WINNER OF THE 2019 EDGAR FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL“Bearskin is visceral, raw, and compelling—filled with sights, smells, and sounds truly observed. It’s a powerful debut and an absolute showcase of exceptional prose. There are very few first novels when I feel compelled to circle brilliant passages, but James McLaughlin’s writing had me doing just that.” —C.J. Box, #1 NYT bestselling author of The … —C.J. Box, #1 NYT bestselling author of The Disappeared
Rice Moore is just beginning to think his troubles are behind him. He’s found a job protecting a remote forest preserve in Virginian Appalachia where his main responsibilities include tracking wildlife and refurbishing cabins. It’s hard work, and totally solitary—perfect to hide away from the Mexican drug cartels he betrayed back in Arizona. But when Rice finds the carcass of a bear killed on the grounds, the quiet solitude he’s so desperately sought is suddenly at risk.
More bears are killed on the preserve and Rice’s obsession with catching the poachers escalates, leading to hostile altercations with the locals and attention from both the law and Rice’s employers. Partnering with his predecessor, a scientist who hopes to continue her research on the preserve, Rice puts into motion a plan that could expose the poachers but risks revealing his own whereabouts to the dangerous people he was running from in the first place.
James McLaughlin expertly brings the beauty and danger of Appalachia to life. The result is an elemental, slow burn of a novel—one that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.
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Bearskin is visceral, raw, and compelling — filled with sights, smells, and sounds truly observed. It’s a powerful debut and an absolute showcase of exceptional prose. There are very few first novels when I feel compelled to circle brilliant passages, but James McLaughlin’s writing had me doing just that.
While not much is original in this book, McLaughlin takes a well-worn idea of person trying to “stay lost,” puts it in a different setting than any I have read before, and writes an entertaining tale. He does have a tendency to over-describe certain details of the scenery that turn out to have nothing to do with the plot or characters, but as the book moved along, there less and less over-share of pointless scenic detail. The characters that are fleshed out are realistic, and, to McLauglin’s credit, he does not try to flesh out stereotypical background characters as so many weaker authors do. This is a little bit more of a “pop” novel than what I usually find satisfies my taste, but I never found myself bored with its “popness.” This book is kind of like McCarthy or Pollock Lite, but some light beers are awfully good. This one is one of the good ones.
A great read, great characters.
good read, but a bit draggy.
All nighter
This winner of the 2019 Edgar Award for best first novel (an award also won by my debut, THE EXPATS), is the sort of creeping suspense fiction whose perils sneak up from behind and grab you by the throat, even as the prose rewards a close reading to appreciate the many nuances.
At the intersection of Mexican cartels, back woods Virginians, nature & intelligence. Shows the power of the mind to protect, heal, solve. Luved this gritty yet personable story.
Interesting read. Alittle hard to follow in a few spots
Fast moving easy read
I liked the setting and general premise. Some tedious descriptions and support of the protagonist. Solid writing overall, not sure the “mystical” components added to the story. Good book; not a “wow”.
Atmospheric. Really enjoyed this. A departure from the usual. Sort of scientific in a way. Great throughout. Would read this again.
The premise that the main character would put his life on the line, repeatedly, to find and stop bear-poachers, with no prior experience in conservation, land management, or wild-life research, seemed implausible, but as long as I totally suspended disbelief, it was a good read.
Very well written and informative.
Simply a wonderful book. It is one of those books you pull off the library shelf because of the excellent reviews on the back cover. Most books fail to live up to the quotes, but this story is an exception. Highly recommend for a excellent book on a cold winter’s night.
I’m having a really hard time getting into this book. 🙁
This reminded me a little bit of DogStar by Peter Heller, although it is not an post apocalyptic novel. I think it more the character development and the writing style. I read a lot and usually I can’t remember what a book is about a couple of days later, but this book is still with me, and it’s been a couple of weeks since I finished it. I felt like I was with them.
This certainly did not develop as I expected it to. There was a vast shift from the early part of the book to the last portion.
Certainly worth a read.
nice mystical theme interspersed in action compelling plot
Very well written. An original and interesting storyline. Good characters. One of those books I wish I could read straight through!
Rice Moore is a great and fully realized character, super story and fascinating as hell.