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Stoneburner
Stoneburner is a hardboiled detective story written as only William Gay could do it. The story is set in the mid 1970s and includes a jaded private eye named Stoneburner, a redneck Vietnam vet named Thibodeaux, a beautiful young blonde named Cathy Meecham and an ex-Sheriff named Cap Holder loosely based on Buford Pusser. Stoneburner is the private eye who has abandoned his office in Memphis to live on the banks of the Tennessee River where he is building a cabin. The story follows him as he meets a local retired sheriff who made a fortune when Hollywood produced a movie based on his exploits cleaning up the drug dealers in his rural county. However, now the Sheriff, Cap Holder, has run through the money on ill conceived business plans, fancy cars, big boats and expensive young girlfriends. He comes to Stoneburner when his plans to recoup his losses on a coke deal goes wrong and the young girlfriend turns up missing, both at the same time.
Cap wants Stoneburner to find both the money and the girl. The redneck named Thibodeaux just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time and was able to make off with a briefcase full of drug money and the young blonde. Thibodeaux and the girl are on the run, moving across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, leaving a trail a mile wide with Stoneburner not far behind. Thibodeaux and the girl buy a Cadillac purportedly owned by Elvis which eventually ends up in the top of a tree in the Ozarks. Stoneburner quickly figures out that he is not the only person that wants to find Thibodeaux. The drug lord, a local Nashville music producer, who was supplying the cocaine is on the trail as well.
The book follows two tracks, starting with Thibodeaux who is living in rural Tennessee and getting by as best he can. He is a town drunk constantly in trouble with the law, leaving behind a string of wrecked cars and trucks. However, his luck changes one night when he figures out someone is using an abandoned airstrip to fly in drugs and cases it out until one night a plane lands and he is able to make off with a briefcase full of cash. Once he has the money he is able to pick up the blonde, who was double-crossing both Cap Holder and the drug dealers, and away they go.
Cap wants Stoneburner to find both the money and the girl. The redneck named Thibodeaux just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time and was able to make off with a briefcase full of drug money and the young blonde. Thibodeaux and the girl are on the run, moving across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, leaving a trail a mile wide with Stoneburner not far behind. Thibodeaux and the girl buy a Cadillac purportedly owned by Elvis which eventually ends up in the top of a tree in the Ozarks. Stoneburner quickly figures out that he is not the only person that wants to find Thibodeaux. The drug lord, a local Nashville music producer, who was supplying the cocaine is on the trail as well.
The book follows two tracks, starting with Thibodeaux who is living in rural Tennessee and getting by as best he can. He is a town drunk constantly in trouble with the law, leaving behind a string of wrecked cars and trucks. However, his luck changes one night when he figures out someone is using an abandoned airstrip to fly in drugs and cases it out until one night a plane lands and he is able to make off with a briefcase full of cash. Once he has the money he is able to pick up the blonde, who was double-crossing both Cap Holder and the drug dealers, and away they go.
- GenresFiction
286 pages, Hardcover
First published July 25, 2017
8 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
William Gay
37 books538 followersWilliam Elbert Gay was the author of the novels Provinces of Night, The Long Home, and Twilight and the short story collection I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down. He was the winner of the 1999 William Peden Award and the 1999 James A. Michener Memorial Prize and the recipient of a 2002 Guggenheim Fellowship.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 27, 2023
This novel consists of a two-part 224 page novel and a 44 page biography of William Gay by J. M. White that is a must read.
This book is what Gay considered his "film noir" -that's how J. M. White says William Gay would reference "Stoneburner". Gay's favorite authors were William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy, and Ross Macdonald
This was his Ross Macdonald novel.
The first section of the book is titled "Thibodeaux"; the second section is titled "Stoneburner".
Stoneburner is a private detective from Memphis summoned to rural Wayne County, Tennessee by an ex-sheriff modeled after Buford Pusser of McNairy County.
Someone has been flying cocaine into the county and large amounts of money have exchanged hands. In one such transaction, some unknown miscreant steals a briefcase full of not quite half a million dollars and absconds with the former sheriff's favorite little slut.
Another William Gay novel which shines as brilliant as a full moon across a long snaking river deep in the bottoms.
If you enjoy William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Cormac McCarthy, or even Ross Macdonald then anything written by William Gay is straight up your alley.
Highest Possible Recommendation
By the way- William Gay was also a painter of considerable talent. One of his paintings serves as the cover art for the hardback edition of this novel.
Note: 2018 review edited May 2023. Why? I’d misspelled Ross Macdonald’s name three times. God bless my iPad autocorrect.
Apologies to all who were offended.
This book is what Gay considered his "film noir" -that's how J. M. White says William Gay would reference "Stoneburner". Gay's favorite authors were William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy, and Ross Macdonald
This was his Ross Macdonald novel.
The first section of the book is titled "Thibodeaux"; the second section is titled "Stoneburner".
Stoneburner is a private detective from Memphis summoned to rural Wayne County, Tennessee by an ex-sheriff modeled after Buford Pusser of McNairy County.
Someone has been flying cocaine into the county and large amounts of money have exchanged hands. In one such transaction, some unknown miscreant steals a briefcase full of not quite half a million dollars and absconds with the former sheriff's favorite little slut.
Another William Gay novel which shines as brilliant as a full moon across a long snaking river deep in the bottoms.
"Sad but true, I loved her the first time I saw her and I love her yet. But at the same time I'm selfish, just like everybody else. I'm getting old, son. She may be the last sweet thing like that I'll ever lay a hand on and I don't want her slippin away. Leaving me with a taste for her in the back of my mouth and the memory of how her hair looked in the morning. Sudden and swift and light as that the ties gave, and he learned of finalities besides the grave. You know who wrote that?"
Chuck Berry.
"Don't be more of an ass than you have to be, Stoneburner."
If you enjoy William Faulkner, Carson McCullers, Cormac McCarthy, or even Ross Macdonald then anything written by William Gay is straight up your alley.
Highest Possible Recommendation
By the way- William Gay was also a painter of considerable talent. One of his paintings serves as the cover art for the hardback edition of this novel.
Note: 2018 review edited May 2023. Why? I’d misspelled Ross Macdonald’s name three times. God bless my iPad autocorrect.
Apologies to all who were offended.
July 10, 2018
This one started out great, but lost a little ground in part 2. Of course, the language and beauty of Gay's prose is woven throughout the book, and his attempt to write a hard-boiled detective novel succeeds on a lot of levels, including the tongue-in-cheek dialogue. But I felt that the second part definitely needed some editing. There were some easily caught details that didn't jive. Maybe it's just me, but I notice things like that.
There is a biographical chapter at the end which is worth the price of the book, and also tells of the finding of his "papers", plastic bins and boxes containing unpublished novels and stories. I was also amazed to learn that William Gay was an artist, and the beautiful cover of this book is one of his paintings.
Much thanks to Josh Webber for recommending this book.
There is a biographical chapter at the end which is worth the price of the book, and also tells of the finding of his "papers", plastic bins and boxes containing unpublished novels and stories. I was also amazed to learn that William Gay was an artist, and the beautiful cover of this book is one of his paintings.
Much thanks to Josh Webber for recommending this book.
October 7, 2018
Published after Gay’s death from mounds of papers written In longhand and in old notebooks in somewhat legible script, it is amazing Stoneburner made it to print. Thanks to friends that have recovered a treasure of Gay’s work, we might have several more works published in the future.
William Gay was a master of Southern Gothic writing from a dot in the road called Hohenwald, TN. Hole In the Wall is what my dad called it. Not a wealthy place by any means, but lots of wooded beauty. Home to a 2700 acre elephant sanctuary, Natchez Trace, and once, William Gay. William grew up poorer than poor, but was amazingly gifted at both writing and art as can be seen on the beautiful cover of Stoneburner. Gay, though very talented, barely kept a job or a roof over his head until finally getting published later in life.
Stoneburner will probably not be remembered as Gay’s best work, but it will certainly be remembered as his attempt at Crime Noir, so to speak. Gay said himself that the book was intended as such, but turned into more of a story about three men who are “enslaved to the past and never quite break free of it”. How true. While there are some inconsistencies in the story, it’s still a good one. I imagine if Gay were still around he could iron out those inconsistencies, but as he is not, the blame is on the editors and possibly Gay’s chicken scratch handwriting they had to weed through to bring this book to print.
My rating: 3.5 Stars. It’s a darn good story even with the needed edits. The short biography at the end of the book was worth my reading time to get to know William Gay, the man. Too bad William Gay’s talent went unnoticed for so many years.
William Gay was a master of Southern Gothic writing from a dot in the road called Hohenwald, TN. Hole In the Wall is what my dad called it. Not a wealthy place by any means, but lots of wooded beauty. Home to a 2700 acre elephant sanctuary, Natchez Trace, and once, William Gay. William grew up poorer than poor, but was amazingly gifted at both writing and art as can be seen on the beautiful cover of Stoneburner. Gay, though very talented, barely kept a job or a roof over his head until finally getting published later in life.
Stoneburner will probably not be remembered as Gay’s best work, but it will certainly be remembered as his attempt at Crime Noir, so to speak. Gay said himself that the book was intended as such, but turned into more of a story about three men who are “enslaved to the past and never quite break free of it”. How true. While there are some inconsistencies in the story, it’s still a good one. I imagine if Gay were still around he could iron out those inconsistencies, but as he is not, the blame is on the editors and possibly Gay’s chicken scratch handwriting they had to weed through to bring this book to print.
My rating: 3.5 Stars. It’s a darn good story even with the needed edits. The short biography at the end of the book was worth my reading time to get to know William Gay, the man. Too bad William Gay’s talent went unnoticed for so many years.
April 21, 2021
After reading this and his (also posthumous) The Lost Country, I can't help but feel that he had the wrong novels published while he was alive. Not that I didn't enjoy his earlier* work, but, in comparison, these two novels alone surpass just about all of the rest of his writing for scope and originality and certainly for the breadth of characters as well. I think that, if Stoneburner and The Lost Country had been his first two novels he would have been much better known during his lifetime.
The main character, Stoneburner, feels autobiographical (like Edgewater and possibly Fleming Bloodworth). He writes almost all of his characters as extensions of himself or his experiences, but this one feels like it hits closer to home than some others. The book also picks up some of the energy of Twilight with its near-constant movement. But, as with all of Gay's best work, it's the writing itself that shines brightest. He writes like no one else in the genre (that I've come across). It's so dense with metaphor and simile that at time you think you might drown in all the imagery, but that's the beauty of it.
The biography of Gay at the end of the book is fantastic as well, and extraordinarily illuminating. His reverence of Cormac McCarthy (and the fact that McCarthy proofed some of The Long Home!) is telling and helps put a lot of his work in context. Here's hoping that the additional manuscripts the editor mentions come to light sooner rather than later.
*Earlier by publishing date, but by all accounts some of his posthumous work was finished or near-finished much earlier than his other works.
The main character, Stoneburner, feels autobiographical (like Edgewater and possibly Fleming Bloodworth). He writes almost all of his characters as extensions of himself or his experiences, but this one feels like it hits closer to home than some others. The book also picks up some of the energy of Twilight with its near-constant movement. But, as with all of Gay's best work, it's the writing itself that shines brightest. He writes like no one else in the genre (that I've come across). It's so dense with metaphor and simile that at time you think you might drown in all the imagery, but that's the beauty of it.
The biography of Gay at the end of the book is fantastic as well, and extraordinarily illuminating. His reverence of Cormac McCarthy (and the fact that McCarthy proofed some of The Long Home!) is telling and helps put a lot of his work in context. Here's hoping that the additional manuscripts the editor mentions come to light sooner rather than later.
*Earlier by publishing date, but by all accounts some of his posthumous work was finished or near-finished much earlier than his other works.
September 5, 2018
Wiliam Gay's foray into the detective genre is an intriguing experiment. As always, his writing is stunning, his voice so profound and compelling. I feel that the ultimate structure remains a tad uneven, but who am I to criticise such a master? I'll read anything William Gay ever wrote and that includes grocery lists... What really got me about this was the concluding biographical essay. It's a punch in the gut. It hit me hard and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. So here I am, past midnight, way out in the West Texas countryside, listening to Iron & Wine and thinking about William Gay's life, his struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. I'm not getting that essay out of my head any time soon. Best make peace with that. If there's a peace to be made. That essay is a ghost I'm going to be carrying around a while, I think. Going to be thinking about that life and death, going to be wondering about the deals we strike with each coming night, going to wonder what it means for me and what choices to make. Like I said, a punch in the guts.
April 25, 2018
William Gay's 'film noir on paper' is a little bit like Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men and a lot like Larry Brown's Father and Son. It's his second posthumous novel, and there's more to come. I've reviewed Stoneburner and provided a bit of contextual information on my blog over at Wordpress:
https://wordpress.com/view/guysalvidg...
https://wordpress.com/view/guysalvidg...
September 26, 2020
Anything written by William Gay results in an expansion of the mind and/or heart.
March 1, 2025
A writer whose passing left an unfillable void in my book world. This posthumously published story is quintessential Gay, just sublime and fabulous and brimming with life - tragic and comic and all too real. A bit of a mystery, a bit of a country-noir maybe, but all plainly told and utterly brilliant.
August 22, 2023
Such a great author. Filled the void when I ran out of McCarthy. Became one of my favorites. I wish more authors wrote like them with no quotations or he said, she said. It really enhances the conversations. Seems more tense in a lot of moments. He deserves to be much more well known.
January 4, 2019
Love William! Best author of recent times.
This book was no less amazing than all the others. His way with words is unmatched and is present throughout this work.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The characters were well rounded and relatable. That is one thing I love about William's writing, he makes you feel like you are a part of the story. I greatly enjoyed this work and highly recommend it!
This book was no less amazing than all the others. His way with words is unmatched and is present throughout this work.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The characters were well rounded and relatable. That is one thing I love about William's writing, he makes you feel like you are a part of the story. I greatly enjoyed this work and highly recommend it!
October 16, 2021
Life is motion, stasis is death
I miss William Gay
I miss William Gay
June 19, 2025
1974 war weltweit durch die Öl- und Wirtschaftskrise des Vorjahres geprägt. William Gay führt uns in dieses Jahr und nach Ackerman’s Field im ländlichen Tennessee, wo früher Schnaps schwarzgebrannt und geschmuggelt wurde und heute die For-Sale-Schilder vom wirtschaftlichen Niedergang zeugen. Der Ex-Cop Stoneburner aus Memphis arbeitet hier als Privatdetektiv ohne Lizenz und soll im Auftrag des Ex-Sheriffs Cap Holder eine Tasche voll Geld aus dem Drogenhandel und die außergewöhnlich gut aussehehnde Blondine Cathy Meecham aufspüren. Blondine und Geld hat Vietnam-Veteran Thibodeaux, der noch immer von Alpträumen aus dem Krieg heimgesucht wird. Geldraub und Flucht wirken absurd, als würden in einer wirtschaftlich abgehängten Gegend Menschen völlig ausrasten, wenn sie einmal Geld in der Hand haben. Als Beobachter und Erzähler ähnelt Stoneburner offenbar dem Autor, er hat nicht nur einen Blick für Lichteffekte, er frickelt ähnlich wie William Gay in Etappen an einem Häuschen am Fluss herum, wenn er gerade mal Geld für Material hat. Die Wege der vier Personen kreuzen sich, Thibodeaux versenkt dabei einen PKW im Bach und fährt einen anderen zielsicher in eine Baumkrone. Im zweiten Teil des Roman wechselt die Erzählstimme von der Sicht der dritten Person auf Stoneburners Ichperspektive.
Fazit
Insgesamt wirken die Ereignisse des erst 1980 posthum veröffentlichten Romans wie ein selbstmörderischer Dumme-Jungen-Streich, bei dem die Figuren unübersehbare Spuren hinterlassen, als wäre ein Elch durch die Landschaft getrampelt. Der Kontrast zwischen atmosphärisch beschreibenden Passagen und primitiver Brutalität der Handlung konnte mich hier durchaus fesseln.
Der eigentliche Reiz der Wiederentdeckung William Gays liegt außer in seinem erstaunlichen Talent in den Bez��gen zwischen Werk, Biografie und Vorbildern, die bei der Lektüre seiner 30-seitigen Biografie auf „About William Gay“ deutlich werden.
Fazit
Insgesamt wirken die Ereignisse des erst 1980 posthum veröffentlichten Romans wie ein selbstmörderischer Dumme-Jungen-Streich, bei dem die Figuren unübersehbare Spuren hinterlassen, als wäre ein Elch durch die Landschaft getrampelt. Der Kontrast zwischen atmosphärisch beschreibenden Passagen und primitiver Brutalität der Handlung konnte mich hier durchaus fesseln.
Der eigentliche Reiz der Wiederentdeckung William Gays liegt außer in seinem erstaunlichen Talent in den Bez��gen zwischen Werk, Biografie und Vorbildern, die bei der Lektüre seiner 30-seitigen Biografie auf „About William Gay“ deutlich werden.
November 12, 2020
There is some great writing in here but the mind reels at what might have been with a big 5 publishing house editor.....probably an award winner, now just a curiosity. Still highly recommended for the prose, plot and the characters. Great insight into his life and the discoveries of unpublished manuscripts in the back of Stoneburner.
August 20, 2024
Another posthumous entry, with, as expected, much stunning writing. In my desire to stretch out the reading as much as possible since I’m almost at the end of the author’s road, I perhaps lost my way a bit rather than Mr. Gay losing his. So, not my favorite by a long shot but rounding up for his glory.
March 17, 2025
Supposedly Gay shelved this due to few similarities to No Country for Old Men; reading through I couldn’t help but wonder if Gay might have found mainstream success while he was still alive had it come out twenty years ago.
July 15, 2019
J'ai beaucoup apprécié la construction originale de ce roman noir : les 2 points de vue, constituent chacun une partie du livre ; les événements se chevauchent. Cela change de la construction classique où les points de vue sont alternés d'un chapitre à l'autre.
Ambiance noire parfaitement maitrisée ; j'ai trouvé toutefois les personnages un peu stéréotypés (les losers et la blonde fatale). La fin m'a semblé un peu confuse pour la restitution des actions.
Je suis moins emballée que d'autres membres du PicaboRiverBookClub !
Ambiance noire parfaitement maitrisée ; j'ai trouvé toutefois les personnages un peu stéréotypés (les losers et la blonde fatale). La fin m'a semblé un peu confuse pour la restitution des actions.
Je suis moins emballée que d'autres membres du PicaboRiverBookClub !
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews