Shifty's Boys by Chris Offutt

First Sentence:  At age eight, Albin decided to be a race-car driver when he grew up.

Mick Hardin’s life isn’t going well.  He is on medical leave from the Army CID, dealing with the end of his marriage, and living in his late mother’s house now owned by his sister, Linda, who is running for re-election as the sheriff of Rocksalt. Things are even worse for Barney Kissick, known as “Fuckin’ Barney,” a known drug dealer who was found shot to death in the parking lot of Western Auto.  At Mick’s last conversation with Shifty Kissick, Barney’s mother, they were both armed. Now she wants him to find Barney’s killer.

Offutt’s descriptions often have a lyrical quality to them—“There was a palpable energy in the hills from the trees still in flower, the opening leaves of softwoods, and the infant animals.” 

The book is built on strong, yet very human, characters.  Mick is recovering from an IED injury and dealing with the betrayal of his soon-to-be ex-wife, trying to get off a dependency on drugs and alcohol to dull his pain.  Linda wants to prove herself as sheriff by winning the election even if it means rescuing a dog from a tree. Deputy Johnny Boy Tolliver may have a weak stomach and a fear of ghosts, but he loves his job and is observant, organized, and resourceful. Shifty Kissick wants to know who killed her son.  He may have been a drug dealer, but he was her first boy, although not the first she has lost or will lose.  

Mick is a wonderfully atypical protagonist.  From his experience in the military, he knows the value of life—“Fuckin’ Barney got shot down like a dog.  The guy might kill somebody else.  There’s never just one.  If I can stop it, I will. I had enough of people dying to last a lifetime.”  Even Linda, is aware of it—“Despite being capable of violence, he operated from a base of compassion that surprised her.” Even his stature is unexpected—“Shorter than everyone, including Linda, he exuded a sense of restrained power.”

There are wonderful idioms that reflect the speech of the region, such as describing someone as—“Keen as a briar.  Crazy as a soup sandwich.” 

 SHIFTY’S BOYS is darker, and more violent than Offutt’s first book “The Killing Hills.” Of Mitch, Offutt writes--“He’d become what he despised—a retribution killer.” However, it’s a very good read with great characters, and excellent dialogue, including thought-provoking, backcountry wisdom.  “He wondered how often people tried to convince themselves that homicide was acceptable in service to the greater good.” This seems to be a common theme these days and an interesting one to ponder.

 
SHIFTY’S BOYS (Noir-Mick Hardin-Rocksalt, Kentucky-Contemp)
by Chris Offutt – 2^nd in series
Grove Press, Jun 2022, 282 pp.
RATING:  VG+/A