When these Mountains Burn by David Joy

Susanne’s Review:

Drugs run rampant in the mountains of North Carolina.  Such that addiction is the norm and times are troubled.  

When Ray Mathis’s son, Ricky gets himself into yet another pickle, Ray does the only thing he can, he rescues his son, just like always.  Ricky, of course, is an addict, therefore a savior, he does not want.  Having no other alternative, Ray takes matters into his own hands, damn the consequences. 

Denny Rattler is a Junkie. Theft is his game. Without taking whatever he can get, he’d never be able to score.  Denny never imagined this would be his life and now he can’t find a way out.

Then there’s the DEA.  Busting up a Drug Ring on a Cherokee Reservation is the main objective.  You know what they say about the best-laid plans, however.  

Devastating, dirty, gritty, hard-hitting, and heart-wrenching, “When these Mountains Burn” is one helluva novel by David Joy.  Focusing on addiction, familial dysfunction, vengeance, and love, this book tore at my heart. With its dark storyline and deftly written characters, I recommend it to those who love character-driven literary fiction and who can handle difficult topics. 

Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group – G.P. Putnam and Sons for the arc. 

Published on Goodreads on 1.10.21