The Line That Held Us

By: David Joy

Narrated by: Macleod Andrews

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

From critically acclaimed author David Joy comes a remarkable novel about the cover-up of an accidental death and the dark consequences that reverberate through the lives of four people who will never be the same again.

When Darl Moody went hunting after a monster buck he's chased for years, he never expected he'd accidentally shoot a man digging ginseng. Worse yet, he's killed a Brewer, a family notorious for vengeance and violence. With nowhere to turn, Darl calls on the help of the only man he knows will answer, his best friend, Calvin Hooper. But when Dwayne Brewer comes looking for his missing brother and stumbles onto a blood trail leading straight back to Darl and Calvin, a nightmare of revenge rips apart their world.

The Line That Held Us is a story of friendship and family, a tale balanced between destruction and redemption, where the only hope is to hold on tight, clenching to those you love. What will you do for the people who mean the most, and what will you grasp to when all that you have is gone? The only certainty in a place so shredded is that no one will get away unscathed.

©2018 David Joy (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Unflinching... Joy writes about rough-hewn men and women eking out a living in an economically depressed area, trying to avoid - but often affected by - violence and drugs that permeate the region. Their lives are tied to the land, its history, and their families who established lives there decades ago.” (Associated Press)

“A suspenseful page-turner, complete with one of the absolutely killer endings that have become one of Joy’s signatures.” (Los Angeles Times)

“Joy has proved adept with southern noir in his first two novels, and he nails it again here, in the actions of characters who act as they must, for the sake of family and friendship, given their nature. This is fiction as beautiful and compelling as it is searing.” (Booklist, starred review)

magnificent right from the start

man you really feel for these people. none more than than the principal bad guy. that was really something. ive just finished and i cant wait to dive into "where all light tends to go." same team: joy writing, macleod narrating. great great great combo. well done! thank you.

Very good writing but the narration?

Good writing although some plot points were a bit deus ex machina. Still, it was enjoyable with its menace and heart. At times I felt like I was being preached to but....that might have been due to the narrator.

The narration was overwrought. There was too much melodrama for my tastes. There are some things we should still expect from the story without the narrator telegraphing every emotion. For me it distracted from this otherwise very good book.

Grips you from the beginning.

a bit more intense than the previous David Joy novels I have e,joyed. Love the locale the narration and bits of a Scripture that seems to guide the almost unhinged protagonist. A must read for Appalachian noir fans

Possibly his best

I love all of David Joy's books, but this one might be my favorite. Definitely his most literary, and probably his darkest. I loved it!

just amazing.

I live in Jackson County. I have driven the roads that were talked about. I could see all that was in the story. just great can't wait for his next book

Fantastic

One of the best books I've read. I just completed all three of David Joy's books and I absolutely loved all three. Don't wait to try this author. His books are fantastic and the narrator is absolutely unbelievable.

Exciting!

The action starts early, as is typical in a novel by David Joy. It’s hard to know what to say without giving away key plot lines, so I’ll say that if you’re already a fan of Joy’s work, this novel will not disappoint. If you haven’t yet read him, start and don’t stop until you’ve read all three. I have the audiobooks, Kindles, and paperbacks or hardbacks of most of them they’re such my favorites.

The audiobook recording is super. The way the depth and tenor of the performer’s voice changes with character is great.

I won’t lie, they’re dark, and if you don’t like gritty novels, this won’t be to your tastes, But if that’s your cup of tea, dive right in: you’ll be a fan.

great writing/narration

Seems this would make a great movie...but I would probably hate it because it wouldn't match the vivid screenplay in my mind. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the narrator's performance that made the setting and the conversation feel so real to me.

I was leery of reading this book. The last book I read by this author was well written, but the story had one bad horrible thing after another happen til all the main characters were dead. That seems as unrealistic to me as always a happy ending...it's not character driven.

This author is so talented that despite the contrived ending of one of his books, I had to try another. This story felt more true to it's characters.

Not for those with sensitive stomachs as this guy can describe a decomposing human corpse in such detail I could almost smell it! Loved the strong woman character in this one. Great Southern Goth use of Scripture. Narrator perfect for story (though I'm not real familiar with accent/dialect of the geographical setting).

Over all a very good book.

What a dang story....worthy for the big screen

this was an amazing story that is worthy for the big screen. David Joy done so well writing this book and developing its characters

Incredible

Beautifully written, captivating story. The narration is the best I've heard. Can't recommend this one enough.