Sarah Broadhurst's view...
Winner of the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger Award 2015.
Rural Montana in the 80s. Pete Smith is a young social worker with huge problems of his own. In attempting to return a near-feral lad to his family he becomes obsessed with the reclusive mountain people fearing the end of the world. All the way through this impressive book Pete is rescuing children from dysfunctional homes. The tale is told in a gentle rural vernacular that sings. Beside it is an interview or confession questioning his daughter’s reaction to we know not what. These sections build the mystery. It is an amazing book, multi-layered, hypnotic, compulsive and beautifully written. A big American novel not to be missed.
The CWA judges said of the book: "A powerful evocation of the rural America time has forgotten and the casualties in its wake. Both harrowing and life enhancing, a towering achievement and insight into a world many of us would rather ignore."
If you like Smith Henderson you might also like to read books by Philip Meyer, thomas edison and Cormac Mccarthy.
Who is Sarah BroadhurstWin a Set of 10 Bloomsbury Modern Classics!
This month Bloomsbury has launched a series of ten modern classics chosen from highlights of the publisher's last thiry years, each with an eye-catching, iconic illustrated cover - and we have a full set to give away!
The ten titles are Restless by William Boyd, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale and The Little Friend by Donna Tartt.
To have a chance of winning this fantastic prize, click the button below. Please note that this draw is open only for UK residents and is free to enter, multiple entries from the same email address will only be counted once.
The draw closes on 6 November 2017. The winners will be notified by 20 November 2017.
Good luck!
Synopsis
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
This is a dark and powerful debut novel set in the hardscrabble American heartlands. 'If I knew for a certain'ty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life...' After trying to help Benjamin Pearl, an undernourished, nearly feral eleven-year-old boy living in the Montana wilderness, social worker Pete Snow comes face-to-face with the boy's profoundly disturbed father, Jeremiah. With courage and caution, Pete slowly earns a measure of trust from this paranoid survivalist itching for a final conflict that will signal the coming End Times. But as Pete's own family spins out of control, Jeremiah's activities spark the full-blown interest of the FBI, putting Pete at the centre of a massive manhunt from which no one will emerge unscathed. In this shattering and iconic novel, Smith Henderson explores the complexities of freedom, community, grace, suspicion and anarchy, brilliantly depicting America's disquieting and violent contradictions. Fourth of July Creek is an unforgettable, unflinching debut that marks the arrival of a major literary talent.
Browse inside this book
Reviews
'This book left me awestruck; a stunning debut which reads like the work of a writer at the height of his power. Begins with the story of one struggling man and his family and soon seems to encompass and address all of modern America's problems. Fourth of July Creek is a masterful achievement and Smith Henderson is certain to end up a household name.' -- Philipp Meyer, New York Times
'bestselling author of The Son An impressive book - deeply so. [Cormac] McCarthy's shadow may loom heavy across the prose, but the story this prose conveys, and the manner in which Henderson unfurls it, bears its own unalloyed power ... It's Pearl's story, more than anything else, that lock this novel in your hands ... [A] trenchant and vigorously empathetic novel.' New York Times Book Review
'An intense, mesmerising book that uses this surprisingly intimate relationship to explore grand themes about American culture ... Devastating and inspiring.' The Economist
'Stunning debut novel ... that crackles and lurches with the intensity of a Tom Waits song. Here, at the beginning of his career, Henderson has come within shouting distance of writing a great American novel.' Guardian
About the Author
Loading similar books...
Loading other formats...
Book Info
Publication date
5th February 2015Author
Smith HendersonMore books by Smith Henderson
Author 'Like for Like'
recommendations
Author's Website
www.smith-henderson.com/Author's Facebook Latest
Loading facebook updates...
Loading twitter updates...
Publisher
Windmill Books an imprint of CornerstoneFormat
Paperback480 pages
Categories
Literary FictionAll Shortlists and WinnersThriller / SuspenseLiterary FictioneBook FavouriteseBook Favourites
Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)ISBN
9780099559375Lovereading does a stella job in promoting both new and established authors.
Iris Clements
You can trust Lovereading to show unbiased reviews by actual, ordinary readers that help likeminded booklovers choose their next great read.
Linda Hill
Lovereading are lovely people who send me lovely books. What's not to love?
Gavin Dimmock
I recommend Lovereading because you get honest reviews on a whole range of genres-there's something for everyone. It's the only site I need.
Sian Spinney
Love books. Love reading. Love reading books. And, here's the trick. Here's a website which caters for people like me.
Ian Harvey-brown
I love 'try before you buy' extracts. I love the wide range of authors & genres. I love the author info. I love books!
Judi Davies
Ever purchased a book, read a few pages & thought I'm not going to enjoy this? Honest book reviews mean you'll never have that problem again
Jill Peters
Discover new authors and enjoy old favourites; oodles of literary gems to uncover at Lovereading with candid reviews from real reviewers.
Emily Wright
Share this page
What is this?