Review: Lullaby Road: A Novel
James Anderson
Crown
2018
I’d read The Never-Open
Desert Diner from this author, and when I found this book I knew I had to
read it too. This author has a way of
constructing his stories that really works for me. Easy reading narrative, simple narrative,
belies its power. I have not read any other
I like better in quite a while. He can weave
so many colors and patterns without losing a thread or the reader along the
way.
Ben, a single, amiable, independent trucker with a bit of a past
who lives in a Utah desert town, lets himself be talked into babysitting for a
neighbor girl who is OK with him taking the baby with him while he makes his
deliveries. She was desperate, and Ben couldn’t
say no. Sounds a bit unusual, but they
have the history that makes it work. Within
a few minutes he also has gained two more passengers for the run, an abandoned
child and a dog. Then things begin to
happen. I didn’t want to put this down.
Anderson’s desert setting is never far from the reader’s
mind. Constant references to its hostile
yet beautiful presence permeate the book, and in some fashion that is nearly
mystical oversees the entire book. It
defines the characters as well.
Mysterious, deadly, beautiful, complicated.
I liked this book and it will stick with me for quite a
while. His bad guys are very bad, and
the good guys are--- well they bloom when the time comes. I like those kinds of stories.
I received this book from the publisher in return for a
review.
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