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Season of the Snake
The new novel by the award-winning author of Winter Range
When tragedy leaves her life in shambles, Nance flees her Wisconsin hometown and its reminders of grief, creating a new life in the West. She is a scientist, specializing in rattlesnakes and attrition rates in dens, believing that "you can overcome fear, control the level of risk by being prepared, by knowing your subject." Now with a home in Lewiston, Idaho, overlooking the Snake River, and her marriage to Ned Able, a grade school principal, Nance finally feels at peace.
Then an unexpected visit from her wayward sister Meredith revives old family conflicts, and resurrects a secret life that has long lain dormant in Ned. While Nance and Meredith mend their relationship, Ned's other nature begins to emerge, transforming him in ways that Nance denies, until, with the help of her sister, she is made to see what lies beneath the skin. But neither can predict how far Ned will go to hide his past, or where his frightening memories will lead him as he searches out an object for his obsession.
Claire Davis's debut novel, Winter Range, established her as a powerful voice in American writing. Season of the Snake extends her scope with a dramatic story, a vividly evoked setting, and an unforgettable group of characters.
When tragedy leaves her life in shambles, Nance flees her Wisconsin hometown and its reminders of grief, creating a new life in the West. She is a scientist, specializing in rattlesnakes and attrition rates in dens, believing that "you can overcome fear, control the level of risk by being prepared, by knowing your subject." Now with a home in Lewiston, Idaho, overlooking the Snake River, and her marriage to Ned Able, a grade school principal, Nance finally feels at peace.
Then an unexpected visit from her wayward sister Meredith revives old family conflicts, and resurrects a secret life that has long lain dormant in Ned. While Nance and Meredith mend their relationship, Ned's other nature begins to emerge, transforming him in ways that Nance denies, until, with the help of her sister, she is made to see what lies beneath the skin. But neither can predict how far Ned will go to hide his past, or where his frightening memories will lead him as he searches out an object for his obsession.
Claire Davis's debut novel, Winter Range, established her as a powerful voice in American writing. Season of the Snake extends her scope with a dramatic story, a vividly evoked setting, and an unforgettable group of characters.
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 4, 2009
I enjoyed Davis' writing and characterization in Winter Range so looked forward to settling in to Season of the Snake and I wasn't disappointed. Ned's character was very disturbing but essential for a woman to encounter in a safe place and realize a monster like him exists in the real world and walks looking and smiling so able to reel us in....the snake in the grass, the reptilian brain; devoid of human consciousness.
While some may think the author's use of snakes as symbolism was a bit trite I thought it worked very well. As the truth of Nance's life unfolded before her and she realized her marriage was based on a platform of lies and the man she saw as her husband continued to shed the shell of his persona down to his real being; Nance continually fought the disbelief and attempted to regain the semblance of normalcy she had constructed before the first cracks had appeared. It was so amazing to me how hard this strong woman fought herself to keep from believing the truth about Ned; this is the essence of what every woman caught up in the emotional tangle of domestic violence must ultimately struggle with, her own belief in what she has gotten her self into and then the shame of it and acknowledging the man for who he is beyond the occasional roses and soft caresses and that she never deserves it no matter what she says or does. But, finally, the fact of who she is and that she is involved in a relationship such as the one she is in and must take the steps, whatever they are, to get out of it.
While some may think the author's use of snakes as symbolism was a bit trite I thought it worked very well. As the truth of Nance's life unfolded before her and she realized her marriage was based on a platform of lies and the man she saw as her husband continued to shed the shell of his persona down to his real being; Nance continually fought the disbelief and attempted to regain the semblance of normalcy she had constructed before the first cracks had appeared. It was so amazing to me how hard this strong woman fought herself to keep from believing the truth about Ned; this is the essence of what every woman caught up in the emotional tangle of domestic violence must ultimately struggle with, her own belief in what she has gotten her self into and then the shame of it and acknowledging the man for who he is beyond the occasional roses and soft caresses and that she never deserves it no matter what she says or does. But, finally, the fact of who she is and that she is involved in a relationship such as the one she is in and must take the steps, whatever they are, to get out of it.
August 29, 2014
With a title like this, how could I not at least pick the book up as I was browsing at Schwartz in February? When I turned to the back cover and saw that the first paragraph of advance praise for this book had been penned by Mark Spragg, I was in. Had to read it. {Spragg is another of my bedrock favorites.}
The words "Proustian", "literary" and "thriller" don't usually find themselves seat mates applauding for the same story, but in this case, the descriptives are apt, and as usual, following Mark Spragg into a story is not a mistake.
This is a story of sisters and heartbreaking fate and of the convincing disguises worn by predators against even shrewd intelligent eyes. The narrative moves from LaCrosse Wisconsin to the western stretches of Utah, unfolding with calculated stealth and mesmerizing detail. With a psychological subtlety which compellingly paints the dance between self doubt and skillful deception, Davis illumines the risks inherent in trust. She has a fine appreciation for the interplay between intelligence and our too-easily silenced inner voices, and for the power of deliberate charm to topple the balance between the two, to our peril.
This story is a haunting reflection on the hopes and vulnerabilities of the human heart, writ with clean incisive clarity. Davis is one of those writers who honed her craft by studying poetry. I've never been able to resist writers who tangle keen insight with lyrical language, and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
The words "Proustian", "literary" and "thriller" don't usually find themselves seat mates applauding for the same story, but in this case, the descriptives are apt, and as usual, following Mark Spragg into a story is not a mistake.
This is a story of sisters and heartbreaking fate and of the convincing disguises worn by predators against even shrewd intelligent eyes. The narrative moves from LaCrosse Wisconsin to the western stretches of Utah, unfolding with calculated stealth and mesmerizing detail. With a psychological subtlety which compellingly paints the dance between self doubt and skillful deception, Davis illumines the risks inherent in trust. She has a fine appreciation for the interplay between intelligence and our too-easily silenced inner voices, and for the power of deliberate charm to topple the balance between the two, to our peril.
This story is a haunting reflection on the hopes and vulnerabilities of the human heart, writ with clean incisive clarity. Davis is one of those writers who honed her craft by studying poetry. I've never been able to resist writers who tangle keen insight with lyrical language, and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
June 17, 2009
This would have gotten more stars from me, considering the writing was pretty good, and I appreciate a novel with ample plot written in a literary style.
However, I didn't relate to the characters from whose point of view the story was told. I found the protagonist, Nance, to be boring, and the antagonist, Ned, to be insufferable, creepy, and haunting--in a bad way.
I found myself compelled to read nearly straight through, finished it in barely 24 hours. But I woke up this morning feeling anxious and unsettled, which I attribute to the book. That's fine, were I to be rewarded with a fulfilling ending, but what I got was an evasive one, with too much summarized and not enough truly settled. I appreciate that authors (often in the literary genre) make the choice not to have everything work out as you might see in a TV movie, and that justice is not always served. But this ending was convenient and avoidant.
However, I didn't relate to the characters from whose point of view the story was told. I found the protagonist, Nance, to be boring, and the antagonist, Ned, to be insufferable, creepy, and haunting--in a bad way.
I found myself compelled to read nearly straight through, finished it in barely 24 hours. But I woke up this morning feeling anxious and unsettled, which I attribute to the book. That's fine, were I to be rewarded with a fulfilling ending, but what I got was an evasive one, with too much summarized and not enough truly settled. I appreciate that authors (often in the literary genre) make the choice not to have everything work out as you might see in a TV movie, and that justice is not always served. But this ending was convenient and avoidant.
January 16, 2008
I ended up not really liking this book all that much. It's not poorly written per se, but I felt more connected to the landscapes in the book than I did the characters. And the plot was a little made-for-TV-movie for my taste. And using snakes as a metaphor for evil and danger just seemed extremely trite and clichéd. Definitely not one of my favorite books and I don't think I'd really recommend it.
February 8, 2019
Ominously brilliant. Davis does a fantastic job of slowly unfurling the mind of a psychopath before we even realize that’s what we’re looking at. And she does it all in a stunning visual landscape.
September 17, 2022
Herpetologist Nance Able escapes to the West after the brutal murder of her husband Joe. She meets a quiet, charming school principal. She marries him, never suspecting that he will soon molt like one of the rattlesnakes she studies and emerge a man she does not know and cannot love. Nance's sister, Meredith, helps her flee Ned's dangerous den and find balance again.
Although I found some parts unbelievable, I liked this horrifying book and stepped past my reservations. I wished the backstory of Nance and Meredith's fraught relationship were a little tighter. The killing of Nance's first husband Joe was random, and I didn't buy that Nance would blame Meredith for it. (Now if Meredith's violent boyfriend had been directly involved...) I also didn't buy that Nance couldn't figure out Ted sooner. And I'm not sure how the mayflies fit into the book as a whole. Okay, they were a good opening to a creepy story, but they never appeared again.
Davis did keep me reading. I loved the way she intertwined snakes, The Snake River, and the evils of man. Her descriptions pulled me in. I could hear the hiss of the rattlers, see the slops of Hell's Gate Canyon, feel the dry lightning, taste the blood in Nance's mouth, smell death from across the street.
Although I found some parts unbelievable, I liked this horrifying book and stepped past my reservations. I wished the backstory of Nance and Meredith's fraught relationship were a little tighter. The killing of Nance's first husband Joe was random, and I didn't buy that Nance would blame Meredith for it. (Now if Meredith's violent boyfriend had been directly involved...) I also didn't buy that Nance couldn't figure out Ted sooner. And I'm not sure how the mayflies fit into the book as a whole. Okay, they were a good opening to a creepy story, but they never appeared again.
Davis did keep me reading. I loved the way she intertwined snakes, The Snake River, and the evils of man. Her descriptions pulled me in. I could hear the hiss of the rattlers, see the slops of Hell's Gate Canyon, feel the dry lightning, taste the blood in Nance's mouth, smell death from across the street.
October 13, 2024
The book was very blah. Most of the writing wasn't in full sentences and the character development took forever. This book is much shorter than the books I typically read yet it took me six weeks to get through because it was so boring.
August 28, 2020
Good story. Manages to keep me interested. Could have been 50 to 75 pages shorter.
January 2, 2026
I want to love this book, I really do. I want it to be one of my favorites, but after that shit ending, I almost wanted to throw the book in frustration. Up until that point, I had loved it. It had the right amount of domestic bliss/unease. The characters were complex and flawed, and the way they interacted with each other seemed honest and real. I honestly cared for Nance and her sister; I wanted them to get along and repair their relationship. But most of all, I wanted to see Ned punished for the horrible things he had done. BUT THEN HE DIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT. And nobody knows how fucked up he is. Tsk.
I might pick it up again, to see if a second reading will change how I feel. But the thought of reading that ending again already irritates me, so I probably won't.
I might pick it up again, to see if a second reading will change how I feel. But the thought of reading that ending again already irritates me, so I probably won't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2013
It's boring. I felt it's not engaging enough. Though I'm reading most of the reviews that the guy is some disturbing serial killer (which I'm very interested) but it's kinda painstakingly hard to read through the first few parts. I don't want to jump in on the latter part of the story so, I just stopped. Ugh. I bought this last year (I think) and I tried to read it a couple of times but I had to put it down for me to read on my other interesting books and I completely forgot about it. I picked it up again last June this year when I cleaned up my room - from the beginning, but it's still boring for me so I stopped reading it.
March 7, 2008
The novel had a slow, somewhat unfocused start, but I kept with it, and ultimately was rewarded with an entertaining, if sometimes uncomfortable, experience. Some graphic scenes were a bit much for me, as it was clear early on the husband was a monster. The love-hate relationship between the sisters gave the story depth and dimension, and the prose describing the surrounding Snake River/Palouse scenery was exquisite. Overall, a fulfilling read with an ending that still leaves you squirming in your seat a bit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2008
Having read "Winter Range" and found it lacking, I only read "Season of the Snake" on the recommendation of a family member. I was thrilled by it!! Her previously dark writing has found real focus and structure. "Season of the Snake" does a great job getting you to care about the characters, and although you may think you know where it is going... it either takes you there in such a unique fashion, or twists how far and where it goes... that the whole ride is a joy. Truly got under my skin and sucked me in. Great Book!
July 25, 2012
I'm hating this book. I bought a cheap audio version for car trips and wish I could pull over and kick the author in the butt to get to the meat of it. She's so enchanted with her word useage that she over elaborates, and it's such a bore. Sometimes a walk is just a walk, but she can carry on forever about the bounce in the walk, what the person is hearing, seeing, wearing, thinking, ad naseum.
I hate this book but am too cheap to throw it out. Torture!
Story line was good, hated the writer and her style, it just wasn't for me. So relieved it's over
I hate this book but am too cheap to throw it out. Torture!
Story line was good, hated the writer and her style, it just wasn't for me. So relieved it's over
February 11, 2011
I got a bit bogged down in some of the descriptions of nature, beautifully written but ultimately holding me back from the plot at times. I kept paging ahead, peeking to see when the ruminative natural world took second seat to the creepiness of the plot. I like to think I would know if my husband were a... well, whatever he was... but still the protagonist was intelligent and interesting. I'll read more by Claire Davis.
November 14, 2012
This book sort of evolved as it went along, keeping you guessing as to exactly what the main character's husband was up to while she was away on business (counting rattlesnakes in their dens). Her first husband was killed in a random attack. Her second husband...seems so 'nice'...but he is not at all what he seems.
March 13, 2014
This novel starts out very ho-hum, a woman and a man have a have a very happy, comfortable marriage, albeit she has a strange profession (snake scientist). He is a school principle. Enter her sister, whom she has been long-estranged from (the story explains that, and it all begins to get interesting). I have read previous novels by this author, and she's a very good story teller.
April 15, 2007
Compact, utterly horrifying and fascinating and yet educational(!) all at the same time. My heart RACED through the last half-hour of reading. Proof that it doesn't take excess words to tell a can't-tear-your-eyes-from-the-wreck-at-the-side-of-the-road tale.
January 24, 2009
this novel was a very fun read about a very disturbed person, but it read like i was watching a thriller on TV; quickly paced with just a little info leaked to the reader at a time. Considering the well-woven story, i was fairly let down by the unclimatic and uninteresting ending.
September 30, 2009
Didn't get truly interesting until half way through. As the story develops I waited for the deep dark secret that Ned was hiding. Then waited for Nance to figure it out. The author left a lot of the events to interpretation.
March 26, 2010
When I picked this book up at the library I didn't realize I had already read it. It was worth reading again.
It contains some of my favorite things: women with backbone, realistic relationships, nature and psychos.
Great book if you like psychological thrillers.
It contains some of my favorite things: women with backbone, realistic relationships, nature and psychos.
Great book if you like psychological thrillers.
January 5, 2008
This was a great horror/thriller. A woman marries the wrong man, and scary stuff ensues. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Davis.
March 31, 2008
Well written complicated (but not hard to follow) story about a marriage unraveling because of a spouse's true character. A mystery of sorts, but not in the traditional sense.
February 19, 2011
You know, between snakes & serial killers, I thought I'd be more "eeked" out during the reading of this. Not so much. But, still a very nicely written book.
October 2, 2012
Disappointing ending after all the suspense.
January 9, 2013
3.5 stars, really. Strong novel, but the rising action is a little stretched.
May 7, 2013
Pretty good mystery thriller with a herpetologist protagonist. I liked the way it captured the setting.
February 15, 2015
The only reason I read this book is because it takes place in Idaho. it wasn't bad though.
January 18, 2016
This book was such a let down. I hated the ending, hated it. The suspense is there and the story has is moments but over all it just was all over the place and hard to follow.
February 14, 2016
good book, Sister relationship, outdoors adventure, and murder. should of had a different ending but still well worth the read.
April 14, 2016
Extra reasons not to be out at night in what seems to be an innocent little town!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews