This collection of eight stories set in the fictional town of Meadows Ford, Nebraska, is the latest from the fine hand of Richard Prosch. These are contemporary stories, as opposed to Prosch's recent, acclaimed Western collection, DEVILS NEST, but the writing is every bit as sharply honed.
The stories are suspenseful, sometimes bleak (like the weather), yet the characters and their interactions are so instantly recognizable and real that you nevertheless feel a kind of familiar warmth, especially if you are from a rural area or small town.
The standout, for me, was the shocking and haunting "Jolly's Boy". Which is not to say, by any means, that the remaining stories are weak. Each has its own distinction, all are memorable for their own reasons.
But the real star remains Prosch's aforementioned writing—a clean, straightforward, no-nonsense style that resonates with a passion for both his craft and his setting. I'll read anything he writes. You should too.
Persevere --- WD
I'm looking forward to reading these. Thanks for reviewing the collection, Wayne.
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