Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Good stuff: "The Butcher's Prayer" by Anthony Neil Smith

 Good stuff: THE BUTCHER'S PRAYER by Anthony Neil Smith, 2021, 9781914475160.

I took a while to get around to reading this one. I enjoyed it. Smith explores some far South religion, and murder, and family dynamics in coastal Mississippi.

Rodney was a dirtbag slob, became a holey roller, got married, had kids, backslid, and is now living with a friend from his dirtbag days. Rodney's wife, Rachel, kicked Rodney out over his booze use and ungodly watching of R-rated films. Rodney's pal, Charles, is a small time drug dealer, stupid, and paranoid. Charles murders his drug wholesaler while Rodney is there and things go downhill FAST.

Hosea is a police detective and brother-in-law of Rodney. Hosea used to be a  holey-roller preacher. His father and brother still are holey-rollers. We follow along as:

- Charles turns into a spree killer.

- Rodney goes on the run after using his butcher skills to try and conceal the murder of the wholesaler.

- Rachel thinks, "What the fuck did Rodney do?!"

- Hosea and his partner chase investigative leads during the manhunt and Hosea conflicts with his preacher brother and father. 

There are murders. There are close calls. There is desperation. There is religious zeal besting law and family. There are bad haircuts. There is religiously forced behavior and lifestyle.

Comments:

1. 1996 setting with cell phones had me trying to remember how widespread cell phones were in '96.There must be some anachronisms in here. But, I'm not sure. I did not get a cell phone until 2001 or so.

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