In his phenomenal debut novel—a mesmerizing literary thriller about the bond between two brothers and the evil they face in a small North Carolina town—author Wiley Cash displays a remarkable talent for lyrical, powerfully emotional storytelling. is a modern masterwork of Southern fiction, reminiscent of the writings of John Hart ( ), Tom Franklin ( ), Ron Rash ( ), and Pete Dexter ( )—one that is likely to be held in the same enduring esteem as such American classics as , , and . A brilliant evocation of a place, a heart-rending family story, a gripping and suspenseful mystery—with , a major American novelist enthusiastically announces his arrival.