I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program, and couldn't be happier that I did. My interest was immediately piqued when reviewing the hook summary on the back cover, as the book is set in very south Louisiana where I lived the better part of the past eighteen years.
To that end the characters and setting all resonate with a comfortable familiarity. Cooper quite accurately captures the essence of that "coon-ass" culture, nailing everything from the speech patterns to the physical description of the swamps.
The characters were all wonderfully developed and I found myself engrossed in most all of them. The book's central character is Lindquist, a half-crazy, drug-addled, treasure-hunting shrimper. His interactions with local drug lords The Toup Brothers (my favorite characters) were the highlight for me. Cooper also gives us a heart warming and realistic father-son narrative the gives the book some needed warmth amidst all the hilarity and violence.
Negatives were scarce for me, but if I'm being picky I can find two small ones. The character of Grimes, central to the story with a role that continues to grow, disappears from the narrative too early and for no apparent reason. Additionally, the blurb on the back cover indicated the characters will come together "on a rollicking, shocking collision course." Didn't happen to the degree that the book should be marketed as such.
This was an excellent first novel and I can't wait for the next effort from Mr. Cooper.
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