Nothing But the Bones - by Brian Panowich

About the Book

Book Synopsis

With lyrical prose and hard-hitting depictions of the hardscrabble life in the rural south, Brian Panowich, author of Bull Mountain, Like Lions, and Hard Cash Valley, delivers a gripping new chapter in his tales of McFalls County in Nothing But the Bones.

In McFalls County, local crime boss Gareth Burroughs runs everything on the mountain. And Nelson "Nails" McKenna has been his enforcer since he was a teenager, though his heart's not really in the dirty work. Then one night in a local roadhouse, Nails goes too far, defending a woman, and even Burroughs's reach can't get him out of this one. With a dead body and countless witnesses, Nails and the woman become fugitives on the run, and unlikely partners.

But on the road to Jacksonville, where a possible escape awaits, there's more than one interested party on the pair's trail, and the glimpse they had of getting away scot free suddenly seems elusive. In the end, Nails must make one final stand for his freedom--or pay with both of their lives.

Review Quotes

Praise for Nothing But the Bones

"A moving, deeply felt take on Bonnie and Clyde whose inexorable trajectory still allows room for plenty of twists." -Kirkus Reviews

"Panowich keeps readers on their toes all the way through, and anchors his well-executed plot reversals in Nails and Dallas's tender feelings for each other. It's another standout Southern noir from Panowich."--Publishers Weekly

"Both pulse-pounding and heart-stirring. This one should be savored." -The Wall Street Journal

"Brian Panowich goes all-in with Nothing But the Bones, a novel of all that is human: love and friendship, lust and sin, sacrifice and murder. There is profound evil in this story but also enduring goodness, and while not everything is as it appears on the surface, befitting a very satisfying crime story, what is clear from the beginning is that this is a terrific, mesmerizing read that satisfies from beginning to end." -Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer

"The compelling tale, its tone alternately brutal and tender, unfolds at a breakneck pace. The character development is superb, the settings are vivid, and the prose is as tight as a noose. The plot is full of twists. Among them is a startling revelation about Dallas's identity, introducing a sensitive subject that Panowich handles with understanding and grace." -Associated Press

"Brian Panowich is one of the best shared world authors out there." - The Hard Word

"Nothing But The Bones is an absolutely spellbinding crime novel, brilliantly told. The characters are wonderfully drawn, the plot is truly suspenseful, and Nails is a masterful creation. Brian Panowich has written another winner." -Marilyn's Mystery Reads

"Nothing But The Bones is highly recommended. Panowich's stories and novels are also highly recommended to those interested in starting a new series or exploring the works of a different author." -Mystery and Suspense

"Nothing But the Bones is a rural noir, a story about families, friendship and a love story as well as a peek at the psyche of criminals. Panowich's lovely writing style further elevates the intriguing plot." -Sun Sentinel

Praise for Brian Panowich and McFalls County

"Jaw-dropping." --Wall Street Journal

"The plotting is skilled, as is the sleuthing, and the landscape is stunning. But it's the hard-jawed characters, with their tough talk and scarred souls, who really get under your skin." --The New York Times Book Review on Hard Cash Valley, One of the 10 Best Crime Novels of the Year

"[Panowich] continues to mix crime fiction with a violent family drama, perfectly melding characters with a sense of place." -- Associated Press

"Prose as punchy as rapid-aged whiskey."--Esquire

"This is country noir with a bite as sharp as a rattler's." -- AARP

"In the vein of Grisham and Burke, Panowich zips readers along with action backed by delightfully rhythmic storytelling." -- Garden and Gun