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Zion
From Dayne Sherman, the critically-acclaimed author of Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, comes a gothic treatment of the American a hard-charging depiction of religion, family, friendship, deception, and evil. Zion is a mystery set in the rural South, the story of a war fought over the killing of hardwoods in Baxter Parish, Louisiana. The tale begins in 1964 and ends a decade later, but the Hardin family, faithful members of Little Zion Methodist Church, will carry the scars for life. This edition of Zion includes a Reader's Guide for Book Clubs and Author Q and A. Praise for Dayne Sherman and his “Dayne Sherman writes like I wish I could if I was still young enough to change.” --Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All Over But the Shoutin' and Jerry Lee His Own Story “Sherman’s promising debut chronicles a young man’s thorny return to his Louisiana hometown… Sherman brilliantly reunites a land with its own set of vicious rules with a native of that land who, as a changed man, simply wants peace. Weaving his way through a series of complex characters and a terrain fertilized with a proud but bloody history, Sherman tells a spirited and engaging tale.” --Publishers Weekly “Zion begins ballistic, turns tectonic and ends gothic. The people of this fraught Louisiana town suffer both the shifts of history and the tribulations of their pasts. In Sherman’s dark vision, wood kin burn and kin make hay, setting these troubled characters searching in a spiritual, and sometimes literal, wilderness to find and make right what they can. Get ready for a thrill ride that slams into modernity with Old Testament inevitability.” –Tim Parrish, author of Fear and What Follows & The Jumper
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2014
37 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Dayne Sherman
11 books15 followersDayne Sherman is a high school dropout. He has worked a variety of jobs as a grocery store clerk, carpenter's helper, door-to-door rat poison distributor, watermelon salesman, itinerant Baptist preacher, English as a second language teacher in Russia, fitness instructor, and most recently as a reference librarian (full professor of library science). At 18 years old, he took the GED and went to the university in his hometown. A member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sherman earned master's degrees from LSU and Southeastern Louisiana University.
Zion is Sherman's latest novel, a Southern mystery. His first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, was published released in 2004. It was named a Best Debut of the Year by The Times-Picayune and a Notable Book by Book Sense. Recently, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise was the sole "Louisiana" pick for Booklist's "Hard-Boiled Gazetteer to Country Noir."
His writing has appeared in many literary magazines, and one of his short stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Sherman lives in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, with his wife and son. His website is daynesherman.com.
Zion is Sherman's latest novel, a Southern mystery. His first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, was published released in 2004. It was named a Best Debut of the Year by The Times-Picayune and a Notable Book by Book Sense. Recently, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise was the sole "Louisiana" pick for Booklist's "Hard-Boiled Gazetteer to Country Noir."
His writing has appeared in many literary magazines, and one of his short stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Sherman lives in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, with his wife and son. His website is daynesherman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 19, 2015
Let me begin by saying I know I am in the minority in my rating of this book. It's unfortunate because I read Sherman's first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise and gave it five stars. In my opinion it was worthy of each of those stars. Fallen Paradise was published in 2004 but I just read it last year and this book was published last year (2014).
There was little that I liked about this book.
It seemed to me that a sentence was written, then two sentences later additional information was given after the fact. It was like "oops, I forgot to say blah, blah, blah." This went on throughout the entire book and got very annoying to read. Like the author thought the reader was not bright enough to figure out simple things that was alluded to in prior pages. So he said it again more directly.
The storyline? Hummm. Not sure about that since it jumped all over the place from beginning to end.
I started to put the book (Kindle) down two or three times. I wondered, really wondered was this the same author I read just last year? How could a writer change so dramatically?
Then I get an 'aha' moment at the end from the author's own acknowledgments: " Two authors and two novels influenced the writing of Zion: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarth and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Both authors deserve the Nobel Prize."
In my opinion Sherman was a much better writer before he allowed himself to be influenced by any other writer(s). He had his voice 10 years ago, then in my minority opinion, he lost it.
Big A Rating: 34 four and five stars; four one and two stars. Definitely in the minority but it's not the first time.
Goodreads: 20 three, four and five stars; one two stars. Zero one star. For sure, the minority. Mine? Two stars.
There was little that I liked about this book.
It seemed to me that a sentence was written, then two sentences later additional information was given after the fact. It was like "oops, I forgot to say blah, blah, blah." This went on throughout the entire book and got very annoying to read. Like the author thought the reader was not bright enough to figure out simple things that was alluded to in prior pages. So he said it again more directly.
The storyline? Hummm. Not sure about that since it jumped all over the place from beginning to end.
I started to put the book (Kindle) down two or three times. I wondered, really wondered was this the same author I read just last year? How could a writer change so dramatically?
Then I get an 'aha' moment at the end from the author's own acknowledgments: " Two authors and two novels influenced the writing of Zion: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarth and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Both authors deserve the Nobel Prize."
In my opinion Sherman was a much better writer before he allowed himself to be influenced by any other writer(s). He had his voice 10 years ago, then in my minority opinion, he lost it.
Big A Rating: 34 four and five stars; four one and two stars. Definitely in the minority but it's not the first time.
Goodreads: 20 three, four and five stars; one two stars. Zero one star. For sure, the minority. Mine? Two stars.
November 26, 2017
3.5 stars. I liked this author's first book so much that this one was a little disappointing. ZION had a much slower pace to it. Dayne Sherman has a lot to offer, though, and I look forward to reading more of his work.
October 30, 2014
This book recalls the recent novels Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men. A true Southern mystery, there is no sentiment in the book.
November 5, 2014
Jam-packed with local color, Dayne Sherman strives to continue the tradition of William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and other writers who rooted their human dramas in the soil of rural America. Zion paints a vivid picture of the rural South of another era. Sherman shows readers the dark side of rural southern life: the small town corruption and cronyism, the racism, and the religious hypocrisy, but, thankfully, he does not stop there. Nobility is there too, and that is one of this novel's strengths. It avoids the extremes of demonizing the rural southerners (a popular pastime these days) and excessive romanticizing of the "good old days." Not all of his "bumpkins" are stupid. Tom, his main character, is a self-educated scholar even though his intelligence might not be obvious to outside observers. (My great-grandfather was that kind of rural intellectual. He was a mailman and subsistence farmer, but he read history books for fun.) I confess it took me a couple of chapters to really warm up to the characters, but once the story started moving, it was worth the wait.
November 4, 2014
Enjoyed reading the book. Some good plot twists, but I saw them coming. I think that is more because I read at least two books a week and not because of the writing. One of my favorite things about reading is guessing where the story is going and then seeing if I'm right. I've gotten pretty good at this over the years and to me it makes the book more enjoyable if I can at guess most of them.
Since I live in Livingston parish, it was fun reading familiar things and really fun trying to figure out which town represented which real town, probably got some wrong and some right.
The only reason it didn't get a 5 star was because I felt the ending was lacking. Some things were left without conclusions and I think a 'wrap up' chapter would have been nice. I'm writing it vaguely because I hate when someone reviews a book by retelling the whole story. With that being said, I loved it and it will probably end up in the category of a book I'll re-read.
Since I live in Livingston parish, it was fun reading familiar things and really fun trying to figure out which town represented which real town, probably got some wrong and some right.
The only reason it didn't get a 5 star was because I felt the ending was lacking. Some things were left without conclusions and I think a 'wrap up' chapter would have been nice. I'm writing it vaguely because I hate when someone reviews a book by retelling the whole story. With that being said, I loved it and it will probably end up in the category of a book I'll re-read.
November 4, 2014
Sherman’s first novel introduced us to an amazing talent with a unique voice. Sherman’s second novel, Zion, shows us that this voice has gotten stronger.
Tom Hardin is a man with a set of morals that are out of sync with the world changing around him. Fighting against big business, old money, and just plain evil, Tom is just trying to do what’s best for him and his family. From the beginning, the tension in the novel builds as we see Tom battle against those that threaten his way of life and his family. It is impossible not to empathize with Tom and to root for him as the situation goes from bad to worse. All the way to the last page, Zion is difficult to put down.
Sherman’s first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, is always one of the first novels I recommend to people when they ask for a good book. Now it’s going to be difficult to tell people which novel to read first. Really, you can’t go wrong with either choice.
Tom Hardin is a man with a set of morals that are out of sync with the world changing around him. Fighting against big business, old money, and just plain evil, Tom is just trying to do what’s best for him and his family. From the beginning, the tension in the novel builds as we see Tom battle against those that threaten his way of life and his family. It is impossible not to empathize with Tom and to root for him as the situation goes from bad to worse. All the way to the last page, Zion is difficult to put down.
Sherman’s first novel, Welcome to the Fallen Paradise, is always one of the first novels I recommend to people when they ask for a good book. Now it’s going to be difficult to tell people which novel to read first. Really, you can’t go wrong with either choice.
November 4, 2014
After reading Dayne Sherman’s novel, Zion, one word expresses my reaction: Wow! Sherman’s creative ability and uncanny imagination is brilliantly illuminated in this thriller that takes the reader on a wild journey of intrigue that takes place in Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi. If one relishes in mystery and raw human emotion that intersects religion, love, criminality, and deception, this book is for you. Truly, Zion is a page-turner! I suspect this novel will be hit on the big screen in the not-so-distant future. In the literary tradition of the great writers that hail from the South, like Walker Percy, William Faulkner, and others, Sherman must be added to the esteemed list.
November 5, 2014
Dealing with the changes affecting his small, southern town, Tom Hardin struggles to make sense of his present life: his economic hardships, his compromised relationship with his wife and son and the deterioration of the life he's always known. A long-time friend, the local sheriff, his wife, his minister, and a local social climber are involved in a rape and a murder which threaten Tom's stability and his moral stance. The action of the book moves quickly from one character to another, leading to final clarification which upends Tom's world. Southern readers, in particular, will recognize people who lived in, thrived, or despaired in their own small towns of the 1960s and 70s...when life changed irrevocably for everyone.
November 4, 2014
Excellent Book.
Creating good fiction is hard – good southern fiction, extremely hard. I’m not talking about the urban crime fiction I write, I’m talking fiction along the likes of Faulkner, Harper Lee, Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, James Lee Burke. I’m talking crime fiction centered on the conflicts of the human heart.
Dayne Sherman belongs with those writers and his new book ZION is a deep, bumpy ride down a south Louisiana dirt road. Crime fiction with a rural, southern-fried flavor. Dayne gives us memorable, imperfect people trapped in their future past. As Faulkner told us, “The past is never dead. In fact, it’s not even past.”
Creating good fiction is hard – good southern fiction, extremely hard. I’m not talking about the urban crime fiction I write, I’m talking fiction along the likes of Faulkner, Harper Lee, Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, James Lee Burke. I’m talking crime fiction centered on the conflicts of the human heart.
Dayne Sherman belongs with those writers and his new book ZION is a deep, bumpy ride down a south Louisiana dirt road. Crime fiction with a rural, southern-fried flavor. Dayne gives us memorable, imperfect people trapped in their future past. As Faulkner told us, “The past is never dead. In fact, it’s not even past.”
November 7, 2014
One night many years ago I invited Dayne Sherman to my rental house in Ethel, Louisiana to eat ribs and read stories. He grinned a lot. He ate a lot of ribs. When his turn came to read, Dayne kind of switched to a different person, describing this hairy, obese man laid up in the bed with this sleep apnea thing on his nose. Dayne just blew my mind, so crazy and perceptive and funny. His first novel was fantastic--rich with real cornpone genius of a sort--but ZION is even better because he is able to deftly juggle genre, social commentary and rural wit in a way that isn't at all forced. This is a fun, harrowing, and thought-provoking read.
November 4, 2014
Dayne Sherman keeps you stuck to his stories like sap to pine bark. The characters are personal and the twists are genuine. I loved 'Welcome To The Fallen Paradise' and am loving 'Zion' more. It is a complex story, simply told, about simple people in complex situations. I feel as though I know Tom Hardin and his family; a hard working rural family with a deep sense of personal morality in a world of thwarting challenges and their struggle against the greed and avarice of those who would take advantage of their plight.
November 4, 2014
When Zion: A Novel starts, we think it's a simple class struggle for land and trees, and it is. But shortly into this page-turner, we find there's much more going on. Dayne Sherman has us racing through Baxter parish and up into the Mississippi Delta before we realize the tragic truth at hand. This novel aptly depicts the depravity of man, and causes one to cast doubt on even his closest ally. If you enjoy Southern Gothic and Cormac McCarthy, you'll want to get a copy of Zion.
November 7, 2014
Dayne Sherman brings his area of Louisiana to life. I enjoy his plot lines, but also appreciate the authenticity of his representation of a region of Louisiana that has gone largely undocumented.
December 23, 2023
injustice
All to real portraying the actual injustice of this world. Be it thousands of years ago, hundreds of years ago, or during these present times. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line. Look forward to more from this author.
All to real portraying the actual injustice of this world. Be it thousands of years ago, hundreds of years ago, or during these present times. I thoroughly enjoyed the story line. Look forward to more from this author.
February 5, 2024
This writer can write. But why do I fall for the Southern Gothic hook time after time. Gothic is an ancient word which means “nobody leaves happy.” Almost everyone is miserable by the end of this book.
March 11, 2025
1 star. This will be an unpopular opinion. The only reason I finished this was because I’m completing the A-Z Challenge and I needed a Z book. I didn’t enjoy the writing style or the plot. I found this difficult to read, easy to put down, and uninspired.
June 10, 2017
Zion is not a fast-paced, hard-action thriller. Sherman takes his time developing his story backdrop, building the characters who populate his story, and setting up the events that finally lead to a satisfying conclusion. I quickly found myself involved with his characters as Sherman developed his story based upon his in-depth knowledge of rural Louisiana.
This is a story about real people, living their lives as they see fit in a world that is as real as your own neighborhood. When the main protagonist’s wife is brutally assaulted and raped, his life changes forever, and his community changes along with him. Over a process of years, pieces of the puzzle emerge, slowly forming a picture that exposes the underbelly of Zion. Local law enforcement, in the form of a long-term marshal, is finally forced to address the problem when a gruesome double murder shocks this small community.
Several formatting problems were temporary distractions, such as unexpected point-of-view shifts, and occasional dialog glitches. Nevertheless, their presence did not detract seriously from my enjoyment of the novel. I give it four-and-a-half stars, and round it up to five.
You will not be able to put this book down once you get into it. When you start reading, give it a chapter, and you will be hooked.
May 9, 2015
Deserves all five!
I rarely give a book five stars, but was drawn to the history and realism of this book. This is no fantasy tale, but a hard-hitting book about what lies in the hearts of fallible human beings. Great story line--captivating to the end.
I rarely give a book five stars, but was drawn to the history and realism of this book. This is no fantasy tale, but a hard-hitting book about what lies in the hearts of fallible human beings. Great story line--captivating to the end.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews