Fourth Of July Creek: A Novel

"When I was a little kid in the late 1970s, my parents moved our family to rural western Montana, which happens to be the same time and setting for Smith Henderson’s debut novel. Thankfully, Henderson’s Montana is a good deal darker than that of my childhood; his characters and vivid portrayal of the state and all its poverty make for a fascinating read. The plot centers on a social worker who involves himself in the life of a reclusive family just as the father starts to attract the attention of the FBI. The fact that parts of this book are also set in two of my favorite cities — Missoula, Mont., and Austin, Texas — in a sleepier era didn’t hurt either."