Sallis, James

Sallis (Drive) has a quiet way of narrating a powerful story of accidents and death. The lyrical language and ambiguous ending is reminiscent of the best of Craig Johnson’s “Longmire” stories.

Weighing in at a meager 116 pages, this story feels decisively incomplete. There is neither suspense nor mystery, just bleak descriptions of this future America and gruesome flashbacks of Jenny's imprisonment. The highly improbable ending, which attempts to merge the political upheaval of the story with Jenny's inherent goodness, simply rings false. An optional purchase at best for libraries that have a strong following for Sallis. [See Prepub Alert, 3/11/13.]

Coming hard on the heels of the 2011 film version of cult favorite Drive, this gritty, gristly tale will rivet Sallis's growing audience.

Readers who appreciate Jim Thompson and still aren't aware of Sallis would be well advised to seek him out. His stock could rise on the basis of a recent film adaptation of his 1995 title Drive, starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan, which was well received at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.