“But time was a river made of quicksilver. It slipped through his grasp, even as it enveloped him. Twenty became forty. Winter became spring, and before he knew it he was an old man burying his son, and wondering where in the hell that river had taken him” (16).

While I’m not a big TV or film consumer, this book would make a really great series or movie, one I’d definitely watch while gripping tightly to the edge of my seat. It’s both action-packed, like any good crime-thriller, and reflectively introspective, allowing for dynamic growth. I could picture it all—the deeply flawed characters stuck in the mire of grief, the tempestuous relationships rooted in narrow-minded understandings, the Southern Virginia setting simmering, a perfectly volatile backdrop for this story about fathers and sons, revenge and redemption.

Ike and Buddy Lee, two fathers bonded by tragedy, come together as unexpected alliances in this vigilante quest for justice after the brutal murder of their sons, Isaiah and Derek, who were happily married dads despite the complicated relationships with their own ex-con fathers. While on this bloody path for retribution—which, be warned, is full of graphic violence and heartbreaking regrets—Ike and Buddy Lee are both forced to come to terms with their own biases and prejudices as they learn more about their estranged sons and reflect on who they were as fathers. And at the heart of it all, after all the mistakes and damage and perpetrated violence, they seek to answer the question: is it ever too late for redemption?
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"Trying to hold sll this agony and grief inside was like wrestling a bag of pythons. Grief was choking the life out of him."
This adventure novel involves 2 unlikely "buddies" who set out to avenge their sons' deaths. It is full of action & quick-paced dialogue. There's some violence & gore, but overall very entertaining. In addition, the books teaches about the power of regret, but not in an overt, preachy way.
4 stars because I don't think the ending was plausible. ( )

Really good book. A page-turner. ( )

I'm not going to rate this because it's not a preferred genre for me. I found the violence difficult to read, even though it was probably less graphic than many movies I've seen. The story was engaging, and I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two main characters develop. As much as I appreciate the anti-homophobic message, it was a little heavy-handed and repetitive at times.

I'm not going to rate this because it's not a preferred genre for me. I found the violence difficult to read, even though it was probably less graphic than many movies I've seen. The story was engaging, and I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two main characters develop. As much as I appreciate the anti-homophobic message, it was a little heavy-handed and repetitive at times.