When These Mountains Burn

Last updated
When These Mountains Burn
Author David Joy
Genre Crime fiction
Published2020

When These Mountains Burn is a 2020 novel by David Joy.

Contents

Plot summary

Raymond Mathis, a 70 year old ex-United States Forest Service employee, has recently become a widower. His adult son Ricky is addicted to drugs and is kidnapped by dealers who ransom him to Raymond.

Background

The novel is set during the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires, the drug epidemic in the United States, [1] and the encroachment of coyote populations. [2] It is portrays the erosion of mountain culture in North Carolina and the reclamation of Cherokee culture in the 21st century. [3]

Reception

The novel received positive reviews from critics. [4] [5] Kirkus Reviews praised its "memorable characters, deft plotting, and an attention to detail". [6] Tod Goldberg of USA Today called the novel "a snapshot of small-town America at a fracture point, when the least of the concerns is the fire that could consume everyone, all at once." [7]

References

  1. ↑ Gallimore, Jason (2020-09-23). ""When These Mountains Burn": Addiction, Love, and Revenge". Southern Review of Books. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  2. ↑ Minick, Jeff (2020-10-01). "The Lives of Others: David Joy's When These Mountains Burn". Smoky Mountain Living. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  3. ↑ "Addiction Erodes Appalachian Culture In David Joy's Latest, 'When These Mountains Burn'". BPR. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  4. ↑ "When These Mountains Burn by David Joy". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  5. ↑ When These Mountains Burn | Bookreporter.com.
  6. ↑ WHEN THESE MOUNTAINS BURN | Kirkus Reviews.
  7. ↑ Goldberg, Tod. "Review: 'When These Mountains Burn' a brutal crime novel and snapshot of small-town America". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.