Like STEIN, STONED, which I posted about a few days ago, THE HANGING TREE is set in 1999. It’s the second novel in a series, following STARVATION LAKE, which I haven’t read. I’m obsessive enough that starting with the second book in a series bothers me a little, but author Bryan Gruley does a fine job of writing this one so that a new reader doesn’t feel the least bit lost. I have some experience at that, and it’s harder than it sounds.
THE HANGING TREE is narrated by Gus Carpenter, the editor of the twice-weekly newspaper in the small town of Starvation, Michigan. Gus had gone away to the big city (in this case, Detroit) to make his fortune, but unfortunate circumstances have forced him to return to his hometown. Change is coming to Starvation, though. On the one hand, the economy has taken a downturn and many of the businesses have closed. On the other, the newspaper has been bought out by a bigger company that brings in a new managing editor, the importance of the Internet is growing, and Gus’s career in journalism isn’t turning out the way he expected at all. Added to that, as this book opens, is the apparent suicide of a distant cousin of his, a young woman with a bad reputation who left Starvation but, like Gus, eventually came back. Even though he and his cousin never really got along very well, Gus feels driven to investigate her death and find out what caused her to end her life, and, as you might expect, he uncovers a number of dangerous secrets in the process.
Oddly enough, despite all the sex, violence, and cussin’ in it, THE HANGING TREE reminded me a little of a cozy mystery in the way it goes about gradually uncovering the sinister underbelly of small-town life. It’s a very well-written book, and Gruley’s prose has the same sort of vivid elegance as James Lee Burke’s novels. The pace is a bit leisurely for my taste, but it helps that Gus Carpenter is such a likable, well-developed character. I expect that I’ll go back and read his first appearance in STARVATION LAKE and will return to this series as it continues. If you like dark, small-town mysteries, there’s an excellent chance you’ll enjoy THE HANGING TREE. I did.
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7 comments:
I thought that Starvation Lake was terrific, but felt I might like it more than most people due to the hockey content. Obviously that wasn't the case because it's been nominated for several awards including one instance where it was up for best first and best PBO. I'm looking forward to The Hanging Tree and will read it just as soon as a copy shows up here in Great White North.
I liked the hockey stuff in THE HANGING TREE, and I'm not even a hockey fan. I can understand how Gus's past as a high school athlete could hang over him, though.
Hey, I'm just hoping this insightful review gets me some cozy sales. James, whatdya think? (Thanks for reading, man).
You had me thinking this is a book to look for until I got to the sex and cussin' part, which rarely if ever is necessary to a book and when it is can be handled off stage in a way that imparts the knowledge without making the reader watch. Still, I might try it and just skip over those parts. Though $10 seems a little steep for a paperback.
Bryan,
Take those sales where you can get 'em, that's my motto! Seriously, a lot of the cozies I've read are surprisingly dark, so I think there are some cozy readers who would enjoy this series.
Rick,
Those scenes aren't all that graphic, and the book is a trade paperback, not mass-market. Although some of those are getting close to ten bucks these days, aren't they?
Hey, guys, standard size PBs have been priced as high as $13.99 here in the Great White North. I have also noticed that more and more the best-sellers are being produced in that in-between-size PB that is the same width as a regular PB, but taller. Those are usually the ones that are priced as high as $13.99. I don't know what the price of The Hanging Tree will be, but I paid $19.99 for the TPB of James Lee Burke's new Robicheaux novel, The Glass Rainbow.
Loved the first one. Highly recommend it.
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