Today I am reviewing The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): In the summer of 1986, two tragedies rocked Oklahoma City. Six movie-theater employees were brutally killed in an armed robbery. Then a teenage girl vanished from the annual state fair. Neither crime was ever solved.
Twenty-five years later, the reverberations of those unsolved cases continue to echo through the lives of those devastated by the crimes. Wyatt, the one teenage employee who inexplicably survived the movie-theater massacre, is now a private investigator in Las Vegas. A case unexpectedly brings him back to a hometown and a past he’s tried to escape – and drags him deeper into the harrowing mystery of the movie house robbery that left six of his friends dead.
Like Wyatt, Julianna struggles with the past – specifically, the day her beautiful older sister, Genevieve, disappeared at the fair. When Julianna discovers that one of the original suspects has resurfaced, she’ll stop at nothing to find answers.
As Wyatt’s case becomes more complicated and dangerous, and Julianna seeks answers from a ghost, their obsessive quests not only stir memories of youth and first love, but also begin to illuminate dark secrets of the past. Even if they find the truth, will it help them understand what happened and why they were left behind that long and faraway gone summer? Will it set them free – or ultimately destroy them?
My review: I had the pleasure of reviewing an earlier book written by Lou Berney – Whiplash River – for TLC Book Tours. I liked it enormously and became a fan. So when the opportunity to review his latest book was presented to me, I jumped on it.
The premise – two people haunted by the past, with a desperate need to find out the truth – is haunting. After heartbreaking loss, life somehow goes on, and both Wyatt and Julianna have careers and lives. But they are damaged. The past is never far from the present. It is this struggle with the past that fuels the story.
Berney writes characters beautifully, with great detail and a dash of humor thrown in the mix. He weaves together the individual story lines with ease. Wyatt, brought to Oklahoma City to investigate a case of harassment, pursues that case while also searching for answers to the murder of his fellow movie-theater employees – always with the question, “Why was I spared?” At the same time, Berney tells us Julianna’s story. There is a thread here that connects both stories, happening at the same time: the need to know the truth. And, perhaps, to find healing.
Berney’s depiction of Oklahoma City is richly detailed. I really got a strong sense of that city and its environs. He’s a wonderful writer. With a rich cast of supporting characters, Berney’s story of Wyatt and Julianna and those loved and lost is a great read. I don’t think you’ll be able to put it down.
When I was at The Mysterious Bookshop the other day, this book was sitting right by the cash register. The man writing up my order hadn’t read it yet and I happily gave it a huge thumbs up and urged him to read it.
I finished it a couple of weeks ago, yet the characters remain with me. What more could you ask for?
If you haven’t read Lou Berney yet, I urge you to. This man knows how to write and you will be caught up in the story immediately, as I was.
About the author: Lou Berney is an accomplished writer, teacher, and liar who has written feature screenplays and created TV pilots for Warner Brothers, Paramount, Focus Features, ABC, and Fox, among others. His short fiction has appeared in the New Yorker, Ploughshares, the Pushcart Prize anthology, and other publications. His first novel, Gunshot Straight, was named one of the ten best debut crime novels of the year by Booklist and nominated for a Barry Award.
One of you will win a copy of The Long and Faraway Gone. Just leave a comment on this post – it has to be on the post, not via email – and I will pick a winner on Thursday evening. Good luck!
Happy Monday.
It sounds spellbinding and the kind of book to read into the late hours. Sure, I’d love a copy.
Happy Monday, Claudia.
Sounds like a good one Claudia — thanks for the opportunity. Hoping you are heading home today….
Thank you for the book review and introducing me another new author. It is now on my to read list.
I look forward each day to reading your blog, it is always a treat first thing in the morning.
It sounds like a very good read. Thank you for the review and chance to win a copy.
Hope your week goes well and you are back home with Don and Scout soon.
Sounds like another good book Claudia, thanks for the chance to win it. We here in Florida survived our 2 day winter. Sure hope the snow lets up at your place soon.
Sounds like a good read. I would love to win a copy.
Stacy
Because i’m in Tulsa and my daughter is in OKC we will both probably read the book. Once again, thanks for your honest and inciteful reviews. I’ve recommemded your blog to several friends who also appreciate your reviews.
Dorothy
I’ll add this book and author to my ever growing list!! Thanks for the review Claudia!
hugs,
Linda
Sounds like a good one! i’d love to win it.
This sounds wonderful, Claudia. Adding it to my list. xo Laura
I love books… I would love to win this..
Hope you stay warm today…. Ice storm here in Texas..
Thanks for this great review and wonderful feature.
I like books where the characters come to life. The little flashbacks about them that haunt your brain and make you think of the book again and again.
Thanks for your review I would like to read the book.
I added this book to my “To read” notebook. I love books with strong characters to relate too. Did you happen to see Louise Penny on the Well Read program on PBS on Saturday? She talked mostly about how she shaped and created Gamache in the Three Pines Mysteries. Interesting to me because I want to live in Three Pines and be friends with all of the inhabitants there. ☺
These are the kind of books I love..the ones where the characters stay with you a long time after you have finished reading their story..or sometimes..as in TKAM..they stay with you forever..Please put my name in your drawing..And have a safe trip home today!
Sounds like a great read. I have so many characters in books that I think about all the time. Always fun to add a few more!
Safe travels home, kiddo!!!
Sounds like a great read…I’ll add this to my list! Hope you are able to head home! ;)
I’m always on the look-out for a good read. I actually make list of what and how many books I read every year. I would love a chance to win the book.
Thanks
JHM
Would love to win it, thanks
Oh wow, sounds like a very interesting book. I was 15 that year and remember both very well, as I am from OKC. Definitely on the top of my “to read” list. Thanks for bringing this book to our attention, Claudia. And as always, love your blog.
Hi Claudia!
I plan to read this book one way or the other – winning it would sure make it easier!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Margy in KY
I have not read this author. Having grown up in and around Oklahoma City I think I need to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy. We certainly don’t have the amount of snow here in south central Kansas that you have but it is lightly snowing here today.
I was not familiar with this author but would love to read his books. I’m requesting it from the library just in case!
Sounds like a great read and yes, I would love to win a copy. Thank you, Claudia, for your generosity!
This book, and author, sounds like something I’d like to read. Thank you for the terrific review and the opportunity to win a copy!
Hi Claudia. I have just discovered your blog and enjoy it. Thanks for this book review. I’m always glad to learn of a new author who writes books which it sounds like I will enjoy. I was born in Tulsa, so I will be interested in the descriptions of OK City. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Just a quick comment to wish you a safe journey home today.
One more quick comment – just to say that I think your readers in the southern states would fare quite well up here in the frozen north as I have been reading some of their comments and have decided that they all have warm hearts. :)
Oh, this one sounds really good, Claudia! Hope I win it!!
Sounds like a great read for my book club! I host in June- maybe I will win and have my book picked for me. Thanks for your commitment to daily writing.
Thanks for introducing this new author, Lou Berney. He sounds like a write that holds your attention, plus it’s a mystery. Win, win!!
Okay! I’ve not ever been interested in having my names in a drawing for your books as much as this one– for some reason, it intrigues me. The book not the drawing!
Count me in, Claudia.
Also, it is so nice that you had a moment to share your thoughts with the clerk at the book store. Makes shopping more fun…
Thanks for your honest book reviews. I feel like I have my own private reviewer instead of the reviews that are so disjointed and seem to be sales pitches for the book. I love your blog and have ordered several books based on your reviews. I would love to win the book!
Your reviews are so intriguing that I can hardly wait to get my hands on each book. Thank you. Claudia.
I hope I am not too late :) I have got to read this story…lol.
I’d love to read this book. I read a blog (Cozy Little House) and the blogger has a personal connection to the true stories on which this book is based.
LOL I giggled at the ‘accomplished liar’ part of his bio. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for your review. pam
I would love to read this book.
Thanks
Love the review. I will have to add this read to my growing list.
I’m always looking for something new (and hopefully good) to read and while I love my Nook, every once in a while having the actual book in hand is really nice. It’s been a while since I was blog reading and was catching up today. Glad I stopped by! Thanks for the opportunity! Fingers crossed…
Characters like this are the ones I remember for a very long time. They are so very real.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!