Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town
GENRE: Horror
RELEASE DATE: 5/21/23
AUTHOR: Wrath James White
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Cover art by Luke Spooner
DISCLAIMER: NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BONNIE-SUE HITCHCOCK, WHO SHARES A TITLE.
THIS BOOK IS NOT SET IN ALASKA.
THIS BOOK IS NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN.
This coming-of-age-tale is set in the semi-rural Eastern Sierra village of Bishop, California.
What begins as a stereotypical family barbecue reveals a not-so-typical family dynamic starring atypical teen Mika Shaw. Her delinquent habits are revealed along with the dysfunction of her family.
The frustrating nature of adolescence in a small town is captured well here, along with the tasteful approach and usage of unreliable narration. This is a rapid read whose current of swift prose pulls the reader seamlessly from one page to the next.
Some passages skirt the hemline towards inclusion in a “Men Writing Women” thread, but they are few. The hostile lore that threatens emerges in a plausible manner, despite the mental health issues of the protagonist that are addressed early in the tale. These are easily dismissed then recalled at will to useful effect. The action is fast-paced, watch those stakes rise with both the current and the body count.
This reprint is the first I’ve read by Wrath James White, and I look forward to discovering more. Links have been posted above directing curious readers to his work. Let this be a friendly reminder to remain vigilant concerning what has left circulation, keep that text alive.
Leah Looks At: Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town (Inspired by True Events)