LEATHER MAIDEN

When Gulf War vet Cason Statler returns to his East Texas hometown to take a job as a reporter, he's a mess. He's drinking too much, and he can't let go of the ex-girlfriend who doesn't want him anymore. But the story of a missing college student catches his attention, and before he knows it, he discovers a case of blackmail, racial politics, and murder— with his brother in the middle of it. Tom Butler performs the novel with dry sarcasm and just enough of a Texas drawl to convey its ambiance. Lansdale is a natural home-fried storyteller, able to put down a colorful turn of phrase at every twist of the pen. Tom Butler uses his own rollicking style to further enliven Lansdale's words, making LEATHER MAIDEN a thrilling East Texas delight. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]