"There was something someone told me the other day that really struck home. They said everything in this world carries consequences. I think that’s about right, don’t you?”
A small town is consumed with wild fires. When one fire is dealt with another pops up in its place. Similarly, this same small town is riddled with a meth addicted community who can't seem to get a handle on where the meth is coming from or how to slow the amount of overdose related deaths. When a father loses his son to addiction, all he sees are problems that no one is bothering to fix. In the throes of his grief he decides to take justice into his own hands.
I had never read or even heard of David Joy until one day his name was mentioned by Anne Bogel's husband on the What Should I Read Next Podcast. I always keep my ears peeled for any mention of what Anne's husband is reading and loving because he and I share a lot of similar book taste. When These Mountains Burn was listed on the What Should I Read Next Fall reading guide for 2020 and Anne Mentioned that her husband LOVED IT! I didn't even know what it was about but I added it to my list. I was browsing my library catalog for available audio-books and saw this one listed! I downloaded it and devoured it in a matter of 2 sittings. The audio-book is spectacularly narrated and the storytelling is some of the best I have read!
I have such a love hate relationship with books that swap perspectives every couple of chapters. Sometimes, when an author does this successfully, it works and feels cohesive. Sometimes it feels choppy and as a result I feel disconnected. This was a successful case of multiple points of view. Every chapter drove the plot forward and added to the compulsive readability of the book. When These Mountains burn was a blended combination of several different kinds of stories. It was one part crime-fiction, one part revenge story, one part-- what is lovingly named "hick-lit"-- and a beautifully complimentary story element of desperately-sought-after redemption. I was captivated by the gritty story elements and the way the characters were shielded from my complete trust by their very human struggles.
This was my first David Joy book, but it certainly will not be my last. I am already craving more well constructed storytelling from this new-to-me author!
Content warning:
detailed descritpions of meth use, addiction, death, implied suicide, some gun-violence and gore, racism.
4/5 stars
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