I was first introduced to Clyde Edgerton when I read and enjoyed Walking Across Egypt (4 stars) last year, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. Henry Dampier is a young man determined to make his fortune by door-to-door Bible selling; although, truth be told, he gets the Bibles for free. Still, quite a few customers (especially ladies) do buy his product, but it is not until con man Preston Clearwater invites him to work for the FBI that his income really starts improving. Henry is quite naive and soon gets caught up in more than he bargained for — in both work and love.
One of the reasons I enjoy Edgerton’s work is that he captures the southern character very well. I lived 17 years in the south, and I felt like the characters in the novel were very authentic. I really enjoyed the first half of the book. The second half, not so much. The charm and plot of the story broke down a bit, and I ended up a little disappointed in the end. Still, I’d like to read another book by Edgerton, perhaps for next year’s Southern Reading Challenge.
2008, 238 pp.
Rating: 
I’m still kicking myself for passing up a copy of Walking through Egypt that I found for a quarter, but I hadn’t heard a thing about it, and didn’t till two weeks after I looked at it and put it back. A quarter. Hmph.
Dang Nancy! A whole quarter!!! Let me kick you!
Oh, I hate to hear that you did not like the book fully 3M. I haven’t read it yet, and have it on my southern list for next summer. I imagine it will be a quick read, so I’ll pair it w/ another quick read so I have a choice for my article.
Rainy, in my humble opinion, is Edgerton’s best book.
I swear I’m not going to join so many challenges next year, but then there’s the Southern Reading Challenge that I’ve never particpated in and it sounds like so much fun and I’ll probably have to join. This book sounded very promising. Sorry it didn’t hold up all the way through.
I haven’t read this one, and it doesn’t sound as promising as the other Edgerton books I’ve read. I quite agree with Maggie that Rainey is his best. (It’s also the first place I ever saw anyone outside my Southern Virginia family refer to cooked greens as “salet,” so there’s authenticity for you.)
I am all about books set in the south. If not this one, I’ll have to consider your other Edgerton recommendation.
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