#Americannoir

[fictionfromafar]

This Wild, Wild Country by Inga Vesper

This Wild, Wild Country

By Inga Vesper

Manilla Press

Publication Date: 4 August 2022

#RandomTTours

I first encountered Inga Vesper at the Bloody Scotland crime fiction festival last year when the author spoke very assuredly about her first novel The Long, Long Afternoon. I found something very adventurous and appealing about a Scottish based German author discussing in such an authentic way about a missing housewife set in California in the late 1950s. While I’ve not yet read that particular book, nor followed up her recommendation to read The Pledge by cult Swiss author Friedrich Durrenmatt, I listened carefully as she discussed the creation and research, both historical and geographical, behind her second novel during lockdown of another period within another location in the USA. This sparked my interest and so 9 months later, I very keenly took up the opportunity to read her new novel This Wild, Wild Country.

In Vesper’s afterforward she states her view that her second novel is in many ways the logical sequel to her first, despite the fact that it is a very separate story due to the cultural changes that have taken place in the 1960s. To further emphasise those changes This Wild, Wild Country is set over two different periods, 1933 just at the ending of prohibition and post Woodstock and Altamont in 1970.

The rural isolated town of Boldville, New Mexico is the claustrophobic setting of this story where we encounter Cornelia Stover. Widowed before her time, Stover is struggling her raise her daughter while also keeping the hotel she had been running her late husband afloat. Unafraid to court controversy in a town with conservative views she employed a native American assistant – in reality she could not afford to pay enough to satisfy a white man – would take in an aging ‘good-for-nothing’ and serve alcohol upon the abolishment of prohibition while the town’s main establishment would refuse to do so. Many of the townsfolk would disapprove of her behaviours considering her as immoral or having lost her mind. They would be reluctant to aid her in any way despite her loss and dependent child. Without wishing to quote a famous song by one time country and vaudeville musician Frankie Marvin, Stover receives a string indication that she may be able to find the riches to get herself out of her financial predicament thus securing a stable upbringing for her daughter. She then vanishes from the town, leaving her daughter, while her assistant is understood to have died.

The sequences of Cornelia Stover’s story are intermittently told through the more contemporary story of Joanne Riley. Once a trainee police woman she has left her home in despair to escape her physically and psychologically abusive policeman husband Dwayne and finds herself in Boldville which by 1970 is now a town in social conflict. While many of the same families are running that town that did so 40 years earlier, a hippie commune has set up in the village. This has led to a culture clash between the hippies who believe in free love, peace and often perceive the authorities to be fascist while the town’s elders are patriots generally supportive of their government, including the war in Vietnam. As Riley arrives in the town, there is the shock discovery that one of the hippies, Mike has been found dead, following a party at the commune. His cousin Lauren, who goes by her hippie name of Glitter is convinced that Mike’s death was no accident, particularly as the drugs found in his possession were not those used in the hippy movement. Together with newcomer Riley she starts to ascertain the final actions of her cousin to try to determine any possible motives for his death. When she discovers he had been developing an interest in the town’s history Glitter’s eventually begins to resolve the mysteries of her grandmother Cornelia Stover disappearance and other occurrences from early 40 years earlier.

Vesper use of social history ensures that this novel is a rich story. her depiction of the hippies, their beliefs and their use of language feels very realistic. In the USA by 1970 the hippie zeitgeist was somewhat on the wane following the deaths at Altamont where an 18 year old was murdered by the Hells Angels provided security and the murders caused by Charles Manson and his followers and I believe the author subtly latches onto this. Her depictions of the differences between the hippies and the other residents of the village are very convincing, creating a tinderbox fraught with tension and suspicion. In particular the introduction of a group of bikers cause great concern for the residents, and even the hippies wonder if they actually share the same ethos. Indeed this also leads to some questions about the drawbacks to free love. Having already informed her old police chief of the suspicious death, Riley keeps her informed on developments in the town.

This Wild, Wild Country explores themes including historical misogyny, prejudice to native Amercans as well as the enduring allure of the gold rush, a slight dissolutionment in the hippie subculture and an exploration of ancient folklore. The regular switches to the narrative between Glitter and Joanne Riley reveals their contrasting perspectives on three subjects while keeping the story flowing fluidly. I found the sections focussed on Cornelia Stover are quite fascinating and just knew there will be greater significance to some of these sections. It’s a case of sitting back, imagining life in the deep and dry south and enjoying how the plot unfolds; while admiring the atmospherics, the scenery and overall sense of mystery. This is not a simple read but it is engrossing, exemplary researched with a wide range of compelling characters, and it's hghly recommended by me.

Many thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for inclusion on the blog tour and Manilla Press for an advance copy of This Wild, Wild Country. Please look out for the other reviews on this tour as shown below.

Available now in hardback from all good retailers:

[jenmedsbookreviews]

All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

Today I am sharing my thoughts on All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby, his latest novel. @blacklionking73 @headlinepg #allthesinnersbleed #books #bookreview #booklove #americannoir

Today I am delighted to share my thoughts on All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby. A true master of American noir, I love his writing and have been waiting for the right moment to savour this latest offering. Here’s what it’s all about: Source: Owned CopyRelease Date: 06 June 2023Publisher: Headline Continue reading Untitled

[fredhandbag]

First #chikfilatuesday read is Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Crosby, a book that was a favorite for many last year. The writing so far is fantastic - I can smell the exhaust and feel the rumble of the engine. What’s your first book for 2021? #blacktopwasteland #sacosby #americannoir #cfacolumbiana #plymouthduster #bookstagram #bookshelves #bookswithcharacter #bookhoarder #bookworm #sodacityreads #bookreview #hardcover #bookcollector #bookhaul #bookspines #goodreads #homelibrary #fiction #crimefiction #thriller #bookcollection (at Chick-fil-A Columbiana Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJq4yI9gTco/?igshid=1ok10g1oha718

[tcodee]

Great read. Even though it’s almost 30 years old the view on society hold up #libra #dondellilo #justread #bookstagram #book #americanliterature #america #americannoir https://www.instagram.com/p/B2P1TZVFB55/?igshid=1lkd0xvijfgf7

[amyrivard]

@le_dahlia_noir posted this fabulous video of our diva #gloriaswanson when she played the role of an aging silent film star (which is a story that also plays out in my song The Three Divas) Still want to know why Gloria is a diva in my song? Stay tuned. MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON! . . . . . . . . #NormaDesmond #sunsetboulevard #repostapp @repost.apps ・・・ 🎥 #AmericanNoir #SunsetBoulevard #sunsetblvd #sunsetboulevardbroadway #fimnoir #silentfilm #3divasvideo #divastitle #divastyles #hollywooddivas #silentfilmdivas #divastime (at Palace Theatre (New York City))

[carterseaton]

i look at this picture of @americannoir and i every morning and it makes me happy. https://www.instagram.com/p/CWLqOz7rEem/?utm_medium=tumblr

[brandontearztattoo]

Got this wolf done on @americannoir thanks for always getting solid shit #wolftattoo #tattooflash #blacktattoo #wolf #traditionaltattoo #boldwillhold #blackclaw #blacktattoo #blacktattoos (at Central Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana)

[jenmedsbookreviews]

The Last King of California by Jordan Harper

Today I am sharing my thoughts on The Last King of California by Jordan Harper. @jordan_harper @simonschusterUK #books #booktwitter #booktwt #americannoir #lastkingofcalifornia

Today I am sharing my thoughts on The Last King of California by Jordan Harper. this book came on my radar last year when SA Cosby recommended the author’s work at Capital Crime. I love SA Cosby’s writing, so when he says someone is good, I’m definitely going to take note. Here’s what it’s all about: Source: Owned CopyRelease Date: 29 September 2022Publisher: Simon & Schuster (more…) “”

[carterseaton]

@americannoir caught @brettasibley and i chillin at @hoagies_and_hops. (at Hoagies and Hops) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLhsKmKLW6q/?igshid=l7iclfr1escp

[brandontearztattoo]

Filling the gaps @americannoir for getting cool shit #topclasstattooing #boldwillhold #deathiscertain #straightrazor #protectyaneck #blackart #blackclaw #blacktattoo #traditional #tattoo #freehand

[brandontearztattoo]

Thanks @americannoir for getting cool shit #topclasstattooing #boldwillhold #deathiscertain #straightrazor #protectyaneck #blackart #blackclaw #blacktattoo #traditional #tattoo #freehand