Reckoning Waves

by Elliott Foster

After fleeing Minnesota four years earlier, Corey Flanagan has now changed virtually everything in his life—where he lives, how he creates art, his routines for work and play, and even his surname. While living a new and satisfying life in Los Angeles, the fraught and fractured past that Flanagan—erstwhile Fischer—ran from, eventually catches up with him in unforeseen ways, dragging him back to the Midwest for a reckoning with his unresolved former life, most significantly the guilt and responsibility for the killing of a trucker with whom he had a regrettable sexual encounter. The only true constants in his life are his best friend Billy, his mother Ginny, and frequent, terrifying nightmares.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2022

About the author

Elliott Foster is also known as Elliott Flies.

Elliott Foster is the award-winning author of Panic River, the first volume in a trilogy, followed by Reckoning Waves. Thie third novel in the series will be released by Calumet Editions in early 2023.

Elliott's other works include Retrieving Isaac & Jason (co-authored with his father, Ken Flies) and Whispering Pines - Tales From a Northwoods Cabin. Elliott's short stories, poems, and essays have been published in a variety of journals and other media.

Foster debuted Reckoning Waves on the national stage in New Orleans at Saints and Sinners 2022, North America’s largest LGBTQ book festival, held on March 27-29th. In 2021, he read from Panic River at the Festival.

Elliott's works have received several awards, including Best Gay Fiction at the 2022 San Francisco Book Festival for Reckoning Waves and a 2016 Indie Next Best Fictionfinalist for Whispering Pines.

Reviews

[Elliott Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midwest Book Review:
“Reckoning Waves juxtaposes a story of retribution, redemption, and recovery with one of love and revenge.”
“ … psychological depth …”
“ … solidly intriguing and thought-provoking … a vivid tale…”
“Readers won’t anticipate the epilogue that concludes this story, or the forces that work both with and against Corey to help him create a different life.”

Portland Book Review :
5 out of 5 Stars
“… peak-level entertainment and engagement … a spectacular and tasteful work of art…”
“Foster perfects the art of creating an addictive narrative … just the right amount of suspense, camaraderie, romance, drama, and depth.”
“… every seemingly insignificant event leads to a larger one that fits into the story effortlessly.”

“Reckoning Waves is a gripping, emotional, and thought-provoking journey into love, loss, and ultimately redemption. Foster beautifully captures not only his protagonist’s struggle in this page-turning thriller, but also other characters’ journeys to find forgiveness for and from others; and then, hardest of all, realizing they may never be forgiven, but instead need to find it for themselves.”
Nicole Sobchack, award-winning writer and producer of “Please Tell Me I’m Adopted”

“When you have what you want most—love, a passion for art, a home in paradise—you think you've outrun your past. But without honesty, life is fragile. RECKONING WAVES tosses its protagonist right back into his guilt, where he might lose everything. Foster writes with deep heart and keen specificity.”
Sandra Scofield, American Book Award winning author of Swim: Stories of the Sixties and The Last Draft

"Equal parts thrilling and tender, Reckoning Waves is a triumphantly important novel about what we carry with us and how it might be possible to seek redemption for our sins. Once again, Foster has written another must-read."
—Robert James Russell, author of Mesilla and Sea of Trees

“In Reckoning Waves, Corey Flanagan's art imitates life and his life imitates art. Foster deftly weaves together an artist’s struggle to paint the perfect scene with his struggle to navigate a reckoning with his past. In page-turning suspense, readers follow Corey’s journey toward truth, both in his art and in his life.” Ronald C. Nelson, Executive Director, Long Beach Museum of Art

“Reckoning Waves picks right up where Panic River left off. Foster’s effortless prose and creative suspense shine through yet again in this new work. Readers will be swept up in a thrilling tale of new love, old friendships, and the delicate bonds of family where each of those relationships is tested in unexpected ways. Reckoning Waves summons readers deeper into the resonant yet unique life of the novel’s protagonist, Corey Flanagan. Foster delivers on the ultimate literary trifecta—compelling characters, a gripping plot, and drawing readers in to a captivating story.”
Catherine Dehdashti, author of Roseheart and Our Daisy Sale Won't Last Forever (coming in 2022).

[Beckie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great follow-up to the first novel Panic River. I enjoyed learning where Corey was at in his life after the traumatic events in WI and MN as well as his mom's progress of moving on. I didn't know how he was going to get out of punishment for what he'd done, but the story wove a narrative that made it happen. Looking forward to the third in the series.

[Roxanne Guidry · Rating 5 out of 5]

😩😩You have to have book three ready to read. What a cliff hanger! So good. 🤩