Review by Kirkus Book Review
An ex-con struggles to escape his criminal past in Henson's debut novel. Crit Poppwell is paroled after serving nearly all of his 15-year stint on a drugs and weapons charge. He returns to Breathitt County, Kentucky, suffering from ever-ringing tinnitus (from an inmate's unwarranted assault) and cultivating a newly discovered skill in art. He takes a room in a local motel, snags a part-time gig as a garbage collector, and, with encouragement from Sister Nikhael (who teaches art to inmates), plans to sell his illustrations. Now Crit can start afresh, though he may not want to, as he's weighed down by guilt over an unforgivable crime he got away with prior to his incarceration. He does, however, strive to stay off drugs, which means avoiding his dope-peddling younger brother, Chrome. But Crit also wants to help his motel neighbor, Rennie, a single mother and a user hooked on Chrome's illicit goods. Henson's flawed hero gradually earns sympathy in this somber, riveting drama; Crit, who's lived a life of crime, may push people away, but he seems to be a better man than he once was. Even the details about his worst transgression, while startling, explain his years-long suffering and his "death wish" while behind bars. The story is rich in metaphorical action, from Crit doing maintenance around the dilapidated motel to renewing his expired driver's license. The author deftly incorporates these elements into the narrative and delivers prose that engages the senses with descriptions of driving on a muddy Kentucky road in the "fragrant and damp" air while hearing the song of crickets and spying a "rusted old farm implement." Despite the novel's tendency to lean toward gloominess, supporting characters such as Rennie and Sister Nikhael provide welcome signs of hope. A grim, profound, and well-crafted tale of redemption. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
