Tom Franklin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors (and I read A LOT).  I recently gave my brooding, supposedly literate spouse (Bessie) an inscribed copy of Franklin's wonderful short story collection ("Poachers")--which she quickly (and inaccurately) threw at my throbbing head after finishing the Duane Juarez story--and I was anxious to start on his first novel.
I was particularly keen of the title as I thought it'd be fun to bring this book along to Bessie's family week at the beach (her hyper-sensitive parents do not like the word "hell") since an older person with poor eyesight could easily think I was fitfully reading a book called "Hell at the Beach".  Ha, ha!  In any event, this book did not disappoint--and it made for great reading.
As with "Poachers", this is gritty Southern writing of the finest degree.  Lots of whisky, lots of guns, backstabbing, double dealing, whore-mongering, and a mystery to boot.  The writing is first rate (I mean no exaggeration when I say Franklin just may be the greatest writer of his generation) and the story moves rapidly, in spite of the descriptive, poetic writing (the mark of greatness to HHD).  This novel is set in the late 1890s and is based on a historical band of vigilantes (or murderers depending on your perspective) and their reaction to a murder of a local politician/merchant.  There is a bit of a mystery involving this murder, but there's little doubt as to what the Hell at the Breech gang is up to.  Franklin skillfully weaves the narration through the story by focusing on four main, flawed characters and reveals each layer of the story in reasonable time and fashion (although the ending felt a little bit rushed) as the reader is transported to a rougher time and place.  A fabulous book in every regard and a loud signal of things to come.  Franklin knows the south and writes beautifully and poetically (perhaps inspired and aided by his talented wife, Beth Ann Fennelly).  BTW, Bessie will not be getting an inscribed copy of this one until her aim improves.  Strongly recommended.  Bravo.  HHD.
Tom Franklin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors (and I read A LOT). I recently gave my brooding, supposedly literate spouse (Bessie) an inscribed copy of Franklin's wonderful short story collection ("Poachers")--which she quickly (and inaccurately) threw at my throbbing head after finishing the Duane Juarez story--and I was anxious to start on his first novel. I was particularly keen of the title as I thought it'd be fun to bring this book along to Bessie's family week at the beach (her hyper-sensitive parents do not like the word "hell") since an older person with poor eyesight could easily think I was fitfully reading a book called "Hell at the Beach". Ha, ha! In any event, this book did not disappoint--and it made for great reading. As with "Poachers", this is gritty Southern writing of the finest degree. Lots of whisky, lots of guns, backstabbing, double dealing, whore-mongering, and a mystery to boot. The writing is first rate (I mean no exaggeration when I say Franklin just may be the greatest writer of his generation) and the story moves rapidly, in spite of the descriptive, poetic writing (the mark of greatness to HHD). This novel is set in the late 1890s and is based on a historical band of vigilantes (or murderers depending on your perspective) and their reaction to a murder of a local politician/merchant. There is a bit of a mystery involving this murder, but there's little doubt as to what the Hell at the Breech gang is up to. Franklin skillfully weaves the narration through the story by focusing on four main, flawed characters and reveals each layer of the story in reasonable time and fashion (although the ending felt a little bit rushed) as the reader is transported to a rougher time and place. A fabulous book in every regard and a loud signal of things to come. Franklin knows the south and writes beautifully and poetically (perhaps inspired and aided by his talented wife, Beth Ann Fennelly). BTW, Bessie will not be getting an inscribed copy of this one until her aim improves. Strongly recommended. Bravo. HHD.