My new novel, "St. Hubert's Stag," is now available in paperback, ISBN: 0-595-32869-5, and as an Adobe e-book from www.iuniverse.com
As John Donne said, and Hemingway repeated, “No man is an island.” Sometimes it takes a crisis for people to accept that truth.
For the Keller family, the lesson evolves from a deer hunt which forces them to confront secrets that have separated them from one another and the truth for years.
Why did Jake Keller rebel against health restrictions after a heart attack and decide he needed one last deer hunt?
Why had Andy, his son, suddenly quit hunting?
Who was responsible for the death of Andy’s younger brother, Paul, and why had Paul broken the old man’s rule against drinking on a hunt?
Why had Janet, Andy’s wife, laughed hysterically at Paul’s funeral?
What was the source of the enmity between Jake and his boyhood friend, Clyde Grumbine?
Why did everyone in the valley fear the black buck and why did it seem to haunt the Keller family?
I enjoyed St. Hubert's Stag somewhat more than John Lindermuth's earlier Schlussel's Woman. The archaic dialogue and small-town atmosphere are still present in Mr. Lindermuth's second novel. Some of the historical feel of the first book has been traded for more modern emotion in the second. The author takes the reader out into the deep woods at the opening of deer season in a place where that event is considered a big deal. Growing up in a similar environment, I could easily identify with the storyline, terrain, and characters. Mr. Lindermuth reached a part of me that I had long forgotten, the intricacies of my relationship with my dad, as described within the context of one of my father's favorite hobbies. If you enjoyed the plot twists, historical context, and realistic depictions of down-home characters of Schlussel's Woman, you will find similar warmth in the composition of this book, too. John Lindermuth utilizes a command of the language that ranges from the uneducated grammar of a small-town to the depth of diction espoused by a librarian. You might call this John Lindermuth's claim to fame.
'Better Without You'is a compelling narrative that explores the complexities of an affair, hidden secrets, and abuse. It also highlights a daughter's heartfelt journey as she cares for her mother who is battling dementia.
