The Poison Flood

by Jordan Farmer

"The Poison Flood is a timely and important novel."--Ron Rash

A captivating, gritty, and tender story of a reclusive musician and the environmental disaster that threatens his small town and changes his life forever.

Hollis Bragg lives on the fringes. The hunchbacked son of a West Virginia hill preacher, he now resides in rural isolation next to the burned-out husk of his father's church, and earns his living ghostwriting songs for a popular band that left the poverty and corruption of Appalachia and never looked back. It's the life he prefers, free from the harsh glare of the spotlight and attachments that lead only to heartbreak.

Then, much to his consternation, he's discovered by Russell Watson, a local musician and fan who also happens to be the rebellious son of the local chemical company magnate. When a devastating toxic spill at the Watson chemical plant poisons the local water, it sets off an unpredictable series of events as Hollis witnesses a murder, faces a shocking betrayal, and begins to come to terms with his body and his past. Soon Hollis will find that in losing his anonymity and reclaiming his music, he can transform his future; and in opening himself up to the world, he might find redemption.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2020

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Poison Flood by Jordan Farmer

Hunchback, Hollis Bragg, ghostwrites songs for his ex, Angela, lead singer of The Troubadours. As soon as Hollis gets this last batch of songs written for Angela, he's going to complete his own album, focusing on a man and boy, in an apocalyptic world.  But Hollis's own world is falling apart on many fronts, over the next several days. A fan is about to expose his ghostwriting, his dead/dying town is the scene of protests due to chemical contamination, there is a toxic and deadly chemical spill, Hollis witnesses a murder, all at a time when he's on the verge of breaking his bonds from Angela, so he can create for himself. 

The destruction and violence feels timely and too close to home but I felt like there was an overuse of similes that took away from the flow of Hollis's thoughts over these upsetting, violent, and caustic days. So much is going on outside of Hollis while he's often deep inside his head, in ways that seem to be self defeating, at this time. No matter how decrepit and disfigured Hollis is and feels, the guy has something the girls want. I didn't click with this book as much as I thought I would when it began, but I was always hoping for the best for Hollis. 

Published May 5th 2020

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for this ARC. 

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Poison Flood by Jordon Farmer is a 2020 G.P. Putnam’s Son’s publication.

Disjointed, by very innovative…

The premise of this book intrigued me because I thought the story would primarily focus on environmental issues.

However, the plot is mostly centered around Hollis Bragg, a musician whose ghostwritten songs have provided his childhood friend, Angela, with a successful and lucrative music career.

Hollis, however, is isolated, living off the beaten path in West Virginia. His hunchback is a source of great physical pain and mental anguish at times, and is a major factor in his decision to stay in the background and avoid taking credit for his music.

But, when a combination of events take place, almost simultaneously, one being a massive chemical spill, and the other being recognized by a fan, which leads to even further complications, Hollis’ quiet life is suddenly upended.

Despite the stress of the upheaval, which forces Hollis out of his protective bubble, he finally receives long overdue liberation and confidence.

The story is offbeat, original, and truly shines in some ways, but is often uneven and fails to connect the various themes in a solid cohesive manner.

Still, at the end of the day, Hollis’ journey is a wonder to behold. He battles demons from his past, copes with romantic entanglements, and dubious characters out to use his talent to their advantage.

As Hollis takes stock of his life, he steps outside of his comfort zone and learns to take up for himself and forge his own little place in the world with a stronger sense of self worth.

This is a quick read, somewhat erratic and unstable with all the subplots and eccentric characters, but despite some rough edges it works for the most part. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but it was a rewarding read, overall.

3.5 stars

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A supremely talented musician lives in secluded rural West Virginia. Making his living by ghostwriting songs for a spectacularly successful band, the hunchback Hollis, is broken in both heart and body. He is severely self conscious and equally self aware. The passages about the affect music has on Hollis are elegantly written and quite moving. This is a sharply observed novel about a toxic spill, violent protest, dreams fulfilled and unfulfilled, the pain of being different and the desire for love.

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hollis Bragg has lived his life on the fringes of rural West Virginia. His volatile preacher father raised him with a heavy hand and he was ostracized from an early age for his severe kyphosis (hunchback).
He found a passion and talent for music as a teen and left behind his hometown to earn a living. Though free from his father's wrath, Hollis cannot let go of the self image created from the treatment he received as a child and misses out on countless opportunities at success and love out of fear and shame.

Now he’s back home and again living on the outskirts, earning a living by ghostwriting songs for the band he helped create, The Troubadours. He’s the genius behind their success and yet his name has never once been credited or even mentioned in a liner note.
Hollis enjoys living outside the spotlight, free of relationships that will lead to heartbreak, it’s safer this way. He’s working on new songs for a Troubadours album but he’s also stored some away for himself. Hollis doesn’t know what he’ll do with these songs he has stashed away but he’s certain he can’t give them up.

Local musician (and wealthy rebellious son of a local chemical company executive) Russell Watson is a fan of Hollis Bragg. Hollis is uncomfortable with the sudden attention Russell is paying to his music history and fears he has somehow figured out his connection with The Troubadours. This attention is put on the back burner when Russell’s family’s chemical plant poisons the local water supply, creating a devastating an environmental disaster in the community.

In the midst of sudden chaos, a stunning series of events brings Hollis to terms with his physical appearance and his past. It’s time to decide if he’s going to remain in the shadows or step in the spotlight to reclaim his music.

The Poison Flood is an interesting novel combining the personal struggles of an Appalachian musician with the aftermath of an environmental disaster. It’s gritty and atmospheric with a redemptive quality that brings hope to dire circumstances. The writing is lovely with rich descriptions and a well-developed main character that I rooted for from page one.

I recommend The Poison Flood to readers who enjoy Appalachian literature/grit lit, and stories of redemption.

Thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Edelweiss for providing a DRC in exchange for my honest review. The Poison Flood is scheduled for release on May 5, 2020.

For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @goodreads @putnambooks #GoodreadsGiveaway for sending me The Poison Flood.

This book is an intriguing story of a small town water supply being contaminated. It went through and detailed what happens to people who touch the water and how they resolve the problem. Just kidding- that’s not really the point of this story. Sure, there’s contamination water- but how boring would that book be if there weren’t more to it? It follows Hollis, a guy with a disfigured spine who is a amazing musician. The hunchback in the woods is a blessed song writer, who is being taken for granted. Overall, the premise was entertaining enough. The ending fell a bit flat for me.

[Ron S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a ghostwriter living a reclusive life on the fringes of a small West Virginia mountain community blighted by economic collapse and opioid abuse. Any flaws within the story itself are more than compensated for by the strength of Farmer's writing, be it through character development, describing the natural environment or observations made about the human condition. A novel that might be about redemption to some readers, poetic proof of hopelessness for others. (Read from an uncorrected proof; comes out in May 2020)

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Appalachia is the right place for the grotesque. Don’t you think?”

How much you like and (or?) admire THE POISON FLOOD depends on how you choose to see it. It's a novel of crime, but not, in my view, a crime novel; it doesn't follow anything resembling a formula and is not chiefly concerned, in my opinion anyway, with the restoration of moral order. It's not a novel of plot, though there's plenty of plotty material in it, because everything that looks like a plot thread doesn't really weave into a whole unless you see the central character as the whole of the book, which I do (and more on that in a bit). It's not really a novel of theme as much as structure containing a grab bag of themes (crime, poverty, imbalances of power, systemic corruption, artistic inspiration and authenticity, religion and spirituality, love and lust, et cetera).

Tome, Jordan Farmer's novel is about a physically broken man who serves as a metaphor for all broken men in all ways (physical, spiritual, moral, aspirational, hopeful, etc.). And these perplexing and problematic times, there are a lot of broken men out there, and what distinguishes this is their desire to be seen and their interest in being borne witness to. We all have those things, but we don't all have the admit to admit it, and Hollis Bragg, hunchbacked preacher's son, estranged musician and self-pitying self-described "freak," is a first-rate window into this universal struggle: "I’ve watched enough audience reactions to know it’s an unpleasant truth. While the grotesque can create, they aren’t a welcome vessel for presentation," he says with sanguine bitterness as he tries to scratch out a living as a songwriter without every getting too close to the success of mainstream performance that he can't quite shake, if only subconsciously.

A lot of people drift in and out of Hollis's life, and it's interesting to see how each sees Hollis, and which ones will stay or walk on by (which Hollis all but begs them to do at times). There are the women: Caroline the enabler turned escapist; Rosita the exploiter turned enigma; Angela the collaborator turned turncoat. And there are the men: Russell the deranged son of a local industrialist whose machination flood the water supply of Coopersville, West Virginia with poison; Victor, his sidekick with a fan-crush man-crush on Hollis and an equally deranged and violent agenda; and, in the shadow of memory, Hollis's father, an obsessive and punishing fundamentalist preacher who seems to set aside his beliefs in the service of his own desires. All drive Hollis out of his capsule-sized comfort zone to various degrees, and some even seem to see something worthwhile in him that doesn't necessarily serve their most immediate interests. And in the process, a few bodies pile up.

Hollis wants to know them, and wants them to know him. Except when he doesn't. And especially when he can't see past what he imagines they see: a hideously malformed human, period. Which is what he seems to wish he could see himself as and call it a self-pitying day. Sometimes, that is. But his biggest frustration seems to be his biggest strength: his inability to give up on himself and check out in a opioid coma or something just as apropos to his time and place and circumstances. And when one of the others mirrors that interior monologue back to him while insisting on seeing him, it's especially heartbreaking. Says Russell: "Do you know how hard it is to see someone so talented get screwed out of their destiny? That music of yours is one of the only things I’ve ever loved, and you don’t get to share it just because you’re ugly."

His musings on this interior conflict are, for me, the best parts of the book. What middle-aged male trying to find his place on today's perpetually shifting ground cannot relate to ruminations like this? "Dependence, I’m realizing with advancing age, is more potent to some men than love. Love can leave. Love can tarnish with time or implode for unknown reasons. I’ve known better men than myself whose love ended not by one disastrous event, but a slow bleed. Death by a thousand cuts the lovers inflicted on each other." And: "I just didn’t want to lend my music to the Lord. He’d already taken up so much of my life, I’d decided that this one thing would be mine."

Those, and Hollis' reflections on the healing power of the kind of art he's still capable of creating: "The band plays a southern rock tune that gets the women out on the dance floor. The men slide close and grind. Even though the music is all wrong, the same sort of hoodoo that used to pump from Angela’s guitar is in the air. I can feel the power of it infecting the audience, whittling away the hard work week, the cousin in jail and the hollow pain inside all of us poor rednecks that whispers you’re nothing but country trash, that if there is such a thing as a soul, yours is made of dog s**t. Music was the only thing I ever found that could mute those voices for even an hour."

In there end, there's a lot of death. A lot of displacement. A lot of heartbreak. And a little bit of hope. As Hollis muses in THE POISON FLOOD's final chapters: “I wanted people to see even if they don’t want to look. Even if they don’t want to consider the possibility of it. I’ve done things. I made music. I was loved by a woman.”

Sounds like a pathway out of brokenness to me. And Jordan Farmer's design for it is a well-lit piece of Grit-Lit.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a moment in Jordan Farmer’s darkly brilliant and beautifully written sophomore effort that is almost prescient. It comes in the novel’s first half and consists of a vignette that illustrates how some people react in the face of a disaster. Given how the publishing industry functions, it is safe to assume that Farmer finished this book months before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, which has resulted in occurrences similar to those that he describes. But even without this illustration of how life and art intersect, THE POISON FLOOD would be memorable thanks to his keen eye and sharp wordcraft.

Farmer writes of the poor, the downtrodden, and the physically and emotionally misshapen in his home state of West Virginia. His primary focus here is on Hollis Bragg, the orphaned son of a West Virginia preacher. Impaired as the result of a spinal deformity, Hollis is a study in contrasts. He lives almost off the grid, in the shadow of his father’s burnt-out church and next to a farm that raises chickens for cockfights. However, Farmer is not giving us a retread from TOBACCO ROAD.

What is unknown to almost everyone is that Hollis is a gifted composer who has ghostwritten several major hits for The Troubadours, which evolved from a band that he helped start with his girlfriend, Angela, a few years ago. Hollis left the group on the cusp of its initial success for reasons that are gradually revealed in fits and starts throughout the narrative. He watches Angela and her stardom from afar while quietly cashing the checks he is paid for his songs.

Hollis’ relatively peaceful existence begins to crack when he is discovered by Russell Watson, a local musician whose father heads up a chemical company that has attracted the ire of a number of radical environmentalists who have launched a series of protests. Still possessing some adolescent rebellion, Russell has befriended a charismatic and dangerous character named Victor, who is constantly prodding him to prove himself for “the cause.” Things take a very unpredictable turn, resulting in an environmental catastrophe that affects the entire area and culminates in Hollis witnessing a murder that puts him in danger from a couple of sources.

The disaster draws Angela back to the rural area that she left over a decade earlier and into Hollis’ orbit. Her return coincides with Hollis’ awareness of a startling betrayal that cuts him from two different directions just as he has decided to take control of the considerable fruits of his artistic works. As he attempts to navigate through the quagmire of his surroundings, Hollis is often his own worst enemy, though his occasional impulse to engage in self-destructive behavior is certainly understandable, given the painful and limiting hand that he has been permanently dealt. It is only when he rises above his background that he has a chance to recognize the possibility to fulfill his own best destiny, as well as the door that is opening for him. Whether or not he walks through it isn’t answered until the novel’s somewhat surprising conclusion.

The story that comprises THE POISON FLOOD makes for uncomfortable and at times painful reading. But Farmer’s impressive talent makes the journey through several cringe-worthy passages more than rewarding. His similes, metaphors and turns of phrase are worth underlining and rereading over and over. They are equaled, if not exceeded, by his sharply drawn characters, who you will remember long after you finish this book and probably many others.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollis is a gifted songwriter, who gives his songs away for peanuts to his ex-girlfriend, who is now both rich and famous. You see Hollis has a physical deformity, a hunchback, that has caused him to recede from life. But when The Poison Flood of toxic chemicals hits his small West Virginia mining town, he is forced into the spotlight.

I enjoyed my time in Hollis’ life. Sometimes disasters force a person to do what they were meant to do all along. However, The Poison Flood is better placed in the literary fiction genre. The mystery within it seemed like an afterthought rather than the main focus of the book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and Edelweiss+ for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jillian Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique premise with unconventional protagonists; Hollis finds himself facing the initial days of a life changing contagion.

There is as much sensory to the story, as there is character development. From the Appalachia atmosphere, to the music, and the affects of the water - there is a lot of adventure to explore within this small town disaster story.

Galley borrowed from the publisher.

[Amanda Seanor (adventuresof.a.and.m) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Putnam and Netgalley for sending me this free ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review. Hollis Bragg a hunchbacked song writer lives in the mountains of West Virginia. Ashamed of his appearance Hollis has been a recluse most of his life. The only thing he's sure of is music. He meets Angela Carver as a kid and the rest is history. They leave WV in order to pursue music. After forming a more intimate relationship things seem to be falling into place. But as hollis has always done he pushed Angela away. A toxic chemical spill into the water supply, a supposed "fan", violent protests and a string of murders force Hollis out of his shell. The story of unfulfilled dreams, pain of being different, pain of being rejected was very relatable in this day in age. The one thing that drove me nuts was Angelas hold on Hollis for almost the entire book. She obviously wasn't deserving of him from the very beginning. The raw emotion from him throughout the entire book was quite enjoyable. If you want an interesting quick read this one is for you. 4 stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music and mayhem in the West Virginia hills

Hollis Bragg has grown up in rural West Virginia in what used to be coal mining country. His father was a fire and brimstone preacher who physically and emotionally abused Hollis after his mother left and used that Hollis was born with kyphosis of the back to try to draw people to his church.

But that was years ago. Hollis stills lives on his father's land and writes and plays beautiful music on his guitars. He is a ghostwriter for all the music the popular group The Troubadours plays.

I tried to look at this book objectively and I truly think in normal times it would be a story I loved. The author wrote a moving story with empathy for the main character. There are lots of passages about the creation of music, which I'd normally love. There is murder, treachery, an abundance of feelings, a chemical spill, and more. So I am recommending this book. I wasn't in the mood for it right now but I will keep it and try it again one day because I think I should have loved it.

I received this book from Putnam Books through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny that I started to read this right after finishing Death in Mud Lick, also about West Virginia. However, I found this novel to be just too over the top for me. Lots of similes that made me notice the simile (does that make sense?) and I felt like too much attention was given to the hunchback deformity and how Hollis is writing environmental country songs when the environmental water disaster happens. I felt like it needed better editing because there were plot inconsistencies. For example--one guy has to fight to get through long lines to get into the grocery store, but when Hollis (who walks with a cane) attempts to follow, there is no mention of a struggle to enter--he's just magically inside. At one point of the book, Hollis regrets Caroline for not being faithful, but the book starts with him accepting that Caroline randomly shows up to steal his pain pills and occasionally sleep at his place. Hollis is also a ghostwriter for a famous singer/childhood friend, but he doesn't force her to pay enough money for his songs and later regrets not breaking out on his own because of his fear of people making fun of his hunchback. There are also parts where Hollis constantly says he has to rely on people driving him around because of his hunchback, but then another part where he considers if he should just drive away in someone's truck to get away during the disaster. Which is it--can he drive or not? Just too many parts that contradicted each other for me.

If you want to read any kind of book about a disaster right now though this is for you. I kept thinking of The Simpsons movie and the scene when Green Day is playing on the stage that dissolves into the green radioactive water. :) I also love the Turnpike Troubadours, so every time the band Troubadours was mentioned in the book I smiled.

[Paul Sutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE POISON FLOOD is definitely a change of pace book. It has great moments and characters. Just when you think the book is moving in one direction, it does just the opposite.
Jordan Farmer has a flair for creating people we care about, wishing positive outcomes for. The main charac-ter is Hollis Bragg. He wishes to keep as private as possible. A spinal deformity, making him a sort of hunchback, plays strongly in his decisions.
He is also the orphaned son of a preacher, living close to the remains of his father’s church. He has accepted his fate, so to speak. People are not aware he is also a gifted songwriter, who has written tunes for a popular band, the Troubadors. In fact, he formed the band with his girlfriend Angela.
Now Hollis is again writing songs for the band, who is about to stage a massive comeback, which the fans have demanded. Hollis is content to sit on the sidelines, letting the band steal the limelight again. But this changes when Russell Watson, a local musician becomes aware of Hollis and his songwriting prowess. Watson is the son of a chemical company owner.
The company is in the town’s bad books, causing serious environmental problems. Soon, things turn catastrophic with the safety of the townspeople in jeopardy. Things turn even more ominous when Hollis witnesses a murder. He has a decision to make about coming forth or staying in the shadows, something that he has become adept at over the years.
Farmer has juggled many elements in the book, among them isolation, and then doing what is right. It also looks at acceptance of what life has tossed our way, becoming resilient and hopeful as possible

[Linda Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Goodreads, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this uncorrected proof.

This was a good story but not quite what I expected. I though it would deal more with the ecological disaster than it actually did.

Hollis Bragg has always lived a rough existence. Born into poverty and corruption would have been more than many could handle; but Hollis also suffers a physical disability; one that makes people gawk whenever he goes into public. So rather than deal with the pity and awkwardness of other, Hollis lives on the fringe.

Hollis holds a natural ability when it comes to music. Rather than seek fame and fortune, he ghostwrites songs for a popular band that left the area, never looking back.

When a local musician finds Hollis, convincing him to join a group of environmentalists, Hollis realizes that the musician is also the rebellious son of a local chemical company magnate. It is Hollis’ first night with the group when a toxic spill poisons the local water supply; leaving Hollis with the only water supply that is not contaminated.

Unfortunately for Hollis he is now caught up in a series of events, each with unpredictable circumstances. He witnesses a murder, faces a betrayal; but at the same time he begins coming to terms with his deformity.

Hollis will also learn an invaluable lesson concerning loosing his anonymity.

[Haley Campbell]

What a ride this story is! It kinda has a slow, dream-like quality to it but really there is so much going on.

I may be a little biased, but as a musician I really loved the musical elements to this story. The way Hollis uses his guitar to express all the pent-up emotions he has no other way of expressing is beautiful. I really felt for Hollis and his struggles. We slowly get glimpses into his past and it’s broke my heart a little bit with each revelation. But I really enjoyed his budding relationship with Rosita and I think she really helps to bring him out of his shell and change his way of thinking.

While the music is the main element of this story, there is also a contamination of the local river which is wreaking havoc on the town. The owner of the tank that spills son is a huge fan of Hollis and somehow Hollis gets wrapped up in this whirlwind of criminal activity and activism that pull him from his comfort zone. It’s truly a wild ride. Russel (the son of the corrupt chemical owner) and Victor (a local activist) are a dynamic duo. Honestly there is so much going on with those two that it was almost difficult to keep up.

Yet somehow it all works together pretty well and was an enjoyable read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Poison Flood by Jordan Farmer is an atmospheric crime drama that is quite introspective.

Hollis Bragg lives alone in a dying West Virginia town.  Due to his severe hunchback, bullying and abuse from his father, Hollis suffers from low self-esteem despite his success as a songwriter and guitar player. Hollis is on the cusp of ending a deal with musician Angela Carver when he is recognized by Russell Watson who is the son of a wealthy chemical owner.  His uneasiness with Russell and his friend Victor Lawton  increases after Hollis meets photographer Rosita Martinez.  In the aftermath of a horrific chemical spill, Hollis comes face to face with his past.

Hollis is a gifted songwriter and guitar player who never quite felt comfortable in the limelight. At the first sign of trouble years earlier,  he returned to Coopersville, where he keeps a very low profile. Always expecting the worst when he meets someone for the first time, Hollis harbors doubts when he first meets Russell. Through Russell, he meets Rosita. Hollis is drawn to her yet he becomes  suspicious of her motives over the course of time.

The Poison Flood is a reflective novel that features colorful characters and a unique storyline. Hollis is a damaged yet well-drawn character who is ready to make changes in his life. The novel's pacing is rather languid as Hollis wrestles with his past and present choices. Jordan Farmer brings this interesting novel to a satisfying conclusion. A thought-provoking story that I enjoyed and recommend to readers of the genre.

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book, supple, sure-footed prose, interesting characters, and a narrative with several threads. But in the end the plot feels a bit thin. Even the title is a bit misleading since it really refers to a song Hollis wrote with Angela. Hollis is a intriguing, complex character, but the issue of his physicality seems overplayed. The nature of the man and his upbringing could just has easily been used to explain his solitary existence rather than attributing it to his shape. But it's the writer's choice and he'll probably have no problems living with that choice. The chemical catastrophe seems a bit underplayed. The violence seems gratuitous. The book left me wanting a bit more in delving into Angela, but it is basically Hollis's book and the author has a firm grip on that part of the narrative. Even with reservations, I recommend this novel.

[Robin Boardman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer - I won and advanced reader copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway.

This book kept making left turns, and that's not a bad thing. Telling the story of a reclusive songwriter in tandem with a minor environmental disaster, this book truly kept moving in directions I didn't expect. I found a lot to enjoy here; characters that felt well developed, settings that were brought to life with little details, and a steady pace that kept me engaged all the way through.

This book also provided a number of "well, that escalated quickly" moments I didn't see coming. Overall, this is a great read. I was left with a desire to know more about the music of The Troubadors and wish there had been some sprinkling of lyrics to flesh out what kind of music was being composed, but this is a pretty minor nitpick.

[Ian Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Poison Flood, Jordan Farmer once again delivers an impressive combination of page-turning suspense and moving character arcs as hunchbacked musician Hollis Bragg deals with both a lethal contamination and his own insecurities as a ghostwriting musician. The story is told through past and present narratives that are cleanly interwoven and provide a sense of variety, while both stories together touch on themes of rural poverty, exploitation by the Appalachian coal companies, living with a disability, activism gone wrong, finding escape in music, and a revealing look at extreme rural congregations. Farmer's top-notch prose and flair for a quick-moving story is on display throughout, and the result comes together quite nicely, with more than a few twists and turns.

All told, I'm looking forward to reading more of Farmer's work.

[Mistina Christner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I was instantly into the story line and I was curious about Hollis and how he was going to fit into the story line. I think that it was interesting the twists and turns the way the story goes. I thought it was an interesting perspective to write from, and I think that it felt like I was truly in Hollis' head when reading. I feel like all of the feelings portrayed were very accurate and I could feel them right along with the characters. I was surprised by the ending and I was not expecting that Hollis would end up where he did. I think that this was an interesting why to bring light on a subject that we have known is a problem for a long time (tainted water in the mining communities that makes it unsafe).

[Asuka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, but I can say I was a bit taken off-guard. The title of this book makes you think it is mainly about natural disaster and climate change, however a decent chunk of the focus is actually on a struggling hermit musician with spinal health issues who ghostwrites songs for a popular band. The water supply in the small town is also being contaminated / poisoned however that is not the main focus. I live near Flint, MI where people have been fighting for clean water for years, so this story did resonate with me personally at some points. This book isn't super gripping but it is unique, so if it intrigues you I'd say to go for it and give it a read!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiis has hidden himself away in rural West Virginia- he's gone home to hunker down and write songs for the Troubadours, the group he helped, uncredited, to propel to fame and fortune. He's a hunchback and the teasing and bullying he suffered as a result, including from his father, has shaped his outlook so he's suspicious when Russell Watson begins to pay attention to him. Then, however, the Watson chemical plant has a spill and Hollis finds himself somewhere he never expected- in the middle of a bigger fight over the environment. This has wonderfully atmospheric writing, good characters, and an important message. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. A writer to watch.

[Eileen Fehr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting novel with a bit too much going on for me. In addition to religious obsession, corporate greed, physical deformity, artistic insecurity and activism gone wrong, there is an environmental catastrophe bringing all the characters together. Could have been spread out over a month, rather than a week but definitely entertaining.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and engrossing story that I loved.
The cast of characters is well thought and the mystery is solid.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Beverly Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely different from typical ones that capture my interest, but I enjoyed the read. It is one that I will have to think about as there is more to the story than one thinks. One of those that there is some deeper meaning to contemplate after you finish the book.

[Marco Landi · Rating 2 out of 5]

mamma mia che noia!! un libro sconclusionato, prolisso e noioso.. la storia della musica può anche essere interessante, ma tutta la parte sul veleno non ci incastra insieme.. il tutto poteva essere scritto in meno della metà delle pagine..

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/26/2020 4.5 stars. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.

[Mary Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing story!

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5