Fifth novel from the author of Seasonal Rain (Corona, 1986), this is Flynn's most accomplished work yet. It is an intricate, brutal, funny saga told by oral historian Will Callahan, who returns to his hometown to chronicle its rural past and urban present. Not a detached observer, Will painfully reveals the dark, sad past he shares with his neighbors as he imparts a strong sense of place and people. The story is rich in detail; the characterization, deft; the voice, an amalgam of Texan idiom, frequent hyperbole, and compassionate memory. Flynn's abundant talent transforms the annals of a dying town into an exploration of larger human concerns. Edward C. Lynskey, Documentation Section, Atlantic Research Corp., Gainsville, Va.
