Black River is a debut novel by S. M. Hulse. The Montana landscape is a major player in this story of damage, redemption and forgiveness. Wes Carver returns to Black River with his wife's ashes and a letter from the parole board that a prisoner that held him hostage twenty years ago during a prison riot was being considered for release.
Wes grew up in Black River and was employed as a prison guard. He was a talented fiddler and a man of faith. His treatment during the prison riot changed all that. Throughout the story, Wes is dealing with his own demons. His wife's last wish was for him to reconcile with his stepson. There are hurt feelings all around and this task seems insurmountable to both Wes and his stepson.
I enjoyed the sparse writing style and the strong evocation of place. The characters seemed both unique to and apart from their environment. Read-alikes may include novels by Kent Haruf, Cormac McCarthy and Larry McMurtry.