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A review by raven88
Deep Winter by Samuel W. Gailey
5.0
Set deep in the heart of rural Pennsylvania, Deep Winter hits you with the toxic blast of Frank Bill, combined with the raw emotional intensity of Daniel Woodrell. Focusing on the confusion wrought in the aftermath of a brutal murder in a small town community, with a cast of characters ranging from the good to the exceedingly bad, this is a book that has more than a shock or two in store for the unsuspecting reader…
The defining characteristic of Gailey’s writing is his incredibly natural and fluid portrayal of his protagonists. Ostensibly the book is centred on Danny, a middle aged man who has suffered not only an extreme personal tragedy, but also having to deal day-to-day with life in the shadow of his learning disabilities. As we are offered snapshots of Danny’s life both now and in the past, we bear witness to the bullying and ostracising he has experienced within this small community. Having formed a heart-warming connection with the sassy Mindy- now a waitress in the local diner- from a young age, Danny finds himself at the centre of a manhunt after her murder. As he is pursued doggedly by the local law enforcement, one of whom is actually responsible for this brutal crime, we see his life descend into a tailspin, with the blurring of his perception of reality, as past and present become confused in his mind. Gailey’s portrayal of Danny is both emotive and affecting and as a reader you are rooting for him throughout with a sense of extreme indignation at the persecution of this simple soul. Likewise, the bad guys in this book are thoroughly bad, in particular the dastardly Deputy Sokowski -what a rotter- provoking a strong sense of disgust at both their actions, and the lengths they will go to in condemning Danny for a crime he did not commit. As Danny is pursued by the evil Sokowski, the empathetic Sheriff Lester and an alcoholic State Trooper, Bill Taggart, a man haunted by more than a few demons of his own, the scene is set for a violent denouement that’ll blow your socks off, You’ll either love or hate the slightly overblown Tarantino-esque ending, but I thought it was good fun. Yes, I know…
So, compounded by the use of location, and the unrelenting chill of winter that seems to seep into your very marrow as the book progresses, I enjoyed this violent tale of murder with its detours into the emotional core of its characters. A nice find if you like your crime fiction with a bit more punch.
The defining characteristic of Gailey’s writing is his incredibly natural and fluid portrayal of his protagonists. Ostensibly the book is centred on Danny, a middle aged man who has suffered not only an extreme personal tragedy, but also having to deal day-to-day with life in the shadow of his learning disabilities. As we are offered snapshots of Danny’s life both now and in the past, we bear witness to the bullying and ostracising he has experienced within this small community. Having formed a heart-warming connection with the sassy Mindy- now a waitress in the local diner- from a young age, Danny finds himself at the centre of a manhunt after her murder. As he is pursued doggedly by the local law enforcement, one of whom is actually responsible for this brutal crime, we see his life descend into a tailspin, with the blurring of his perception of reality, as past and present become confused in his mind. Gailey’s portrayal of Danny is both emotive and affecting and as a reader you are rooting for him throughout with a sense of extreme indignation at the persecution of this simple soul. Likewise, the bad guys in this book are thoroughly bad, in particular the dastardly Deputy Sokowski -what a rotter- provoking a strong sense of disgust at both their actions, and the lengths they will go to in condemning Danny for a crime he did not commit. As Danny is pursued by the evil Sokowski, the empathetic Sheriff Lester and an alcoholic State Trooper, Bill Taggart, a man haunted by more than a few demons of his own, the scene is set for a violent denouement that’ll blow your socks off, You’ll either love or hate the slightly overblown Tarantino-esque ending, but I thought it was good fun. Yes, I know…
So, compounded by the use of location, and the unrelenting chill of winter that seems to seep into your very marrow as the book progresses, I enjoyed this violent tale of murder with its detours into the emotional core of its characters. A nice find if you like your crime fiction with a bit more punch.