Claws - (A Red Dirt Road Novel) by Timothy Gene Sojka (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A master of intrigue, suspense, emotion, and wit. Sojka evokes laughter, despair, fear, suspense, and thrills." -Sublime Book Review

Teeny Voix lies burritoed in her blanket, girded by Lego landmines, protected by her plushy opossum when the bedroom door creaks, and her lecherous stepfather enters . . . again, while her momma ignores. Weeks earlier, the mute girl penned a mysterious letter, unwittingly hailing a goliath who mauls then kills Teeny's stepfather.

The bizarre death forces Teeny to use wit, fortitude, and an eclectic collection of combatants to brave life and death battles with the wicked White Van People, an organized and well-financed child trafficking operation.

Set in the summer of 1976, in the dark Piney Woods along Interstate 10, Claws embraces the soaring pines, dark chocolate waters, oppressive heat, and eccentrics of southeast Texas.

Pedro "Paunch" Perez, a portly, suspended detective, pursues Teeny, selecting himself as the mute girl's protector, and tracks her via the geographically impossible deaths that follow in her wake, each mystery laying the groundwork for a case that will remain unsolved and unexplained for over fifty years.

Using classic folklore to create new legend, Sojka hones his talent for plot twists while daring readers to solve the mysteries behind Claws.

Review Quotes

"Claws is a dark and twisted tale of survival and justice that exposes a disturbing criminal web." -Sublime Book Review

"Sojka's writing style is engaging, providing a compelling reflection on the human condition, with themes of mortality, destiny, and the complexity of personal relationships." -Readers' Favorite

"What is sleep? Thrilling, quizzical, and mesmerizing are just a few words to sum this story up." -Book Nerd Bailey

"Whoa! Just completed the ride. I just don't know how to define the dots and twists as they combine multiple dimensions and layers of emotional intelligence." -Sudipta

"Highly recommend to anyone loving to guess the ending." -NCWhite

"Claws artfully ties together clues. I loved this book and all of its layers and complexity!" -Goodreads