Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins

This is a mystery that is complicated by the number of victims, perpetrators and participants.

Amaryllis, Mississippi is a small town that will be recognized by anyone who has lived in a small town. Ms. Collins does an admirable job in portraying small town life, where everyone knows your name and has their nose in your business.

The use of a trio of characters to narrate the story provides an interesting perspective to a murder mystery. This book is about ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. These are people that most likely would be described as the working poor. They struggle to make ends meet and that struggle is compounded by a serial killer.

Ms. Collins provides excellent background on the three protagonists. She makes them “real” people, who you may know or speak to regularly. Ms. Collins is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award winner but I did not feel that there was any proselytizing in the book. She merely presented characters that had a belief system.

The murders and mystery were presented in a folksy manner and were complicated and convoluted. I like that, I am disappointed when I can figure out the ending. I enjoy an author that can keep you guessing.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Body of work of Brandilyn Collins

Web Site: http://brandilyncollins.com/next.html

The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock

A post World War two beginning extending to the 1960’s, this story is an extraordinary characterization of Appalachian poverty.  

Growing up in a steel town and teaching in a tiny impoverished coal town in Pennsylvania gave me the background to find the characters in this book believable.   As a college student, drifting down to West Virginia I drank n some pretty despicable places.   None were quite as despicable as described in the book.    The scenery was familiar as was the attitudes.  

The acceptance of fate by Arvin and his sordid childhood was sobering.   Carl and Sandy were too reminiscent of some of the horror flicks of the 60’s.    The corruption of local law enforcement was something that was accepted in some of the more rural communities as part of the job.   (Hmm, I guess not just rural communities.)

This is not a book for the faint of heart.   There is behavior here that turns the stomach and curdles the soul.   It was not a pleasant book to read but compelling to read as watching a train wreck.  

I recommend the book for those with strong stomachs and who can handle violent behavior. 

Body of  work of Donald Ray Pollock

Web Site: http://donaldraypollock.com/