When Rory comes back from his tour in Korea, he isn’t the same man – physically or emotionally.
At first, he appears to slide back into his old routine: Rory lives with his grandma, works on cars and runs whiskey for an infamous bootlegger. However, life moved on in Rory’s absence, and old competitors and foes avoided war do not give him a warm welcome.
Gods of Howl Mountain is a great period piece on the 1950s moonshiners in the mountains of North Carolina. Rory, a veteran, is an intense and conflicted man who is looking to avoid trouble and make peace with his past. Unfortunately, trouble continues to find him. In his quest for peace, Rory must navigate bruised egos, turf wars, car chases and the police.
Rory’s rock is his grandmother who raised him. However, Granny May is an expert in herbal remedies making her a polarizing figure in the community – some see her as a witch, some a savior and others a crazy old lady. However, everyone agrees that she is not someone to be ignored.
Brown’s masterful writing transports the reader to Howl Mountain in the 1950s. I sometimes worry an author can get too carried away with descriptive, verbose prose, but Brown never goes too far. I felt like I was there, a bystander to the action.
I had my father read this one, and we both independently noted that this book has a similar feel to the FX show Justified in all the best ways. Margo Martindale’s characters is cut from the same cloth as Granny May – neither should ever be underestimated.
I loved the era, the action and most of all the characters. Each has an arc and a place in the narrative. Definitely pick up this different and intriguing read!!
Verdict: Read it! (4.5/5 Stars)
Length: 304 pages
Quote: “Christ’s father let him die on that cross,” she said. “I understand why he done it.” She leaned closer, whispering in his ear. “But Christ never had no granny like me.”
When: Sipping some whiskey, feeling old school
Also Read: Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth (B2C Review)
Buy Gods of Howl Mountain by Taylor Brown