Book Review: "Gone South" by Robert McCammon

“It was hell's season, and the air smelled of burning children”

I had heard a lot about people enjoying Robert McCammon's books but for the life of me, I have never actually read one until now. I don't know why I chose this one it just sort of appeared on my Amazon recommendations and yes, yet again I am reading it on my Kindle. There is something deeply satisfying about getting an author you have always been meaning to read on a list of things that you probably should be reading. One thing I like about Amazon recommendations is that more than likely, they get it right when it comes to the type of books I might like.

This book seems to be a big deal among the reading public of Reddit. This was probably where I heard the book mentioned for the first time a while back. I can't be sure but what I am sure of is that during this time, I was looking for books depicting Vietnam War veterans after they came home. Unfortunately, this book is hyper-realistic in its portrayal of PTSD and terminal illness, horrifying and mind-bending - the author handles the subject with ferocity, forcing the readers to see the true horrors of the situation.

The opening chapter is something to be admired, dropping the reader directly into some indirect action. We meet Dan, a Vietnam War veteran and we get to know his history, his divorce, his loss of living standars, his loss of job and his most prized possession: his truck. He's behind on the payments but he's sitting out in Death Valley whilst two men have secretly taken out a bet against each other on how many people Dan killed in the war. After learning about the bet, Dan tries his best not to lose it by ripping up the money. We feel like he's an empathetic character mostly because by the end of the chapter his truck has been repossessed. A symbolic opening chapter filled with despair, we are ready to take on the novel and all of its possible sadness.

In the second chapter, we see more of this terror and PTSD as Dan goes to get a loan to pay for his truck and get it back. But, the new guy is there to clear up the mess left behind by the previous guy. There will be no loan for Dan who doesn't have a job, doesn't have collateral, doesn't have prospects or a resume of any kind and most of all, doesn't have most of his right mind according to the boss who states he needs a social worker and not a loan. Unfortunately, the pounding in Dan's head is sending him south and he is set off as he grabs a gun, takes off the safety and shoots a man in the throat before coming back to reality. Realising what he has done, he wonders how much time he has left before anyone will catch him.

With a book filled with darkly Huckleberry Finn-esque characters such as bounty hunters and tricksters. We also have the empathetic and sorrowful Dan Lambert who is trying desperately to get the little life he has left back together before it is too late. Written in incredible style with an amazing control of pace and atmosphere, Robert McCammon gives the reader an ungodly look at the side of the law where nothing is let off for anyone, no matter how long they don't have left.

One of the things I liked the most was the PTSD writing that Robert McCammon does. This has come from a person who has researched (or, god forbid probably knows) of the horrors that come with PTSD. The themes surrounding the Vietnam War, death and psychological torture means that the writing and experience of Dan's PTSD that we get is quite possibly as terrifying as it can get. Starting off with that cold opening line which sends chills down any sane person's bones, this novel makes a great case for being dark, frightening and very realistic.

All in all, I thought that I would like this novel a lot less than I actually did. It was a wonderful read with some great characters, memorable scenes and just absolutely real terror.