It is the summer of 1958 in Dewmont, Texas, a town the great American postwar boom passed by. The kids listen to rockabilly on the radio and waste their weekends at the Dairy Queen. And an undetected menace simmers under the heat that clings to the skin like molasses...For thirteen-year-old Stanley Mitchell, the end of innocence comes with his discovery of the mysterious long-ago demise of two very different young women. In his quest to unravel the truth about their tragic fates, Stanley finds a protector in Buster ...
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It is the summer of 1958 in Dewmont, Texas, a town the great American postwar boom passed by. The kids listen to rockabilly on the radio and waste their weekends at the Dairy Queen. And an undetected menace simmers under the heat that clings to the skin like molasses...For thirteen-year-old Stanley Mitchell, the end of innocence comes with his discovery of the mysterious long-ago demise of two very different young women. In his quest to unravel the truth about their tragic fates, Stanley finds a protector in Buster Lighthorse Smith, a black, retired Indian-reservation cop and a sage on the finer points of Sherlock Holmes, the blues, and life's faded dreams. But not every buried thing stays dead. And on one terrifying night of rushing creek water and thundering rain, an arcane, murderous force will rise from the past to threaten the Stanley and everything he holds dear. Vintage Lansdale, A FINE DARK LINE brims with exquisite suspense, powerful characterizations, and the vibrant evocation of a lost time.
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Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.13, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Warner Books (NY).
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.29, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Mysterious Press.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.29, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Mysterious Press.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Mysterious Press.
Add this copy of A Fine Dark Line to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2003 by Mysterious Press.
I found this to be one of the more insightful stories I've read. The period that this story was placed is a time of great changes in the U S . I felt as if I was there; almost could feel the warm Texas air. I've loaned this book to several people and always got a "wow".
pamela1717
May 24, 2009
4.25 stars! A nice surprise!
4.25 stars! A nice suprise! I really enjoyed this novel of Lansdale's (much more than The Bottoms). I found it to be a very entertaining and nostalgic coming of age/mystery story told in the folksy style of a 13 year old in the 1950s. The 1950s seem to be a great time of which to write due to it's innocence and it's conflicting darkness (in this case, racism, child abuse, spouse abuse) and this one has it all...it sounds dark, but it made me laugh on several occassions. I was sold on this story early for two reasons: first Lansdale's dedication, "In memory of Cooter. Brave, True, and Nobel Protector. Friend. Family dog." (as those who know me are aware, I'm a big believer of dogs being part of the family); and second, after reading this passage, "Like Huckleberry Finn, Richard wasn't the sort that would make a great adult, but he was one hell of a kid. He could ride a bike faster than the wind, could toss a pocketknife between his toes and not stick himself, knew the woods, could climb a tree like a gibbon, and juggle four rubber balls at a time." This is just one example of the Lansdale's simple prose you will find in this story--and the tale "ain't" bad either!
