Hunt Club, The - Softcover

"A gripping, wrenching, and devastating good book."-- Chris Bohjalian, author of "Midwives""Bret Lott has written a suspenseful mystery that is also, for its youngprotagonist, an intense emotional journey into adulthood with all its dangeroussecrets, its acts of grace and courage. As always, Lott writes with a fine feelfor the landscape of his fiction, and a gifted generous eye for the memorable people who live there."-- Michael Malone, author of "Handling Sin" and "Time's Witness""If you've ever found yourself chewing your fingernails while you're reading orskipping ahead almost unconsciously because you've got to know what happensnext, you'll love this book."-- "Men's Journal""Mystery fans who dote on stylish writing and strong characters will love "TheHunt Club."" -- Tony Hillerman "An emotionally charged thriller that places the reader in the labyrinth of thehuman heart, where such qualities as devotion, greed, love and dishonesty standout with near-terrifying clarity."-- "Chicago Tribune""Action, suspense, and a hint of Southern folklore."-- "Library Journal" "A wonderful read." -- Charleston Post & Courier"The writing is splendid."-- "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" "Reads quickly and compellingly. . . . Resembles a John Grisham tale . . . yetLott's writing is far superior to Grisham's. "The Hunt Club" unfolds like a movie, always in motion, always seeing its world with a camera eye." -- Hartford Courant "A gifted and expert storyteller."-- "Kirkus Reviews""One of the most important and imaginative writers in America today." -- "Los Angeles Times""Lott's characters are as vital as heartbeats, as is his sense of place...As a portrayal of a boy's acceptance through suffering of aworld riven by sin but grounded in love, the book is moving, memorable, even masterful." -- "Publishers Weekly"""The Hunt Club" combines the best of suspense and 'literary' writing...A tour de force that requires no label." -- "Virginian-Pilot"

In this lyrically written, hauntingly seductive novel, Bret Lott brings to life the beauty and flavor of the mist-covered swamps and backlands of South Carolina's Lowcountry in a story that is both mystery and rite of passage.

At fifteen, Huger ("you say it YOU-gee") Dillard already knows a great deal about the ways of the world--or so he thinks. He may not have a father, but with the guidance of his blind "Unc," Leland, and weekends spent at the Hunt Club--a tract of woods and swamp belonging to his family--Huger knows all about the land and the habits of its wildlife, from deer to the pompous Charleston doctors and lawyers who come to hunt them. But nothing can prepare him for the dark events that begin to unfold when he and Unc stumble upon the body of a well-to-do Charleston regular on their land.

Who wanted him dead? And why is the Hunt Club suddenly at the heart of a dark secret worth killing for? Caught in a treacherous labyrinth that stretches deep into the past, Huger and everyone he loves are about to discover painful truths that will irrevocably change them; truths that will shatter a young boy's innocence and test him as a man.