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)  

Not sure ?

This a brilliantly written story. But the major themes of death, vengeance, and evil are very difficult to handle. I’m just not sure if it is worth it.

The Blurred Lines that Held Me

It’s been a few days now since I finished listening to David Joy’s The Line That Held Us; and I’m still not sure I can speak to it in a worthy fashion. Mr. Joy’s first two listens were stunning, so this one had an uphill battle, so to speak. And, you know what, that uphill battle was conquered with his amazing talent for ultra dark, vivid and ever-so-flawed characters; his deftly exquisite prose to define and craft them; and the just sheer design of the story itself. The darkest yet, to me anyway, of his books, The Line That Held Us appears to have allowed the continuing depth of Mr. Joy’s talent to filter through and emerge. Dwayne Brewer is a terrifying, brutal, emotionally riveting man who is both the gold standard of rage and love simultaneously. If nothing else, listen to the book to get a glimpse of him. But, his presence does little to distract from the story and the other characters (both primary and secondary), though he does seem to be such a pivotal person. At various points during this book, I began to question Mr. Joy’s mental status UNTIL I realized that I was right there with him, my own viscera on constant alert for the next jolt. Top all this with the superbly brilliant audio presentation by Mr. MacLeod Andrews and you have a substantially challenging book. I did have some reservations regarding the somewhat lengthy ending chapters but I’ll go back and re-listen to make sure I didn’t miss anything in my stunned-into-silence last two chapters. The Line That Held Us offers lines that are drawn and lines that are blurred...and it’s those blurred lines that held me.

Meh

This is a novel trying to do two different things: capture the spirit of Appalachia and tell a ghoulish murder story. I think the book makes a good attempt at the first, especially in the opening scenes, but goes way over the top in the telling of the ghoulish murder story. Whereas the novel tries to ground itself in the gritty reality of the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina, complete with a scene in a Walmart where a character wanders around the aisles drinking beer, the plot lacks believability. I was actually very excited to read this book, but ultimately disappointed in the storytelling. The story really drags in the middle and towards the end.

Captivating

Extremely well written, the narrator was brilliant. The story line was riveting. I couldn’t stop listening.

Destruction and Redemption

There is savagery, violence, vengeance, and just a hint of madness in this taut, compact thriller from David Joy. In the deep woods of North Carolina, a man goes hunting for a trophy buck, and accidentally shoots another man instead. When the victim’s Bible-quoting brother seeks revenge, things get ugly fast, and then weird. Macleod Andrews delivers a profoundly authentic narration.

Hillbilly poetry

Eloquent telling of a raw "Winters Bone" style tale set in the Appalachian Mountains. The story soars off of the page with MacLeod Andrew's performance. Listen and then listen again and again.

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.

This book is another masterpiece by David Joy

Growing up in the foothills of Appalachia find such sweet solace in true southern Gothic literature. David Joy, Donald Ray Polick, Larry Brown, and many many more. But David joy may be one ofmy favorite. This is now the third book I’ve read of his and ever one of them has been perfect. I can’t wait to read more from this author

DAVID JOY = UNDISPUTED MASTER!!

David Joy's work provides introduction into a world few of us truly understand. He can make you fear and empathize with the same character, often at the same time. I've not read any author who can reflect the shades of gray in humanity with more skill, and to clarify, I read the entire Game of Thrones series. Without providing a plot summary or any details, I'll just say that this book made me feel beautifully exhausted at its end. Although Joy constructs an elaborate mental imagery and provides necessary back story, the pacing of his novels never suffer. There is nothing extemporaneous here. Every word serves a purpose. He forces characters well past their emotional and physical limits and drags the reader along without pity. I respect the courage it must take to write without reservations for a reader's emotional fragility. After reading his first novel, I bought my parents a copy and texted the people in my life who love to read. Thank you, David Joy. Please never stop writing. Ever.

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