“Luce’s new stranger children were small and beautiful and violent.” Thus begins this novel, which takes place in rural North Carolina in the early 1960s. The central character, Luce, inherits her murdered sister’s deeply disturbed children. This changes Luce’s isolated and independent living arrangement in both fearful and hopeful ways.
Soon after the arrival of the twins, another key figure enters Luce’s life as a supportive figure and potentially romantic interest. Stubblefield carries a torch for Luce, whom he knew from high school days. His empathy and support of her situation is an underlying current that runs throughout the book. Also into the picture comes Bud, Luce’s brother-in-law, whose attributes are reminiscent of the villain Chigurh from No Country for Old Men or Ree Dolly’s uncle from Winter’s Bone.
Frazier does not disappoint with his epic storytelling and beautiful prose. The characters are well-developed and the narrative of the Appalachian landscape is remarkable.