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At the End of the Road
From the critically acclaimed author of A Very Simple Crime, a chilling story of a young boy coming to grips with genuine evil. A red dirt road on a sweltering day. A car loses control, flips through the air. A woman crawls out, bloody and battered, staggers toward the boy on the bike, the one she swerved to avoid. But he runs away...
Kyle is ten in the summer of 1976, and his world is all about secrets-secrets hidden in the maze of cornfields, in caves, in the embers of scorched earth, behind creaking doors and down basement stairs...and in the darkest of hearts.
But there's a policewoman at the front door. The Paralyzed Man watches him from a neighboring porch. And no matter which way Kyle turns, no place seems safe anymore...
Kyle is ten in the summer of 1976, and his world is all about secrets-secrets hidden in the maze of cornfields, in caves, in the embers of scorched earth, behind creaking doors and down basement stairs...and in the darkest of hearts.
But there's a policewoman at the front door. The Paralyzed Man watches him from a neighboring porch. And no matter which way Kyle turns, no place seems safe anymore...
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
12 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Grant Jerkins
11 books96 followersGrant Jerkins is the author of THE NINTH STEP and AT THE END OF THE ROAD. Winner of the Writers Network Screenplay and Fiction Competition (the Fade In Awards), his first novel, A VERY SIMPLE CRIME, was selected from well over two-thousand entries to take the top honors, and has since been optioned for film.
Grant lives with his wife and son in the Atlanta area.
http://www.grantjerkins.com
Grant lives with his wife and son in the Atlanta area.
http://www.grantjerkins.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
December 22, 2011
“At the End of the Road” by Grant Jerkins, published by Berkley Prime Crime.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Grant Jerkins first book, “A Very Simple Crime” was an outstanding first effort for a Mystery/Thriller, than bordered on the psychological. To say that I was engrossed to the very end of the book is an understatement.
Jerkins has actually outdone himself in “At the End of the Road”. It is difficult to image how he could have made this book any better.
As I did with his first book I will just give you the bare bones idea of the content of the book, otherwise I would give too much away.
Kyle Edwards is riding his bike on an old dusty road when car loses control to avoid him and overturns. A woman climbs out of the car asking for help but Kyle panics and runs home.
When Kyle goes back to the accident site the car is gone and so is they young lady.
The next day a missing persons report is filed on Melodie Godwin.
An incredible story about a disappearing woman and the effect it has on Kyle Edwards, his sister Grace, and the entire family.
A must read for those who like a page turner with a psychological twist.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
Grant Jerkins first book, “A Very Simple Crime” was an outstanding first effort for a Mystery/Thriller, than bordered on the psychological. To say that I was engrossed to the very end of the book is an understatement.
Jerkins has actually outdone himself in “At the End of the Road”. It is difficult to image how he could have made this book any better.
As I did with his first book I will just give you the bare bones idea of the content of the book, otherwise I would give too much away.
Kyle Edwards is riding his bike on an old dusty road when car loses control to avoid him and overturns. A woman climbs out of the car asking for help but Kyle panics and runs home.
When Kyle goes back to the accident site the car is gone and so is they young lady.
The next day a missing persons report is filed on Melodie Godwin.
An incredible story about a disappearing woman and the effect it has on Kyle Edwards, his sister Grace, and the entire family.
A must read for those who like a page turner with a psychological twist.
March 20, 2016
Kyle, a ten-year-old boy, who lives in rural Georgia in 1976 causes a woman to run off the road to avoid hitting him on his bike. Kyle runs from the accident instead of helping the woman, which sets the events of the book in motion. Riddled with guilt, Kyle is vulnerable. Kyle, his little sister, Grace, and the old man, who is stroke victim, across the street are the main characters. The children are repulsed and scared of the old man across the street. The author uses a very clever device to reveal the mystery in the book. Kyle is a very well rounded character with moral questions he must try to answer. I like the book and recommend it if you like mysteries and crime novels.
April 17, 2020
A powerful, brilliant novel from Jerkins that tells the tale of a young boy who's experiences with his little sister, a woman who's car almost hits him and a truly evil man changes his life, and theirs, forever. Written words can't fully describe the happenings in this novel, which manages to be both deeply sorrowful and uplifting at the same time. It's very dark at times, and the ending left me truly sad for what these characters had to endure, but I was even sadder that the story was over and I would not get to spend any more time with them. This one is a gem, even better than Jerkins' The Ninth Step. Be prepared for a dark journey, but one well worth taking. Very highly recommended.
November 2, 2011
In the summer of 1976 ten-year-old Kyle Edwards was one of millions of Americans who celebrated a landmark birthday for our nation. Looking back, however, Kyle realizes that summer also held a landmark death for him, that of his innocence. A typical boy in rural Georgia, Kyle's daily activities include helping harvest peanuts and sweet potatoes, playing in the corn fields, and riding his bike with abandon up and down the dirt road in front of his house. While out riding his bike one afternoon Kyle causes an accident when he speeds around a blind curve right into the path of an oncoming car. Veering sharply to avoid hitting him, the car flips repeatedly, coming to rest on its side. Kyle watches in horror as a bloody young woman emerges from the vehicle, stumbling toward him.
Terrified of the potential consequences of having caused the accident, Kyle flees to his house, hoping in that foolish way young kids do that if he doesn't say anything it will all go away. And it seems to, because the woman he expects to stumble up to the door any minute never arrives. Stranger still, when he gets the courage to ride out to the accident scene the following morning there is no trace of the woman or the car. Little could Kyle possibly know that his trouble wasn't over, it had only just begun.
When he and his Wonder Woman obsessed younger sister, Grace, accidentally start a fire which consumes over 100 acres Kyle makes his second bad decision of the summer, convincing Grace they should lie about having been anywhere near the fire, let alone being responsible for starting it. Unbeknownst to him there was a witness, one who has more in mind than simply turning the kids in to the police. Now Kyle must not only face his guilt and fear, but engage in an increasingly dangerous battle of wills with a monster masquerading as "the Paralyzed Man" in order to save himself and his sister.
Author Grant Jerkins' debut, A Very Simple Crime, was an intense, dark, psychological thriller involving murder, deceit, and courtroom drama in bustling Atlanta. While on its surface At the End of the Road initially appears to be a more sedate offering given its lazy rural setting and young lead character, as the story unfolds it slowly becomes clear that the events which take place are all the more sinister precisely because of the pastoral setting and Kyle's innocence. A simple walk across a field becomes an exercise in survival when charged by a massive Holstein bull which has already crippled one local boy. The joy of playing in the woods turns unspeakably ugly when Kyle inadvertently stumbles upon the town bullies engaged in criminal activity. Even the games Kyle plays with his siblings have a slightly sinister edge to them, as Kyle later reflects about his episodes of hide-and-seek with Grace in the corn mazes.
From the casual cruelty and irrational logic of youth, to the polite prejudice Sheriff's Deputy Dana Turpin, the first black woman in the history of the force, encounters in her search for a missing young woman, to the all day Sunday church sessions and formal family dinners, everything about At the End of the Road is an absolutely pitch-perfect reflection of the mid-70s rural South... with a hell of a creepy mystery interwoven amongst it.
Grant Jerkins has not only followed up his tremendous debut with a fitting successor, but surpassed it with a tale that is more than deserving of a place on shelves alongside the all-time classic coming of age stories ever written.
Terrified of the potential consequences of having caused the accident, Kyle flees to his house, hoping in that foolish way young kids do that if he doesn't say anything it will all go away. And it seems to, because the woman he expects to stumble up to the door any minute never arrives. Stranger still, when he gets the courage to ride out to the accident scene the following morning there is no trace of the woman or the car. Little could Kyle possibly know that his trouble wasn't over, it had only just begun.
When he and his Wonder Woman obsessed younger sister, Grace, accidentally start a fire which consumes over 100 acres Kyle makes his second bad decision of the summer, convincing Grace they should lie about having been anywhere near the fire, let alone being responsible for starting it. Unbeknownst to him there was a witness, one who has more in mind than simply turning the kids in to the police. Now Kyle must not only face his guilt and fear, but engage in an increasingly dangerous battle of wills with a monster masquerading as "the Paralyzed Man" in order to save himself and his sister.
Author Grant Jerkins' debut, A Very Simple Crime, was an intense, dark, psychological thriller involving murder, deceit, and courtroom drama in bustling Atlanta. While on its surface At the End of the Road initially appears to be a more sedate offering given its lazy rural setting and young lead character, as the story unfolds it slowly becomes clear that the events which take place are all the more sinister precisely because of the pastoral setting and Kyle's innocence. A simple walk across a field becomes an exercise in survival when charged by a massive Holstein bull which has already crippled one local boy. The joy of playing in the woods turns unspeakably ugly when Kyle inadvertently stumbles upon the town bullies engaged in criminal activity. Even the games Kyle plays with his siblings have a slightly sinister edge to them, as Kyle later reflects about his episodes of hide-and-seek with Grace in the corn mazes.
From the casual cruelty and irrational logic of youth, to the polite prejudice Sheriff's Deputy Dana Turpin, the first black woman in the history of the force, encounters in her search for a missing young woman, to the all day Sunday church sessions and formal family dinners, everything about At the End of the Road is an absolutely pitch-perfect reflection of the mid-70s rural South... with a hell of a creepy mystery interwoven amongst it.
Grant Jerkins has not only followed up his tremendous debut with a fitting successor, but surpassed it with a tale that is more than deserving of a place on shelves alongside the all-time classic coming of age stories ever written.
July 26, 2020
I felt like he was describing my childhood and then..... wow. What a disturbing, yet entertaining book.
Left me with a lot of emotion at the end. Oh, the pain and sadness of this family due to a monster.
Highly recommend.
Left me with a lot of emotion at the end. Oh, the pain and sadness of this family due to a monster.
Highly recommend.
November 2, 2011
Fabulous suspense, coming of age novel with a creepy, dark core.
At the End of the Road is Grant Jerkins's second novel and there is nothing of the sophomore slump about it. Set in rural Georgia on the cusp of the coming suburban sprawl that's ready to explode out of Atlanta, At the End of the Road is the story of ten year old Kyle and how radically his life changes one day in 1976 after he causes a car accident and then doesn't help or get help for the injured driver. When Kyle returns to the scene of the accident, there's no trace of the driver or the car, which had rolled on its side.
A series of events unfold and Kyle's secrets build and turn into lies. He eventually starts to believe his lies, to some extent, and then they start to take a physical and deeply emotional toll on him and on his little sister Grace. At one point I started to wonder if Kyle wasn't right in the head, but then I recalled what it's like to be a ten year old with a big problem, one that you've never had before and know adults would freak out about and then who knows what will happen to you. You'd be beyond in trouble. And it is 1976. I'm not sure how well this novel would work set in 2011, in an America that is much more sophisticated about crime, technology, and communication. It would be doable, but it would certainly be a different novel.
Kyle lives on Eden Road. You can read this novel as just a good, well-written suspense story, or as an origin story for a life of drugs and alcohol addiction, or even, yes, as a retelling on the story of the Garden of Eden.
I was ten years old in 1976 and even though I grew up in an urban environment, I could relate to Kyle in many ways. I remember the popularity of Wonder Woman, shopping at Zayre, and the dangers of playing with matches and Drano. His childhood is pretty standard: siblings who either ignore him or become his best buddy, parents who aren't really paying attention to their kids because they're wrapped up in their own pain or routine, the casual violence of children running free, neighborhood bullies, and mean neighbors who construct believable social facades for the adults around them.
Except that in Kyle's neighborhood there's someone who is beyond mean.
I really enjoyed Grant Jerkins first novel, A Very Simple Crime, which came out last year. I was still a bookseller back then and regularly hand-sold copies of that book to mystery readers who were looking for something new. Most of them came back asking if I knew when Jenkins' next book would be out. Alas, the bookstore where I worked is no-more, but I hope those customers find At the End of the Road at their "new" bookstore or library because it's a really good read. It's been a long time since I gave a book a 5-star rating on Goodreads, but this one earned it for its smooth writing and understated storytelling.
If you're looking for something different, something that reads like a combination of Mark Twain, Stephen King, and a dash of Patricia Cornwell, At the End of the Road might be up your alley.
At the End of the Road is Grant Jerkins's second novel and there is nothing of the sophomore slump about it. Set in rural Georgia on the cusp of the coming suburban sprawl that's ready to explode out of Atlanta, At the End of the Road is the story of ten year old Kyle and how radically his life changes one day in 1976 after he causes a car accident and then doesn't help or get help for the injured driver. When Kyle returns to the scene of the accident, there's no trace of the driver or the car, which had rolled on its side.
A series of events unfold and Kyle's secrets build and turn into lies. He eventually starts to believe his lies, to some extent, and then they start to take a physical and deeply emotional toll on him and on his little sister Grace. At one point I started to wonder if Kyle wasn't right in the head, but then I recalled what it's like to be a ten year old with a big problem, one that you've never had before and know adults would freak out about and then who knows what will happen to you. You'd be beyond in trouble. And it is 1976. I'm not sure how well this novel would work set in 2011, in an America that is much more sophisticated about crime, technology, and communication. It would be doable, but it would certainly be a different novel.
Kyle lives on Eden Road. You can read this novel as just a good, well-written suspense story, or as an origin story for a life of drugs and alcohol addiction, or even, yes, as a retelling on the story of the Garden of Eden.
I was ten years old in 1976 and even though I grew up in an urban environment, I could relate to Kyle in many ways. I remember the popularity of Wonder Woman, shopping at Zayre, and the dangers of playing with matches and Drano. His childhood is pretty standard: siblings who either ignore him or become his best buddy, parents who aren't really paying attention to their kids because they're wrapped up in their own pain or routine, the casual violence of children running free, neighborhood bullies, and mean neighbors who construct believable social facades for the adults around them.
Except that in Kyle's neighborhood there's someone who is beyond mean.
I really enjoyed Grant Jerkins first novel, A Very Simple Crime, which came out last year. I was still a bookseller back then and regularly hand-sold copies of that book to mystery readers who were looking for something new. Most of them came back asking if I knew when Jenkins' next book would be out. Alas, the bookstore where I worked is no-more, but I hope those customers find At the End of the Road at their "new" bookstore or library because it's a really good read. It's been a long time since I gave a book a 5-star rating on Goodreads, but this one earned it for its smooth writing and understated storytelling.
If you're looking for something different, something that reads like a combination of Mark Twain, Stephen King, and a dash of Patricia Cornwell, At the End of the Road might be up your alley.
July 2, 2012
I struggled through this book. I didn't like it from the beginning and I skipped some parts because they were too hard to read. It is kind of a mystery/thriller/crime drama.
I liked the mystery and crime solving part of this storyline, but it was very graphic and violent in parts. Violence to children and women, some pretty graphic imagery, abusive situations--that kind of stuff is really difficult to read. The storyline was hard to follow at times because it was kind of a flashback type of book where Kyle was looking back on the summer that changed his, and everyone else in his family's lives. There were other point of views that the author wrote from, too, and it just made it more confusing for me and hard to follow.
Maybe I didn't like it so much because it wasn't one of those warm, fuzzy books with a Happily Ever After ending. If you are intrigued by mystery, crime or thrillers, this book may be up your alley though.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
I liked the mystery and crime solving part of this storyline, but it was very graphic and violent in parts. Violence to children and women, some pretty graphic imagery, abusive situations--that kind of stuff is really difficult to read. The storyline was hard to follow at times because it was kind of a flashback type of book where Kyle was looking back on the summer that changed his, and everyone else in his family's lives. There were other point of views that the author wrote from, too, and it just made it more confusing for me and hard to follow.
Maybe I didn't like it so much because it wasn't one of those warm, fuzzy books with a Happily Ever After ending. If you are intrigued by mystery, crime or thrillers, this book may be up your alley though.
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...
March 3, 2012
This is a story that sneaks up on you. What begins as the story of a young boy who flees from a woman who has crashed her car because he was riding his bike down the middle of the road slowly becomes a tale that weaves in more layers, adding depth of characterization that keeps you turning pages. I wasn’t sure where the journey was taking me, but I didn’t want to put down the book in case I missed a turn in the road.
Full of surprises, the mystery, the suspense, and the questioning will all keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I received this book free in a giveaway from the Goodread’s First Reads program.
Full of surprises, the mystery, the suspense, and the questioning will all keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I received this book free in a giveaway from the Goodread’s First Reads program.
November 20, 2013
A pretty quick little popcorn read, took me about 4 hours. It's a thriller with a sort of restrained Stephen King vibe, though with no supernatural elements. Small-town rural life covering up dirty secrets about just how horrible human beings can be to each other. The first half is a slow and somewhat listless coming-of-age, but then everything explodes in the back half, dragging you from page to page. Over-reliance on coincidences of timing keep it from being a real masterpiece of the genre, but I can't deny that I enjoyed it overall.
Please note that I received this book for free as a part of the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway program.
Please note that I received this book for free as a part of the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway program.
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December 18, 2011I'm not the biggest fan of this type of book (they terrify me) though I was moreso when I was a teen. I picked this one up after I read an interview with the author mentioning that an event from his childhood had triggered the story. At the End of the Road is a story in the tradition of the best Stephen King or Robert McCammon: riveting, heartbreaking, disturbing, masterfully crafted, and unputdownable. A great read.
May 2, 2012
Enjoyed this book.Thought it flowed well and the very short "chapters" made the reading very easy and fast. I became involved with the characters and story line. This was a new author for me, but one that I would read again. This book was worth the read and I would give it 4 stars.
September 12, 2011
I was able to read this in pre-publication galley form after interviewing the author. Very different from A Very Simple Crime; biblical and horrifying.
November 23, 2011
This book is compelling and well written. It's dark and sad, but I liked it a lot. I'm really glad that my friend Sandy introduced me to Grant Jerkins' work.
December 28, 2011
Carson McCullers morphs into Stephen King!
January 16, 2025
Another book in my massive TBR pile that I wanted to read before donating. Personally, this is less mystery and more coming of age but in a brutal way. The story focuses on a short period of time in the summer of the mid 1970s when Kyle was 10 and his sister Grace was 7. This resonated with me because I would have been the same age as Grace at that time.
Most of the book I really enjoyed (even though it’s dark in content) when the innocence of young, naive children of a simpler time is destroyed by an outwardly good Christian man who in reality is quite depraved and sinister.
Much of the story- the young woman who had a car accident to avoid Kyle on his bike and the events that unfolded when she was vulnerable and hurt, the female deputy (the only smart and caring adult in the story) who is searching for the young woman, Kyle and Grace who were typical kids in that era, their parents who seem to lack focus to notice changes in their children - is an excellent, believable snippet of a 70s summer. My only issue is that at a pivotal moment Grace seemed to act out of character based on her earlier responses that had life altering effects to her. Personally I don’t think she would have gotten into the situation at that age and she suddenly seemed much younger. It pulled me from the story and I had a difficult time getting back into it. All I’ll say is that Grace seemed to suddenly lose her sense of self preservation when she needed it most. Not saying it’s impossible but I couldn’t picture myself getting into that situation even back then. I lived in a rural area but my family definitely taught stranger danger back then…and even though he was a neighbor the kids were a bit afraid of him and saw him more as a stranger. I think it would’ve been more believable had the story slightly shifted to include a friendly relationship with him prior to the events that unfold in the book. It would have been more believable. Otherwise, great story. That ending was expected but sad.
Most of the book I really enjoyed (even though it’s dark in content) when the innocence of young, naive children of a simpler time is destroyed by an outwardly good Christian man who in reality is quite depraved and sinister.
Much of the story- the young woman who had a car accident to avoid Kyle on his bike and the events that unfolded when she was vulnerable and hurt, the female deputy (the only smart and caring adult in the story) who is searching for the young woman, Kyle and Grace who were typical kids in that era, their parents who seem to lack focus to notice changes in their children - is an excellent, believable snippet of a 70s summer. My only issue is that at a pivotal moment Grace seemed to act out of character based on her earlier responses that had life altering effects to her. Personally I don’t think she would have gotten into the situation at that age and she suddenly seemed much younger. It pulled me from the story and I had a difficult time getting back into it. All I’ll say is that Grace seemed to suddenly lose her sense of self preservation when she needed it most. Not saying it’s impossible but I couldn’t picture myself getting into that situation even back then. I lived in a rural area but my family definitely taught stranger danger back then…and even though he was a neighbor the kids were a bit afraid of him and saw him more as a stranger. I think it would’ve been more believable had the story slightly shifted to include a friendly relationship with him prior to the events that unfold in the book. It would have been more believable. Otherwise, great story. That ending was expected but sad.
August 27, 2017
This book was recommended to me and I am not sure why. I could barely get through it. What should have been a quick simple read, took FOREVER! There is absolutely no reason I couldn't have finished this book in a day due to its length, but I forced myself through it because this person has always given me great recommendations in the past.
The book had absolutely no draw. It jumped from "topic" to topic with no thread drawing it together. Not to mention, the character development and story was just poorly developed. Don't waste your time with this one. It is very rare that I say that, but I am screaming it here.
The book had absolutely no draw. It jumped from "topic" to topic with no thread drawing it together. Not to mention, the character development and story was just poorly developed. Don't waste your time with this one. It is very rare that I say that, but I am screaming it here.
May 7, 2019
Powerful
I loved this book. Everything about it ..The imagery, the characters, the story. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and feelings, and it all rang true. Just like real life, sometimes there is no happy ending for everyone, and that too made this story so genuine. Scary, exciting, thrilling and sad, but it truly is awesome.
I loved this book. Everything about it ..The imagery, the characters, the story. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions and feelings, and it all rang true. Just like real life, sometimes there is no happy ending for everyone, and that too made this story so genuine. Scary, exciting, thrilling and sad, but it truly is awesome.
March 19, 2020
The first two pages caught your attention. You then had to read half the book before you even got to the crime. It was very disappointing . If the author had gotten into the crime instead of just trying to fill up pages I probably would have given it a better rating.
July 8, 2017
Such well written nastiness.
January 29, 2018
Dismal and depressing. Too much of the plot seemed unbelievable and the characters weak, inept, or cruel. Finished it, but can't say it was time well spent.
June 21, 2019
This was a really interesting read, and one that could easily be turned into a movie. It felt very real, and that sometimes is lacking in thrillers. Which made it even creepier.
April 10, 2020
Relentless bad time
July 19, 2020
Best book!!!! Had me in tears at the end.
September 13, 2022
One of those books you can’t put down, which makes it a very quick, suspenseful read.
July 13, 2024
This was one hard read. It was well written and really drew me in but disturbing in too many ways.
April 18, 2012
what can I possibly say? I'm terrified! I'm utterly convinced to stay at home and be like all those Japanese people or were they Chinese, can't remember, that stay at their bedrooms because of this psychological disease.
It started slow, really slow, but you need it. It fills you with questions and confusion and I wasn't getting any of it, to be honest, I thought of putting it off, try again some time later. But that is very difficult for me, once I start I have to finish. And, boy, I do not regret it. This is mind fucking, pardon my french. It has all this psychological traces, this mystery, this web of events that were so perfectly coordinated, a sequence so exact that, shoot, it gave me shills all over. Several times I had to stop because it was too much for me and this is why:
It all starts with a woman wanting to end her life, actually on the process of doing exactly that. Then it jumps to describe this crazy accident that seems to come out of a futuristic sci-fi movie, remember that it is set in 1976, so that is an actual accurate comparison.
It is OK, for a few chapters it comes and goes from past events to what it is actually happening. Describing Kyles life style, his family and what made him participant of the must traumatic thing I have ever read about, fiction or not. And it is all written in a matter that does not actually bores you to death just to build enough foundation for the real plot, but it is a slow process so just be patient. All those stories with his older brothers and specially with Grace comes to show how Kyle was before. You come to like him very much.
But when you think it is taking a certain path it changes, the Policewoman comes along, the Paralyzed man that at first seems a secondary character,inconsequential, rises. And you, as a reader, you start to make your own conclusions, thinking on the possible outcomes. And let me tell you, it is not difficult to put the pieces together but the amount of information that the author has to offer in order for you to do exactly that is larger that the conclusion itself. And it seems that the author liked to make you doubt and rethink your own conclusions, so you will be caught up with the end.
It is not a surprising ending or the in between events are either alien to the main plot but the style, how it was written, how little information was delivered and so scattered that it was the thing that impressed me the must, hence the five stars, because it is witty, intelligent, and it just clicked with my taste.And the amount of suspense and disgust was horrible, yet, so part of the story that you are able to handle it. Like when Melody went all Bear Grylls with a rat I just couldn't enjoy lunch that much. So, warning, do not read it if you are thinking of eating delicious bliss afterwards. And the Paralyzed man just reminded me of the evil spirit of What The Night Knows by Dean Koontz somehow. With all of that stuff of being able to call Kyle or Grace whenever he wanted and stuff that you will notice.
And well, that is it, I don't really want to give away that many details. So very different from my usual readings. Dark, unusual, chaotic yet compelling. And,in a sense, it does not have a happy ending. At all.
It started slow, really slow, but you need it. It fills you with questions and confusion and I wasn't getting any of it, to be honest, I thought of putting it off, try again some time later. But that is very difficult for me, once I start I have to finish. And, boy, I do not regret it. This is mind fucking, pardon my french. It has all this psychological traces, this mystery, this web of events that were so perfectly coordinated, a sequence so exact that, shoot, it gave me shills all over. Several times I had to stop because it was too much for me and this is why:
It all starts with a woman wanting to end her life, actually on the process of doing exactly that. Then it jumps to describe this crazy accident that seems to come out of a futuristic sci-fi movie, remember that it is set in 1976, so that is an actual accurate comparison.
It is OK, for a few chapters it comes and goes from past events to what it is actually happening. Describing Kyles life style, his family and what made him participant of the must traumatic thing I have ever read about, fiction or not. And it is all written in a matter that does not actually bores you to death just to build enough foundation for the real plot, but it is a slow process so just be patient. All those stories with his older brothers and specially with Grace comes to show how Kyle was before. You come to like him very much.
But when you think it is taking a certain path it changes, the Policewoman comes along, the Paralyzed man that at first seems a secondary character,inconsequential, rises. And you, as a reader, you start to make your own conclusions, thinking on the possible outcomes. And let me tell you, it is not difficult to put the pieces together but the amount of information that the author has to offer in order for you to do exactly that is larger that the conclusion itself. And it seems that the author liked to make you doubt and rethink your own conclusions, so you will be caught up with the end.
It is not a surprising ending or the in between events are either alien to the main plot but the style, how it was written, how little information was delivered and so scattered that it was the thing that impressed me the must, hence the five stars, because it is witty, intelligent, and it just clicked with my taste.And the amount of suspense and disgust was horrible, yet, so part of the story that you are able to handle it. Like when Melody went all Bear Grylls with a rat I just couldn't enjoy lunch that much. So, warning, do not read it if you are thinking of eating delicious bliss afterwards. And the Paralyzed man just reminded me of the evil spirit of What The Night Knows by Dean Koontz somehow. With all of that stuff of being able to call Kyle or Grace whenever he wanted and stuff that you will notice.
And well, that is it, I don't really want to give away that many details. So very different from my usual readings. Dark, unusual, chaotic yet compelling. And,in a sense, it does not have a happy ending. At all.
March 6, 2012
Kyle is 10 and growing up in rural Georgia. The Edwards family consists of Mom and Dad, Louise and Boyd and 4 children... Kyle and his younger sister,Grace plus two older brothers, Jason and Wade. Jason and Wade hang together and Kyle and Grace often find adventures by themselves
Kyle Edwards is bicycling down a country road near his home but he doesn't realize that a car is bearing down on him from behind. At the last minute he tries to get out of the way but the car crashes in trying to avoid him. The woman survives, gets out of the car and runs away. Kyle is too scared to try and help the woman. He runs home and tries to forget the whole incident.
One day soon after the incident, Kyle and Grace start a small fire that the wind turns into a catastrophe. Kyle and Grace run home to be able to deny that they were the cause of this terrible event. What he doesn't realize is that someone saw him and Grace start the fire and that someone is going to play a big part in the events soon to unfold.
Meanwhile the woman who was in the accident has been identified and has disappeared.Her name is Melodie Godwin and her mother is frantic to find out what has happened to her. Deputy Dana Turpin is assigned to the case but because there are few clues, the police department is going to put the case on the 'backburner'. But Dana feels for the mother and will continue the investigation on her own time. There are several things about the accident that don't make sense and Dana will try to pursue the details, especially what may be the connection to the boy (Kyle) who won't look at her when she questions the Edwards family on what they may have witnessed.
The pace of the action is about to pick up to runaway speed as Kyle finds himself drawn into the web of the one person who saw him start the fire and with Dana starting to put some clues together on Melodie's disappearance. The wickedness and the chill factors will increase as you get deeper and deeper into Grant Jerkins's scary novel.
Kyle Edwards is bicycling down a country road near his home but he doesn't realize that a car is bearing down on him from behind. At the last minute he tries to get out of the way but the car crashes in trying to avoid him. The woman survives, gets out of the car and runs away. Kyle is too scared to try and help the woman. He runs home and tries to forget the whole incident.
One day soon after the incident, Kyle and Grace start a small fire that the wind turns into a catastrophe. Kyle and Grace run home to be able to deny that they were the cause of this terrible event. What he doesn't realize is that someone saw him and Grace start the fire and that someone is going to play a big part in the events soon to unfold.
Meanwhile the woman who was in the accident has been identified and has disappeared.Her name is Melodie Godwin and her mother is frantic to find out what has happened to her. Deputy Dana Turpin is assigned to the case but because there are few clues, the police department is going to put the case on the 'backburner'. But Dana feels for the mother and will continue the investigation on her own time. There are several things about the accident that don't make sense and Dana will try to pursue the details, especially what may be the connection to the boy (Kyle) who won't look at her when she questions the Edwards family on what they may have witnessed.
The pace of the action is about to pick up to runaway speed as Kyle finds himself drawn into the web of the one person who saw him start the fire and with Dana starting to put some clues together on Melodie's disappearance. The wickedness and the chill factors will increase as you get deeper and deeper into Grant Jerkins's scary novel.
December 3, 2025
Not sure why this story didn’t engage me more, maybe it was the characters or the subject matter or the prose. Regarding the subject matter of the book, this is an adult story with a repugnant antagonist, fair warning. So for various reasons, I struggled with this book and ended up skimming about 50%. I can’t recommend this book.
May 21, 2015
A solid few years after putting it on my wishlist I finally succeeded in making the ultimate commitment. I bought the book. Dramatic purchases aside I didn't have a clue what to expect here. And having finished the book I now face a similar predicament. I now have no clue how to review it. It's a good book. I suppose that's a start. The plot is at times far darker than I'd expected, but is solid throughout. The characters though are what really makes this book. The main character of Kyle is terrifically written, offering enough innocence to become emotionally connected to the reader, while remaining mature enough to offer relevant dialogue. The setting is also terrific, with terrific imagery and terrific rural accents (at least in my head). Other characters and imagery are available. At times Jerkins dares to write things others would write and then frantically delete, and though on a couple of occasions this can prove a tad nauseating for the reader, it offers a terrific insight into the twisted worlds that exist among our communities, however serene they are.
February 13, 2012
It was a quick read and a pretty good book. A little heavy on simile use in the first few chapters. The overuse of similies in particular got a bit annoying but as the story progressed the similes decreased and the style got quite professional. The plot did remind me of two short stories I've read. One is about a grandmother who cares for her grandson who has swallowed lye. The other was about a character whose bones melt and he's left just a blob of thinking/sentient flesh. (It might have been a "Twilight Zone" or "One Step Beyond" episode.) Thirdly it reminds me a little of the novel "Johnny Got His Gun." If these were inspirations for the author he did an excellent job of giving them "twists" and making them fresh. Also I wish he'd put the sister's time ine a little futher on in the book. I didn't want to know what became of her as adult, so soon.
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