rather dangerous - Possum has never shared this history with his cousin Laney but it altered him in significant ways.
Sheriff Red could have changed a few trajectories had he been able to speak his mind earlier, but he made some very hard choices and thus allowed some things to happen that he regrets...
Every single person has a reason to hate Transom and to exact revenge but who and why will keep you riveted to the words on the page.
Excellent first novel. Hauntingly good.
March 6, 2019
Sacred Ground
Farmers look at their land as holy ground. The roots are deep. Generation after generations working the soil. They are in harmony with nature and the things which surround them, the grass under their feet, the rivers that water their crops, and the blue sky above them. They put their heart and soul into the land. Farmland is not something you disregard like a used car.
This was a well crafted soulful book. Strong complex characters. Loss of loved ones, loss of a way of life, loss of innocence. Small town USA not ready to give into progress.
Farmers look at their land as holy ground. The roots are deep. Generation after generations working the soil. They are in harmony with nature and the things which surround them, the grass under their feet, the rivers that water their crops, and the blue sky above them. They put their heart and soul into the land. Farmland is not something you disregard like a used car.
This was a well crafted soulful book. Strong complex characters. Loss of loved ones, loss of a way of life, loss of innocence. Small town USA not ready to give into progress.
April 7, 2021
CW: trapping, hunting and gutting animals, adultery, child abuse and neglect, grief, mental illness and severe bullying
The past was never dead; it was never past. But it didn't have to own you, either. It didn't have to be all you were.
For me it's probably the hardest to write reviews for books, that were in my opinion just - meh - average. You know, when nothing is particularly wrong with a story, but it just didn't fully grab you for one reason or another? Unfortunately that's the case with Fallen Mountains, I was really looking forward to reading.
In the fictional rural small town of Fallen Mountains in Western Pennsylvania, USA sheriff Red (the only law enforcement officer in this little town) is on the verge of retirement after over twenty years on the job, when Transom Schultz goes missing. At first he handles it as a rather annoying inconvenience, that will hopefully resolve itself quickly, because Transom is known for packing up his stuff and leaving without a word. But soon Red must acknowledge that it's different this time: Transom was finally settling down as he just proposed to his girlfriend, he also left behind his car and all of his papers. Red opens up the investigation and while he goes around, retracing Transom's last known steps, he worries about a secret he kept for over a decade and wonders, if it finally came back to haunt him. Why hadn't he handed in his retirement resignation letter just one day sooner?
The story is told in alternating Before and After chapters, following a handful of characters, which I initially really enjoyed. Unfortunately there were a lot of flashback scenes in order to give some context to the various relationships in either chapters that I constantly had to make sure what kind of chapter I currently was reading. At times these passages also felt a little bit like info-dumps.
I also found the characters to be rather one dimensional and repetitive. The sheriff who's embarrassed and reluctant to investigate the people he knew since their childhood. Chase, Transom's childhood best friend, who's constantly asking himself how Transom could have been so selfish, while recalling moment after moment from the past, where everybody (including himself) was (and still is) enabling this kind of behaviour. Laney, also a childhood friend of Chase and Transom, who's sole purpose was to be the center of a love triangle. Her portrayal irritated me the most, because she really didn't have anything other to add to the story other than lamenting about how Chase couldn't find out about her and Transom until the very end. Possum, Laney's cousin and Transom's bullying victim with anger issues.
When I reached the second half and figured out, who had what kind of role within the story, this book couldn't hold my interest for more than a few pages at a time. What kept me going was the mystery itself, which heavily relied on Transom's awful nature. Literally everyone could have had a good reason to want him gone, therefore I didn't see the ending coming and I do really appreciate it, because Kimi Cunningham Grant didn't make a big spectacle out of it, it just kind of is what it is? I really like that.
Overall this is a decent enough mystery but unfortunately something I probably won't remember much off in a couple of weeks. Looking at all the 4-and-5-star ratings, I'm clearly in the minority with my opinion, so I'd say go for it, if you are interested in small towns full of secrets which most likely could have been resolved a long time ago, if only the people would talk to one another. Thinking about it, a more accurate introductory quote would have been:
The words just wouldn't come out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. The quotes are taken from an eARC and may be edited before publication. Sorry I didn't quite like it.
November 18, 2018
This was so good. Such a great debut. Techincally the author has a memoir under her belt, so let’s say fictional debut. Small town stories (and this is very much a small (population around 950) town story, it’s title is the name of one) are conducive to a sort of almost forced intimacy, where lives are interwoven, fates interconnected and secrets seldom properly covered up. And so when the prodigal son of the wealthiest man in town returns only to disappear soon after, it brings up a lot of dirt that’s been resting under various rugs for many years. Transom is charismatic, popular with the ladies, seemingly generous with his old friend…or so it seems. The truth is much darker, the intentions are much less altruistic. But then again he’s walking back into an emotional charged situation, several situations, really, that have been slowly simmering all these years, trapped much like the characters themselves in this tiny microcosm. It can’t be safe, it won’t be safe, when it all boils over. So it’s that kind of a story, very well executed. The author creates a number of complex, realistic, likeable (and some not so much) characters and really draws you in, you become emotionally invested with them so that in the end it’s immensely satisfactory to see each one given a resolution, something very much like closure and a way forward. There is even a strong element of suspense, Transom, after all, has given cause to be hated by more than one person, so there’s a police investigation and, even when you think you know the ending, a very welcome surprise. A very plot appropriate one, a closure moment. It’s just a very well rounded story well told. Although as compelling as the narrative is, this is very much a character driven work, quiet lives of quiet integrities, quiet desperations and small graces to rise above it all. While normally small towns can be sinister in many different ways and genres, this one is well worth an armchair visit. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
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