“Family”…
BullMountain opens with this simple word that reverberates throughout the plot of
this moving and finely written debut novel from Brian Panowich. This is a
family drama and crime novel rolled into one and Panowich handles this
multi-layered juggling act with the sure hand you’d expect from a more
experienced novelist. The story is told in a back and forth manner spanning
three generations of the Burroughs family and provides changing narrative perspectives.
Panowich does this seamlessly and the story runs smoothly regardless of what
generation is sharing their story.
BullMountain has always been the home to the Burroughs clan and as far as the
patriarchs of the family are concerned, it always will be. The book follows the
Burroughs over the course of decades and allows the reader a glimpse into the
multidimensional relationships that develop between fathers and sons, and also
between brothers. In its quest to rule all the mountain has to offer—both its inhabitants
and its resources—the family runs distilleries, grows and sells marijuana, and eventually
turns to cooking meth. As the years pass, they find it harder and harder to
hold on to what they believe is their birthright and they are willing to go to
any length to tighten their hold on what they have secured as their own.
Clayton
Burroughs is the sheriff of Bull Mountain. He is the youngest brother of
Halford Burroughs, the head of a criminal empire who now runs the mountain.
Clayton has been exiled from the family compound, as he is deemed a traitor to
the family for pursuing a career in law enforcement. Halford blames Clayton for the death of their
brother and the two live separate lives. Clayton may be the law in the local
town, but he understands and accepts that Halford is the law of the mountain.
When
an FBI agent comes into town warning Clayton that if his brother doesn’t quit
the families illegal business immediately he will lose not only his freedom but
his family’s mountain, Clayton seeks out his brother for reconciliation in an
attempt to bring an end to his family’s reign of terror in the most peaceful
manner he can. When Halford refuses to consider walking away from his criminal
enterprise, Clayton must decide how far he is willing to go to protect his
brother, the town, and ultimately himself and his family.
I
hate to use cliché expressions in reviews, but this is a beautifully written
page-turner. To say Panowich is a writer to watch is an understatement. His
talent shines from the pages of this book and leaves you begging for his next
novel. This book is sure to be talked about on many Best of 2015 lists in a few
months. This book is simply amazing.
Reviewed by Derrick Horodyski
