Author: Jordan Farmer
Publication Date: 5 May 2020
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Page Count: 288
Reading Method: Digital ARC
Synopsis:
Hollis Bragg lives on the fringes. The hunchbacked son of a West Virginia hill preacher, he now resides in rural isolation next to the burned-out husk of his father’s church, and earns his living ghostwriting songs for a popular band that left the poverty and corruption of Appalachia and never looked back. It’s the life he prefers, free from the harsh glare of the spotlight and attachments that lead only to heartbreak.
Then, much to his consternation, he’s discovered by Russell Watson, a local musician and fan who also happens to be the rebellious son of the local chemical company magnate. When a devastating toxic spill at the Watson chemical plant poisons the local water, it sets off an unpredictable series of events as Hollis witnesses a murder, faces a shocking betrayal, and begins to come to terms with his body and his past. Soon Hollis will find that in losing his anonymity and reclaiming his music, he can transform his future; and in opening himself up to the world, he might find redemption.
Review:
What a ride this story is! It kinda has a slow, dream-like quality to it but really there is so much going on.
I may be a little biased, but as a musician I really loved the musical elements to this story. The way Hollis uses his guitar to express all the pent-up emotions he has no other way of expressing is beautiful. I really felt for Hollis and his struggles. We slowly get glimpses into his past and it’s broke my heart a little bit with each revelation. But I really enjoyed his budding relationship with Rosita and I think she really helps to bring him out of his shell and change his way of thinking.
While the music is the main element of this story, there is also a contamination of the local river which is wreaking havoc on the town. The owner of the tank that spills son is a huge fan of Hollis and somehow Hollis gets wrapped up in this whirlwind of criminal activity and activism that pull him from his comfort zone. It’s truly a wild ride. Russel (the son of the corrupt chemical owner) and Victor (a local activist) are a dynamic duo. Honestly there is so much going on with those two that it was almost difficult to keep up.
Yet somehow it all works together pretty well and was an enjoyable read.
You can purchase a copy of The Poison Flood here (amazon) or here (book depository)
Learn more about Jordan Farmer here
