·        “Their alcohol-fueled discussion about the disappointments in their lives is brilliant. Even better is Skipper’s dialogue, which ranges from down-home, to homiletic, obscure, vulgar, and raucously funny. There is a delightful sense of country noir and world-weariness here that hard-boiled crime fans will savor.” —Booklist

·        “Lane Hollar, the manly hero of Skipper's riveting second novel (after Tear Down the Mountain), feels right at home in his West Virginia bait shop, where he helps care for his 12-year-old grandson, Toby, when daughter-in-law Darlene is working. (Lane, a widower and Vietnam vet, is estranged from his only son, Frank, Toby's father.) One misty day, while Lane and Toby are fishing on a boat in the town lake, they hear a truck approaching that they recognize as belonging to fellow fisherman Billy Bean; they hear Billy's canoe slide into the water. Two men appear to be in the canoe, though Billy always fishes alone. Lane and Toby hear a splash. Later, the pair find Billy's empty canoe with blood on it. Certain Billy is still in the water, Lane calls the sheriff's department, and a search leads to Billy's body. When his death is written off as accidental, Lane is unconvinced and unable to let things be, even though his efforts to uncover the truth put him at odds with local lawmen and even endanger his family. Pitch-perfect dialogue, a skillfully drawn supporting cast and a memorable portrait of the changing face of Appalachia enhance this impressive character study.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review