This story takes place in the Appalachian countryside in North Carolina, it details the picture of the struggle for life.

Luce lives by herself in an old lodge. She's totally self-reliant and has been living in the building which was a summer retreat by a man made lake. When the owner died, she took it upon herself to act as caretaker.

She inherits her murdered sister's two chilren, feeling that if she didn't care for them, they'd be split up and placed into adoption. This seems to be part of the Naturalistic literary style where the character's environment and heritage predetermine what will happen to them leaving the characters little that they can do to change their future.

Bud is the children's father. He's a cold blooded killer who reminded me of the excellent character, Anton Chigurth in "No Country for Old Men." As Bud's path converge with Luce and the childre, suspense mounts and the story becomes hard to put down.

Charles Frazier is a wonderful story teller and has given us a book with rich characters for whom the reader develops a great deal of empathy. "Nightwoods" reaffirms the author's place as one of the best literary writers working today.