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Strong at the Broken Places
★★★★★ "An alchemic inferno... Lindemuth did a magnificent job with this intensely personal story." --San Francisco Book Review Nick Fister's the winningest ultra-runner ever, but he's paid a price. His daughter Tuesday took her own life. His wife is sleeping with his crew chief, Floyd. And his "greatest fan" — an ex-Marine sniper — has progressed from creepy stalker to deadly menace. Nick's chosen Death Valley's Badwater 135 as the brutal capstone to his career. When Floyd fails to show at race start, Nick begins without him — and learns shortly later Floyd was stabbed to death the night before. Nick Fister always wins, and his relentless focus keeps him in the race. But soon the Inyo County Deputies learn about Nick's cheating wife. The troubled business partnership. The life insurance. Did Nick murder Floyd, while queuing a psychotic sniper to take the fall? Or is Nick Fister running for his life? Grab STRONG AT THE BROKEN PLACES and prepare for a marathon reading session. "One of those books that’s going to stick with me for a while." --Manhattan Book Review "A story about finding yourself, facing your inner demons, forgiving, dealing with loss, and despite all that, still moving forward." --Seattle Book Review ★★★★★ "Wrenching... Relentless... Cathartic... Enlightening..." ★Praise for Clayton Lindemuth★ Clayton Lindemuth's works have been smashingly reviewed by Publishers Weekly (starred review and best of the week), Indie Next List, Kirkus, BlueInk Review, Foreword Reviews, Seattle Book Review, Manhattan Book Review, Indie Reader, Reader Views, Spinetingler Magazine, Hardboiled Wonderland, various independent best of the year mentions, (Spinetingler and DoSomeDamage, among others). Clayton's novels Cold Quiet Country and My Brother's Destroyer have been published in France by Le Seuil, and have been charmingly reviewed by Le Monde, La Croix, Le Figaro.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2018
149 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Clayton Lindemuth
36 books127 followersAm I right? You're smarter than most, embrace old fashioned morals, love your country, dogs, and guns... and dig ruthless fiction...
Hi! I'm Clayton Lindemuth, and my novels embrace rural noir truth. Mind your own business, be slow to anger. But don't ever back down to evil. Justice happens when the wicked die.
If we're tracking so far, I wrote My Brother's Destroyer, and all the rest, just for you.
You'll stay awake too late, underline fun new ways to cuss, muse about new philosophies and read random passages to strangers to make the world a better place.
Literary depth. Thriller pace. If you've got the stomach to watch evil men die, dress for the woods and grab a lamp. We've work to do.
Hi! I'm Clayton Lindemuth, and my novels embrace rural noir truth. Mind your own business, be slow to anger. But don't ever back down to evil. Justice happens when the wicked die.
If we're tracking so far, I wrote My Brother's Destroyer, and all the rest, just for you.
You'll stay awake too late, underline fun new ways to cuss, muse about new philosophies and read random passages to strangers to make the world a better place.
Literary depth. Thriller pace. If you've got the stomach to watch evil men die, dress for the woods and grab a lamp. We've work to do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 3, 2021
Nick Fister's lifelong obsession of Ultra Marathoning (100 plus miles) will cost him physically, mentally and spiritually. Abused by his sadistic father, Nick's obsession blinds him to the people in his life he cares most about, his sister, his wife and his daughter. As he prepares to run The Badwater 135 in the California desert, he is confronted by an evil so malignant it's tough to put into words. An evil that he should have seen and confronted earlier. This is a powerful book and an original story but thinking about what ultra marathoning cost Nick is like taking a sledge hammer to the soul.
April 1, 2018
Strong at the Broken Places by Clayton Lindemuth is a rich, gritty psychological exploration of the soul. It is, at its heart, one man’s alchemic transformation.
Nick Fister is an ultra-runner, taking on races of fifty to a hundred plus miles in one go. To say this is an extreme sport is an understatement, and Nick spends a lot of time training. We join him as he is about to start the Badwater 135, a race of 135 miles through Death Valley and up Mount Whitney. As his race starts, he gets the news that his crew chief, Floyd Siciliano has been found dead. He spends the rest of the race attempting to evade a stalker, keeping the police from dragging him out of the race for questioning, and musing over all the things that led him to this moment.
For Nick, Badwater 135 turns into an alchemic inferno. It is one race he leaves far different than when he entered. We learn, through his musings as he paces the miles, the things in childhood that shaped and warped him, and the near past, that broke him further. As a boy, Nick randomly received a package containing a gold marathon medal. When his abusive father found it, he told Nick he wasn't worthy of even accidentally owning something like that, and proceeds to make his son run back and forth down the driveway in crappy shoes, with a rifle trained on him until he reached the distance of a marathon. Long after his father was done with the bully tactic, Nick kept running, to prove he could. He ran thirteen miles and learned many valuable lessons, the greatest being that imagination and will can keep you going long after the body says stop. From this, the foundations of a career are launched.
The entirety of the Badwater 135 race is a powerful cycle of personal transmutation. His Calcination event began on the plane to Vegas, with a devastating letter from his daughter Tuesday. Through the run, Nick undergoes Dissolution, as his musings begin to lead him to understand how his behaviour has affected his family. With all his intense training, and retreating into his running to avoid things, he neglected his wife and daughter, which ended in terrible consequences. He meets his Shadow on the run, a man sharing his exact name who had been stalking him for a time now, and he begins to more honestly experience his own emotions. The run itself provides the frame for Conjunction, as Nick travels mile upon mile with only himself for company. He begins to marinate in the truth of recent events, and his role in what happened.
Fermentation is a literal 'dark night of the soul’, as he runs through the night, and becomes in more and more physical and mental distress. He's running hobbled, and has been abandoned by his remaining crew, with no new food or water in miles. Distillation comes when he realises how much he's missed out on by being who he is, by admittedly seeking strife, and fostering anger because that's what he converts to will in his running. That's his fuel. And Nick decides he's done with that. He wants peace, and normality. He wants to feel he is worth something on his own merit. Coagulation ends the race. Nick finds support, and finds himself changed. Despite further injuries, despite wrangling his Shadow more than once, Nick goes from the self-centredness of needing the win to fulfill a hollow sense of self-worth to stopping to urge his rival back to her feet to finish the race. Even after he finishes, he goes back to Nova and continues to urge her up, to finish when she's so close, and when reporters come to pester him, he steps out of the limelight, telling them Nova is the next big thing and instead looks forward to the life he wants to build.
I didn't really like Nick for much of the book, even knowing why he is the way he is. His childhood sucked. His adulthood sucks. He's in a loveless marriage, and burrows in his training as a way to keep people out. He admit he thrives on strife and bitterness because he turns it to running energy. And yet, despite not liking him, I was pulled into his story. I wanted to know him, and what shaped him. I was invested in seeing this transformation through. Lindemuth did a magnificent job with this intensely personal story. I learned a lot about ultra-running too, which I'd never heard of. This just sounds too intense to be real, but the author himself does it, having a longest run of 73 miles. This intimate knowledge showed itself in attention to detail and depth of description.
If you like stories of personal transformation, check this gem out!
***This book was reviewed for the San Francisco Book Review
Nick Fister is an ultra-runner, taking on races of fifty to a hundred plus miles in one go. To say this is an extreme sport is an understatement, and Nick spends a lot of time training. We join him as he is about to start the Badwater 135, a race of 135 miles through Death Valley and up Mount Whitney. As his race starts, he gets the news that his crew chief, Floyd Siciliano has been found dead. He spends the rest of the race attempting to evade a stalker, keeping the police from dragging him out of the race for questioning, and musing over all the things that led him to this moment.
For Nick, Badwater 135 turns into an alchemic inferno. It is one race he leaves far different than when he entered. We learn, through his musings as he paces the miles, the things in childhood that shaped and warped him, and the near past, that broke him further. As a boy, Nick randomly received a package containing a gold marathon medal. When his abusive father found it, he told Nick he wasn't worthy of even accidentally owning something like that, and proceeds to make his son run back and forth down the driveway in crappy shoes, with a rifle trained on him until he reached the distance of a marathon. Long after his father was done with the bully tactic, Nick kept running, to prove he could. He ran thirteen miles and learned many valuable lessons, the greatest being that imagination and will can keep you going long after the body says stop. From this, the foundations of a career are launched.
The entirety of the Badwater 135 race is a powerful cycle of personal transmutation. His Calcination event began on the plane to Vegas, with a devastating letter from his daughter Tuesday. Through the run, Nick undergoes Dissolution, as his musings begin to lead him to understand how his behaviour has affected his family. With all his intense training, and retreating into his running to avoid things, he neglected his wife and daughter, which ended in terrible consequences. He meets his Shadow on the run, a man sharing his exact name who had been stalking him for a time now, and he begins to more honestly experience his own emotions. The run itself provides the frame for Conjunction, as Nick travels mile upon mile with only himself for company. He begins to marinate in the truth of recent events, and his role in what happened.
Fermentation is a literal 'dark night of the soul’, as he runs through the night, and becomes in more and more physical and mental distress. He's running hobbled, and has been abandoned by his remaining crew, with no new food or water in miles. Distillation comes when he realises how much he's missed out on by being who he is, by admittedly seeking strife, and fostering anger because that's what he converts to will in his running. That's his fuel. And Nick decides he's done with that. He wants peace, and normality. He wants to feel he is worth something on his own merit. Coagulation ends the race. Nick finds support, and finds himself changed. Despite further injuries, despite wrangling his Shadow more than once, Nick goes from the self-centredness of needing the win to fulfill a hollow sense of self-worth to stopping to urge his rival back to her feet to finish the race. Even after he finishes, he goes back to Nova and continues to urge her up, to finish when she's so close, and when reporters come to pester him, he steps out of the limelight, telling them Nova is the next big thing and instead looks forward to the life he wants to build.
I didn't really like Nick for much of the book, even knowing why he is the way he is. His childhood sucked. His adulthood sucks. He's in a loveless marriage, and burrows in his training as a way to keep people out. He admit he thrives on strife and bitterness because he turns it to running energy. And yet, despite not liking him, I was pulled into his story. I wanted to know him, and what shaped him. I was invested in seeing this transformation through. Lindemuth did a magnificent job with this intensely personal story. I learned a lot about ultra-running too, which I'd never heard of. This just sounds too intense to be real, but the author himself does it, having a longest run of 73 miles. This intimate knowledge showed itself in attention to detail and depth of description.
If you like stories of personal transformation, check this gem out!
***This book was reviewed for the San Francisco Book Review
February 25, 2022
Im not even sure where to begin! Liked this book a lot. Nick Fister's life story is told as he runs his last race, the Badwater 135 that starts in Death Valley and ends at the Mt Whitney portal.
You learn how Nick has used ultra running to fight and sometimes ignore his demons. Eventually it all catches up. Not sure if I think Nick is strong, selfish, or a survivor. But the story provides so many layers of information and so many complexities that just keep you thinking. I enjoyed his motivational tyraids, and his training and health strategies as they were interwoven into the good vs evil murder storyline.
You learn how Nick has used ultra running to fight and sometimes ignore his demons. Eventually it all catches up. Not sure if I think Nick is strong, selfish, or a survivor. But the story provides so many layers of information and so many complexities that just keep you thinking. I enjoyed his motivational tyraids, and his training and health strategies as they were interwoven into the good vs evil murder storyline.
April 10, 2019
Wow! What a read! They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well I’m convinced that in Nick Fister’s world it’s more like if it can break most mortal men. It in fact will just fuel Nick’s fire!
This story will keep you going step by step,mile for mile!
Clayton Did an awesome job writing this one!
I definitely recommend it!
This story will keep you going step by step,mile for mile!
Clayton Did an awesome job writing this one!
I definitely recommend it!
April 17, 2021
A lifetime in a single race
This is the second book I've read by Clayton Lindemuth and I plan to read several more. His writing is outside of my usual genre but I think that one of the things I enjoy. I don't know what to expect but thoroughly enjoy what I find. Well written characters, storylines you didn't know you were looking for, and a way of pulling you in so you feel the story you don't just read it. I am not a runner and it didn't matter one bit. Strong at the Broken Places is so well written you'll feel like you've been running the race yourself.
This is the second book I've read by Clayton Lindemuth and I plan to read several more. His writing is outside of my usual genre but I think that one of the things I enjoy. I don't know what to expect but thoroughly enjoy what I find. Well written characters, storylines you didn't know you were looking for, and a way of pulling you in so you feel the story you don't just read it. I am not a runner and it didn't matter one bit. Strong at the Broken Places is so well written you'll feel like you've been running the race yourself.
May 3, 2019
The author immediately draws his readers in to the compassion and pain over the well-being of a dog, wanted, but not cared for. The family dynamic- an alcoholic abusive father, absent mother, frightened boy, submissive sister, and a desperate dog - heart wrenching. Nick, the main character runs to escape his reality. and to prove his worth when his father forced him to run at gunpoint 20 miles in the ice and cold and snow. His cruelty was prompted by Nick receiving an athletic Medal of Honor . Nick had no idea why it was sent to him until many years later.
. The author is so skillful in wrapping the story up in Nick’s determination to win a race in Death Valley. The author creates a web of complicated, deceitful relationships leaving his readers trapped in the chaos in the best possible of ways. Nick was determined to win, to run for himself and not for his father - driven by pain and rage, He would run and not ever give in even if it killed him. Nick has a daughter of his own, herr name -Tuesday. She died. 2 days before the big Marathon. The pain of that did not fuel him to succeed rather it rendered him helpless , powerless and in agony. And yet he still decided to run the marathon.
The Badwater marathon was in Death Valley with intense heat and humidity and Nick intent on winning at all cost. Using the pain he endured from his alcoholic abusive father to fuel his determination to keep running. His opiate addicted sister Mary with abusive secrets of her own is part of his roadside crew along with his wife Lisa who betrayed him with infidelity by having an affair with his deceased running coach, murdered in his hotel room that morning. And so the marathon begins, and it is relentless and grueling as is Nick’s life.
The author is brilliant in his ability to bring his readers into the death-defying reality and pain of the race. The details about what it does to his body and his mind and his spirit that both destroys him and fuels him at the same time. I was out of breath reading about what running at this pace in desert heat for so many hours can do.
The final hours of the race are heart pounding and torturous as many truth come to light. The author remains brilliant by blending the agony of the race and all of the pain and harsh realities of Nick's Life. Anyone who's had a traumatic childhood and goes to any length to escape and have power over their abuser at all costs this book will resonate in every fiber of your being. It certainly did for me
. The author is so skillful in wrapping the story up in Nick’s determination to win a race in Death Valley. The author creates a web of complicated, deceitful relationships leaving his readers trapped in the chaos in the best possible of ways. Nick was determined to win, to run for himself and not for his father - driven by pain and rage, He would run and not ever give in even if it killed him. Nick has a daughter of his own, herr name -Tuesday. She died. 2 days before the big Marathon. The pain of that did not fuel him to succeed rather it rendered him helpless , powerless and in agony. And yet he still decided to run the marathon.
The Badwater marathon was in Death Valley with intense heat and humidity and Nick intent on winning at all cost. Using the pain he endured from his alcoholic abusive father to fuel his determination to keep running. His opiate addicted sister Mary with abusive secrets of her own is part of his roadside crew along with his wife Lisa who betrayed him with infidelity by having an affair with his deceased running coach, murdered in his hotel room that morning. And so the marathon begins, and it is relentless and grueling as is Nick’s life.
The author is brilliant in his ability to bring his readers into the death-defying reality and pain of the race. The details about what it does to his body and his mind and his spirit that both destroys him and fuels him at the same time. I was out of breath reading about what running at this pace in desert heat for so many hours can do.
The final hours of the race are heart pounding and torturous as many truth come to light. The author remains brilliant by blending the agony of the race and all of the pain and harsh realities of Nick's Life. Anyone who's had a traumatic childhood and goes to any length to escape and have power over their abuser at all costs this book will resonate in every fiber of your being. It certainly did for me
June 23, 2019
The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. - Ernest Hemingway
I have been on a Clayton Lindemuth binge and am really enjoying discovering this new (to me) author.
In this intense story, Nick Fister is an ultra-runner, the best in the world. He started at 13 years old, running long distances to get away from his father's abuse.
He keeps running for years, to the extent of making it the most important thing in his life - over even his wife and daughter.
He decides to run one more race - The Badwater 135 across Death Valley and he runs to leave behind the demons and regrets of his past and the evils of his present.
I loved this story of one man's endurance. It's truly remarkable to me that people actually do race these distances and in these conditions.
There are a few subplots running through the story and some were hard to stomach but I'm glad I read this standalone novel by Lindemuth. I'm now off to read SOLOMON BULL by Lindemuth.
I have been on a Clayton Lindemuth binge and am really enjoying discovering this new (to me) author.
In this intense story, Nick Fister is an ultra-runner, the best in the world. He started at 13 years old, running long distances to get away from his father's abuse.
He keeps running for years, to the extent of making it the most important thing in his life - over even his wife and daughter.
He decides to run one more race - The Badwater 135 across Death Valley and he runs to leave behind the demons and regrets of his past and the evils of his present.
I loved this story of one man's endurance. It's truly remarkable to me that people actually do race these distances and in these conditions.
There are a few subplots running through the story and some were hard to stomach but I'm glad I read this standalone novel by Lindemuth. I'm now off to read SOLOMON BULL by Lindemuth.
January 17, 2018
Nick Fister is a runner, the winningest ultra-runner ever. But Nick is also a father and husband. His crew chief, Floyd is sleeping with Nick's wife. On his last race to end his career, he choses Death Valley's Badwater 135. Floyd isn't there at the start of the race, so Nick starts without him. He hears that Floyd was stabbed the night before and is dead. Nick is a runner, a runner of secrets. His daughter, Tuesday killed herself...so they say. But Nick knows Floyd had something to do with Tuesday killing herself. You will feel the emotions going through Nick. Feel his every step as he runs. This is a story that goes into some dark places of what people can do to one another. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. It blew my mind! The review is my own opinion.
June 29, 2018
I read this murder mystery novel about ultra marathon running, thinking, what a dumb sport! You run until you destroy your body, you don't even get to kick a ball or shoot anything. But this author really does a great job of describing the mental battle and iron discipline that the sport demands, all while telling the story of the main character and what is happening to him in the last big race of his career.
February 10, 2021
🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ 🏃 🏃♂️ Run Like the World’s on Fire
Wow. This book is amazing. I had a feeling I knew who the culprit was, but it was the whys that kept me going - that, and the MC’s obsessed thinking, and the hints dropped along the way, like beads of sweat on the run. He’s not an entirely likable character, but then, there are reasons why people are the way they are. I’m still not sure if I like him or not.
Wow. This book is amazing. I had a feeling I knew who the culprit was, but it was the whys that kept me going - that, and the MC’s obsessed thinking, and the hints dropped along the way, like beads of sweat on the run. He’s not an entirely likable character, but then, there are reasons why people are the way they are. I’m still not sure if I like him or not.
April 23, 2020
Highly Recommended
This book is a combination of ultra running and mystery. It delves deep into the psyche of Nick Fister and those closest to him. It shows not only what he is running away from to what he is running to. Having read Solomon Bull and now this book. I have become a big fan of Clayton Lindemuth and eagerly look forward to reading the rest of his books.
This book is a combination of ultra running and mystery. It delves deep into the psyche of Nick Fister and those closest to him. It shows not only what he is running away from to what he is running to. Having read Solomon Bull and now this book. I have become a big fan of Clayton Lindemuth and eagerly look forward to reading the rest of his books.
March 25, 2019
Another fantastic book from my new favorite author. A different style from the Baer series but very enjoyable. I've never been a runner but I could feel the pain in Nick. You should try this book. You won't be disappointed.
December 16, 2019
A novel about running? By Lindemuth? I’ll run with it.
Not what I expected. But then none of Clayton Lindemuth’s books are. Once I got started, I didn’t want to stop until I finished. Lindemuth has another winner with Strong at the Broken Places.
Not what I expected. But then none of Clayton Lindemuth’s books are. Once I got started, I didn’t want to stop until I finished. Lindemuth has another winner with Strong at the Broken Places.
January 26, 2020
Great read
As always Clayton’ stories are compelling. I make myself take breaks near the end just to prolong the intense suspense. His writing is the kind that makes me stop and reread sections because they are so profound. Love his books
As always Clayton’ stories are compelling. I make myself take breaks near the end just to prolong the intense suspense. His writing is the kind that makes me stop and reread sections because they are so profound. Love his books
June 14, 2020
Long distance running
I enjoyed this book a lot. Not quite as much as the Baer Creighton or Shirley books but it held my interest right up to the very end. Clayton Lindemuth is a brilliant writer. I recommend any of his books.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Not quite as much as the Baer Creighton or Shirley books but it held my interest right up to the very end. Clayton Lindemuth is a brilliant writer. I recommend any of his books.
September 24, 2020
Another amazing read
CL is talented. Always finding character and storyline with depth, insight, intrigue and humor. This book is different the Baer’s universe but as enjoyable and connecting.
I cant stop now, on to another book from Mr. Lindemuth. My”Best Author of 2020”.
CL is talented. Always finding character and storyline with depth, insight, intrigue and humor. This book is different the Baer’s universe but as enjoyable and connecting.
I cant stop now, on to another book from Mr. Lindemuth. My”Best Author of 2020”.
April 24, 2021
Having begun my reading of Clayton Lindemuth's books with the Baer Creighton series, Strong at the Broken Places was certainly different. It was so captivating from the first page. It's amazing what the human body can endure and accomplish.
July 9, 2018
Actual 3.75
January 7, 2019
Great book, good story with moral values. I’ve done two bicycle ultramarathons;so, I could relate to this ultramarathon runner.
March 22, 2019
Two thumbs up!
Took a few pages to get into the story. But once you’re in, you’re in. I enjoyed this this book. It’s definitely packed with page turning excitement.
Took a few pages to get into the story. But once you’re in, you’re in. I enjoyed this this book. It’s definitely packed with page turning excitement.
April 2, 2019
Different type of book
Not the usual kind of book I would read, but once I got into it, it was hard to put it down. Read it in two days. Definitely has some plot twists.
Not the usual kind of book I would read, but once I got into it, it was hard to put it down. Read it in two days. Definitely has some plot twists.
March 15, 2020
good story but to drawn out and only in the main characters head.
April 6, 2020
Very good
One awesome read. I read this in one day, couldn't put it down. I ran for a lot of years and his writing about running was pretty cool. I'd recommend this book for sure.
One awesome read. I read this in one day, couldn't put it down. I ran for a lot of years and his writing about running was pretty cool. I'd recommend this book for sure.
June 15, 2020
Always amazed at Clayton’s books... can’t put it down... and if forced to.. can’t wait to resume! Kudos my friend. This was.
SO GOID!
SO GOID!
July 9, 2020
Excellent read. I absolutely love Clayton Lindemuth books and look forward to reading the few that I haven’t read yet.
July 19, 2020
A Tough Runner
Like someone else said, it ran like a movie in my head, so vivid and at time surreal. Quite different from Baer Creighton, but a good read. Keep em coming.
Like someone else said, it ran like a movie in my head, so vivid and at time surreal. Quite different from Baer Creighton, but a good read. Keep em coming.
August 27, 2020
.
Good read, keeps you guessing. As a former track and cross country coach, I enjoyed the inner working of Nick's mind.
Good read, keeps you guessing. As a former track and cross country coach, I enjoyed the inner working of Nick's mind.
November 9, 2020
Another Page Turner
This author has returned me to devouring novels. Haven’t read a single book in a long time, until now. Thanks
This author has returned me to devouring novels. Haven’t read a single book in a long time, until now. Thanks
March 6, 2021
I am an ultrarunner, and it is obvious throughout that the author has exceptional knowledge of how it feels having been there! Well written, good storyline.
January 2, 2022
Great book in the series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews