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A Murder Country
The nineteenth century looms just a few years away, bringing with it the belief in progress and a new world. But for Josiah Fuller, William Corvin, and the Rider in the Appalachian backwoods and small towns of the late nineteenth century, there is nothing but a world where bloodshed is paid for in blood, and violence is the ultimate law of the land.
When seventeen-year-old Josiah Fuller comes home to find his parents hanged and mutilated and the family house burned to the ground, he sets off to find the man responsible for their murders and avenge their deaths. His journey takes him through new towns and wildernesses he has not seen before. He meets people who show him the realities of living in a violent world, forcing Josiah to decide what is most important to him: vengeance or grace.
Years after running away from home as a young boy, William Corvin returns with his new bride to take over the family's coal mining operation. Though he is haunted by the violence of his past, he sets out to live a peaceful life and start a family there. However, Corvin's hopes of peace are challenged when a horrible act of violence causes him to revert back to the man he once was.
After being visited by an angel in a dream years earlier, the Rider has become a man with violence in his blood, believing himself to be appointed by God to collect the souls of sinners. He travels around on his horse, killing whoever he feels is deserving of God's wrath and vengeance. These three men move along their own individual paths, their stories intersecting with one another, continually searching for an understanding of the violent world in which they live and their own actions within that world.
The novel examines the power and fragility of belief and conviction within humans, showing how one small act often leads to consequences that reach far beyond anyone's imagining.
When seventeen-year-old Josiah Fuller comes home to find his parents hanged and mutilated and the family house burned to the ground, he sets off to find the man responsible for their murders and avenge their deaths. His journey takes him through new towns and wildernesses he has not seen before. He meets people who show him the realities of living in a violent world, forcing Josiah to decide what is most important to him: vengeance or grace.
Years after running away from home as a young boy, William Corvin returns with his new bride to take over the family's coal mining operation. Though he is haunted by the violence of his past, he sets out to live a peaceful life and start a family there. However, Corvin's hopes of peace are challenged when a horrible act of violence causes him to revert back to the man he once was.
After being visited by an angel in a dream years earlier, the Rider has become a man with violence in his blood, believing himself to be appointed by God to collect the souls of sinners. He travels around on his horse, killing whoever he feels is deserving of God's wrath and vengeance. These three men move along their own individual paths, their stories intersecting with one another, continually searching for an understanding of the violent world in which they live and their own actions within that world.
The novel examines the power and fragility of belief and conviction within humans, showing how one small act often leads to consequences that reach far beyond anyone's imagining.
210 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2014
About the author
Brandon Daily
6 books17 followersBrandon Daily is the author of three novels, 'A Murder Country,' 'The Valley,' and ‘Through the Dark,’ as well as a collection of fiction, 'Darkening.' His fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry have appeared in numerous journals and magazines. He is a graduate of Lindenwood University's MFA program. He lives in New England with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 17, 2015
The setting: late eighteenth century. The players: three men moving through a violent and unforgiving world, two looking for earthly revenge, one the self-appointed hand of God. The stakes: a quest to understand man’s place in the world and how the power of belief—and a single act or decision—can set the course of one’s life.
Young Josiah Fuller’s life is irrevocably altered when, upon returning home from a multi-day hunting trip, he finds his parents have been brutally murdered. Not content simply to kill, whoever was responsible tortured the Fullers before stringing them up from a tree and burning down the homestead.
Josiah makes a vow to avenge their murders, and sets out on a quest to track and find the person(s) responsible. Along the way, he is forced through his interactions with the people he encounters to deeply examine his life, and to ask the question whether trading his eternal soul for the satisfaction of earthly vengeance is something he’s truly prepared to do.
William Corvin was once a man of violence, but has reformed his life and now oversees his family’s coal mine. When a random encounter with two drifters visits violence upon Corvin’s pregnant wife, like young Josiah, Corvin is forced to confront the question of whether slipping back into his old skin is worth the loss of his peaceful, hard fought for new life.
A man known as The Rider is the thread that weaves the entire tapestry together. Long ago he had a vision, one in which he was tasked with the mission of exacting the Lord’s vengeance on those unfortunate enough to cross his path whom he believes to have sinned against God. The Rider is utterly without pity for those he judges and finds lacking, and before the story’s over each of the players involved will have to confront what he stands for and find out how they measure up.
In a time and place where people are forced to live hard, often violent lives, debut author Brandon Daily explores the concept of whether man is in an almost no-win situation, life’s circumstances damn-near necessitating for survival’s sake that he engage in acts at odds with living a godly life. Is man simply too fragile, his conviction and faith too weak, to overcome his earthly plight? On the other hand, Daily does not let God off the hook either, questioning what kind of god would saddle man with such brutal lives and faith-crushing burdens and still expect them to walk a righteous path.
Make no mistake about it, A Murder Country is not light reading. Writing with a self-confidence it usually takes authors getting several books under their belts to muster, Daily jumps into the deep end with gusto and spins an engrossing yarn that elevates what could otherwise have been a run-of-the-mill, historically set tale of vengeance to one rich with philosophical and spiritual implications. It’s a challenging read, but one you’ll relish both while in it and for some time after.
Young Josiah Fuller’s life is irrevocably altered when, upon returning home from a multi-day hunting trip, he finds his parents have been brutally murdered. Not content simply to kill, whoever was responsible tortured the Fullers before stringing them up from a tree and burning down the homestead.
Josiah makes a vow to avenge their murders, and sets out on a quest to track and find the person(s) responsible. Along the way, he is forced through his interactions with the people he encounters to deeply examine his life, and to ask the question whether trading his eternal soul for the satisfaction of earthly vengeance is something he’s truly prepared to do.
William Corvin was once a man of violence, but has reformed his life and now oversees his family’s coal mine. When a random encounter with two drifters visits violence upon Corvin’s pregnant wife, like young Josiah, Corvin is forced to confront the question of whether slipping back into his old skin is worth the loss of his peaceful, hard fought for new life.
A man known as The Rider is the thread that weaves the entire tapestry together. Long ago he had a vision, one in which he was tasked with the mission of exacting the Lord’s vengeance on those unfortunate enough to cross his path whom he believes to have sinned against God. The Rider is utterly without pity for those he judges and finds lacking, and before the story’s over each of the players involved will have to confront what he stands for and find out how they measure up.
In a time and place where people are forced to live hard, often violent lives, debut author Brandon Daily explores the concept of whether man is in an almost no-win situation, life’s circumstances damn-near necessitating for survival’s sake that he engage in acts at odds with living a godly life. Is man simply too fragile, his conviction and faith too weak, to overcome his earthly plight? On the other hand, Daily does not let God off the hook either, questioning what kind of god would saddle man with such brutal lives and faith-crushing burdens and still expect them to walk a righteous path.
Make no mistake about it, A Murder Country is not light reading. Writing with a self-confidence it usually takes authors getting several books under their belts to muster, Daily jumps into the deep end with gusto and spins an engrossing yarn that elevates what could otherwise have been a run-of-the-mill, historically set tale of vengeance to one rich with philosophical and spiritual implications. It’s a challenging read, but one you’ll relish both while in it and for some time after.
April 26, 2014
Set in late 19th century Appalachia, Brandon Daily’s A Murder Country follows four main paths as characters travel their separate roads. One young man plans revenge for his parents’ death. Another acts as God’s avenging angel. A third man seeks redemption after the misdeeds of his past. And still others seeks whatever they can acquire from the creation of chaos. These stories and separate quests blend and intersect, bound by the land that unites them, the bible that once defined them, and the laws of nature and creation.
The writing has an old-fashioned cadence, reminiscent of a morality tale, and redolent with symbolism and meaning. But the story's approach is thoroughly modern, without the dedication to faith of its forebears. In this darkly imagined world, God might see no difference between sinner and sin, an angel of redemption might look dangerously similar to death, and faith alone might not heal. Actions have consequences far beyond intention of course, and guilt is a moveable feast, transferred, transected and translated by the ordered chaos of life.
As the characters proceed along their intersecting paths, the land itself might have the final say—something solid that remains, unaffected by guilt or innocence, but wounded just the same. A Murder Country then seems almost the story of a country, still young, still making decisions that might change the world. It’s a slow read, heavy in places, weighty with pain, and densely packed with complex word choices and evocative calls for thought, but it's definitely intriguing.
Disclosure: I was offered a free advance ecopy of this novel with a request for my honest review.
The writing has an old-fashioned cadence, reminiscent of a morality tale, and redolent with symbolism and meaning. But the story's approach is thoroughly modern, without the dedication to faith of its forebears. In this darkly imagined world, God might see no difference between sinner and sin, an angel of redemption might look dangerously similar to death, and faith alone might not heal. Actions have consequences far beyond intention of course, and guilt is a moveable feast, transferred, transected and translated by the ordered chaos of life.
As the characters proceed along their intersecting paths, the land itself might have the final say—something solid that remains, unaffected by guilt or innocence, but wounded just the same. A Murder Country then seems almost the story of a country, still young, still making decisions that might change the world. It’s a slow read, heavy in places, weighty with pain, and densely packed with complex word choices and evocative calls for thought, but it's definitely intriguing.
Disclosure: I was offered a free advance ecopy of this novel with a request for my honest review.
November 4, 2018
Freud called procreation the great motivator of human activity. He was wrong. Fear of mortality drives everything (including procreational activities). The most heinous manifestation of this fear is our ability to take the lives of others. Brandon Daily's book, in my opinion, serves as a document recording the continuously bloody history of our nation (something that, to this day, has yet to be resolved). The characters in A Murder Country are driven to revenge without much consideration of the consequences (from the characters, not the author). And when those who have traveled similar, bloody paths attempt to enlighten those on their way to the same fate, the words hold no weight on the conscience of the furious. Daily does exceptionally well with dialogue, painting vivid scenes where communication, the one thing that could save all our souls, is articulate and beautiful but, ultimately, has little impact on the decisions the characters make. Daily's prose borders on Biblical, allowing a spiritual consideration of the land and the events taking place on the land, though it never gets in the way of the reader's interest in the story itself. He has been compared to Cormac McCarthy. I am not a huge fan of McCarthy's work (perhaps it is something one has to grow into, similar to Melville) but I found nothing in Daily's novel too opaque to work my way through (as is sometimes the case with McCarthy and the thousands of writers who so desperately imitate him).
May 16, 2020
Nothing is sugar coated. Daily’s writing includes a brutal evil that is unfortunately very real and prevalent in human nature. A Murder Country exposes how the human heart lusts for revenge. The book forces you to question morality and the evil inside of you, and the overpowering desire for revenge that you will inevitably face. I highly recommend the book! Be prepared to think and reflect… a lot ;)
The way in which evil moves in each character’s heart made me quite emotional, actually. The words are heavy and amplify the intensity of the book. It is shocking and quite grotesque. But that’s the point. Daily’s use of figurative language and descriptive imagery reveal how evil humans can really be, especially when we allow this evil to manifest in our hearts, minds, and souls. Each one of us is capable of any of these cruel acts. That is why I was constantly wondering about The Rider. The thing is, everyone has done something immoral at one point or another, and should all technically be punished by The Rider. That is why I was skeptical of him at first… yet it is clear that he puts morality into question. He commits cruel acts of torture and brutality as well…but is it automatically okay because those people did the same thing to others? Is he in fact doing the right thing? Or, would killing The Rider be the act of grace, as this would be preventing even more deaths in the future? It seems as if A Murder Country shows a life without any grace. No second chances, no forgiveness.
On Josiah Fuller’s journey to avenge his family’s cruel deaths, he is caught up in multiple conversations that force him to think about his actions. He is the perfect example of that choice: either giving into that temptation to seek revenge, ignoring warnings along the way, or making the conscious effort to keep peace and choose grace. I feel like there is a Josiah in all of us…but we can actually learn from him and have the chance to choose peace over violence.
When an act of evil is committed against you, you become so focuses on how the person who wronged you will regret what they did. You want them to suffer. What you fail to realize is, if you follow through and act upon your anger, YOU will regret what YOU did. Not only will you have to deal with the pain that was inflicted upon you, but also the guilt of your own actions that followed. Next time you are quick to seek revenge, instead of becoming engrossed in how you will get payback, start thinking about how you can choose to AVOID even MORE pain and suffering. This is when you are presented with the same choice... one that may even go against the desires of your human nature: choosing grace or choosing revenge.
“If you write yer life around exactin some kind of revenge, it will destroy you, spiral out of yer power til yeh cain’t control it, and it’ll devolve into some monster beast that yeh cain’t cage."
The way in which evil moves in each character’s heart made me quite emotional, actually. The words are heavy and amplify the intensity of the book. It is shocking and quite grotesque. But that’s the point. Daily’s use of figurative language and descriptive imagery reveal how evil humans can really be, especially when we allow this evil to manifest in our hearts, minds, and souls. Each one of us is capable of any of these cruel acts. That is why I was constantly wondering about The Rider. The thing is, everyone has done something immoral at one point or another, and should all technically be punished by The Rider. That is why I was skeptical of him at first… yet it is clear that he puts morality into question. He commits cruel acts of torture and brutality as well…but is it automatically okay because those people did the same thing to others? Is he in fact doing the right thing? Or, would killing The Rider be the act of grace, as this would be preventing even more deaths in the future? It seems as if A Murder Country shows a life without any grace. No second chances, no forgiveness.
On Josiah Fuller’s journey to avenge his family’s cruel deaths, he is caught up in multiple conversations that force him to think about his actions. He is the perfect example of that choice: either giving into that temptation to seek revenge, ignoring warnings along the way, or making the conscious effort to keep peace and choose grace. I feel like there is a Josiah in all of us…but we can actually learn from him and have the chance to choose peace over violence.
When an act of evil is committed against you, you become so focuses on how the person who wronged you will regret what they did. You want them to suffer. What you fail to realize is, if you follow through and act upon your anger, YOU will regret what YOU did. Not only will you have to deal with the pain that was inflicted upon you, but also the guilt of your own actions that followed. Next time you are quick to seek revenge, instead of becoming engrossed in how you will get payback, start thinking about how you can choose to AVOID even MORE pain and suffering. This is when you are presented with the same choice... one that may even go against the desires of your human nature: choosing grace or choosing revenge.
“If you write yer life around exactin some kind of revenge, it will destroy you, spiral out of yer power til yeh cain’t control it, and it’ll devolve into some monster beast that yeh cain’t cage."
May 23, 2020
I would rather say this is my favorite book not because the author is my teacher, but this is a really good book! Three different characters have different understanding of violence. Unfortunately, they are all having some bloody history: Josiah’s parents getting killed, and this leads him to a new world which filled by blood and hurts. William is a boy who have a better life than the earlier character. He has his own business, also he has wife, which means he have someone need to protect, and that is the reason why he wanna a peaceful life: he needs to be responsible for his family. Rider is a sinful man, he believes that he is the chosen one so he can take other people’s life away without any doubts. He brings death and violence. Three different characters leads to a incredible world, I would like to say that this book is so amazing and you wouldn’t like to miss it. Thank you Mr. Daily and Thank you for your teaching! I will miss you if I don’t have your class next semester. I just want to say I love your love and patient to every of us. Enjoy your summer break and have a good day!
December 15, 2017
A Murder Country by Brandon Daily was an extremely dark and grotesque book that required complete focus; it is definitely a book for a mature audience, and individuals with a strong vocabulary. This book contained sophisticated vocabulary, along with very descriptive words that painted a picture in my mind as I read. I noticed that Mr. Daily describes nature beautifully and humans as these awful creatures. I think that this goes to show that humans are what is wrong with the earth because all we do is destroy each other, ourselves, and the world we live in. This book forces the reader to look within themselves and analyze how we are like Josiah, who is looking for justice, but does he actually receive it? We get into this idea of revenge, and if revenge or the quest for revenge ever make us “feel better.”
December 14, 2020
This Book was honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read and I would really recommend reading it. It was very detailed and well written. The descriptions given begin to take shape and form in your mind, and you see the setting throughout the story. Three characters give different views on violence and it makes you look at it from every angle. It shows what humans are capable of and it makes you think about yourself, and question your morality. It’s a book that allows you to think and reflect on your life and your different points of views. It was a great page turner that was hard to put down.
April 27, 2020
This is the third book that I have read of Brandon Daily’s. Although the book had great detail and wonderful character growth I found that I was not fully enthralled with it. That being said I also did read it in a week so still a page turner I just prefer his other books more. What this book does leave you with is some things to think about. It makes you think inwardly about your motives and true beliefs on subjects such as murder and religion. Definitely a great book but not something that you necessarily walk away from feeling “happy”.
May 24, 2020
In this novel, Brandon Daily examines life, death, murder, faith, and the range of human emotions. The story follows three men that are all plagued by their own past, and their journeys to reconcile their hurt and anger. Daily really captures the dark side of faith, and how it can be used to justify evil. This book is very dark, it is not a light read. It is meant to bring forth the things that are often separated from our normal interactions—the truth about the human desire for revenge and atonement.
March 12, 2019
Brandon Daily has a way of not only reaching the hearts of the audience but captivating the the minds of his readers. A story of vengeance, blood, and a path of redemption. A murder country has three quest intertwined by the genius of Brandon Daily all set on a path to which their paths meet time again. If you are looking for a book you cannot wait to read every time you lay in bed. This is the book for you.
May 7, 2019
Well, I don’t know what to say regarding this book other than this book is both beautiful and horrifying at the same time. Beautifully horrifying. The descriptions were so detailed I felt like I could see everything as if it was a movie. If you like gore and killing and murder, you will definitely like this book.
@daily I personally like the Valley a little better, it was more interesting to me and more my style, but this one was good too...
@daily I personally like the Valley a little better, it was more interesting to me and more my style, but this one was good too...
May 23, 2020
I was honestly surprised by all the detail. I felt like I could picture it all clearly in my head. It was also very interesting too read a book that had so many perspectives. The serious and ominous topic the entire time was also very refreshing to read. I don’t read very many books that have a “dark” topic, so it was nice to read a book like this; I’m glad one of the few “dark” topic books I read was actually able to captivate me so well, all the detail. Loved it.
December 15, 2017
If you want a book that swallows you up, read this book! This book is full of detail and the gore makes it even more intense. Not only is this an interesting read, the book offers up a lot to think about. Themes like life/death, and a person's destiny, offer the reader a great story with actual meaning behind it.
April 19, 2020
The book a murder country was the last book for me to read from author Brandon Daily, all the book from him has same kind of theme about dark and dark but with hope and other dreams to maintain the character like every other people me and you. From the inner of “us”, showing every one is hard to live on this world but still have a few time to enjoy our life.
December 1, 2020
I loved the descriptive wording used in this book, you are able to read into the characters thoughts and the descriptive scenery. This book leaves you on edge flipping through every page, you may think it’s confusing at first but holds a lot in it. I would definitely recommend this book if your into murder/crime.
December 28, 2025
The lore at the end of the chapters was my favorite part of the book. The characters were well written, if they each had their own separate book, I would definitely read it. Some of the dialogue was questionable, but overall I thought it was a very good book.
April 19, 2020
This is a very good book, the point is that its expression of blood and killing I like it very much, recommend it.
December 11, 2020
A great book very detailed. Makes you feel like you witnessed all of these with your own eyes. Kinda sad about the dogs tho. Also just a warning there is a slight NSFW scene
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May 15, 2021Never read the book
January 3, 2023
Not the typical book I read but was well written
October 8, 2014
As the late eighteenth century slowly draws to a close, and ushers in the start of the nineteenth century brimming with a belief in progress and hopeful of the possibility of a bright brand new world, many small towns in the Appalachian backwoods still dwell in a violent and harsh reality. For three men touched by such violence - Josiah Fuller, William Corvin and a person known only as 'The Rider' - there is nothing else in the world beyond bloodshed and brutality, where exacting punishment for innocent blood spilled and violence is the ultimate law of the land.
When seventeen-year-old Josiah Fuller returns home to find his parents hanged and mutilated and the family house burned to the ground, he sets off to find the man responsible for their murders and is determined to avenge their deaths. His journey takes him through new towns and stretches of wilderness he has never seen before. He meets people who show him the realities of living in a violent world, forcing Josiah to decide what is most important to him: vengeance or grace.
Years after running away as a young boy, William Corvin returns home with his new bride to take up the reigns of the family's coal mining operation. Though he is haunted by violent memories of his past, he sets out to live a peaceful life and hopes to raise his family there someday. However, William's dreams of peace are shattered, and his hopes of living a life of happiness and contentment are threatened when a shocking act of violence causes him to revert back to the man he once was.
After being visited by an angel in a dream many years earlier, the Rider has become a man with violence in his blood; a man to be truly feared by those who cross his path. The Rider believes himself to be appointed by God to collect the souls of sinners - an instrument of God's divine justice. He travels around on his horse, killing whoever he feels is deserving of God's wrath and vengeance.
These three men travel alone along their own individual paths, their stories intersecting with one another, each man continually searching for an understanding of the violent world in which they live and their own actions within that world. This novel examines the power and fragility of belief and conviction within humanity; showing how one small, seemingly insignificant act often leads to consequences that reach far beyond anyone's imagining.
I must say that while I certainly enjoyed this book very much; it is definitely not a story for the faint of heart. I found it to be a very well-written and descriptive story; with a violence and a grittiness that was evocative of the 'western genre' - in my opinion at least. I give A Murder Country: A Novel by Brandon Daily an A! It was an intriguing debut novel, and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for more from this author in the future.
When seventeen-year-old Josiah Fuller returns home to find his parents hanged and mutilated and the family house burned to the ground, he sets off to find the man responsible for their murders and is determined to avenge their deaths. His journey takes him through new towns and stretches of wilderness he has never seen before. He meets people who show him the realities of living in a violent world, forcing Josiah to decide what is most important to him: vengeance or grace.
Years after running away as a young boy, William Corvin returns home with his new bride to take up the reigns of the family's coal mining operation. Though he is haunted by violent memories of his past, he sets out to live a peaceful life and hopes to raise his family there someday. However, William's dreams of peace are shattered, and his hopes of living a life of happiness and contentment are threatened when a shocking act of violence causes him to revert back to the man he once was.
After being visited by an angel in a dream many years earlier, the Rider has become a man with violence in his blood; a man to be truly feared by those who cross his path. The Rider believes himself to be appointed by God to collect the souls of sinners - an instrument of God's divine justice. He travels around on his horse, killing whoever he feels is deserving of God's wrath and vengeance.
These three men travel alone along their own individual paths, their stories intersecting with one another, each man continually searching for an understanding of the violent world in which they live and their own actions within that world. This novel examines the power and fragility of belief and conviction within humanity; showing how one small, seemingly insignificant act often leads to consequences that reach far beyond anyone's imagining.
I must say that while I certainly enjoyed this book very much; it is definitely not a story for the faint of heart. I found it to be a very well-written and descriptive story; with a violence and a grittiness that was evocative of the 'western genre' - in my opinion at least. I give A Murder Country: A Novel by Brandon Daily an A! It was an intriguing debut novel, and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for more from this author in the future.
September 16, 2014
First the Rider, a nameless creature who believes his purpose in life is to punish the sinners. Dressed in black, the Rider roams the wilderness in search of those who have strayed from righteousness.
Second Josiah. Coming home one fine day to find his parents hung and his house burned, Josiah set out to find the culprit. The people that cross his path will teach him a lot about life, from the old lonely man to the blind man and a few others. Their personal tales are a valuable addition to the story as a whole.
Third, William Corvin who returns to his childhood home by the coal mines and hopes to start anew with his lovely bride. Will he be able to keep the demons of his past at bay?
Following these characters one enters a world in which guns and bullets are the only acceptable currency. The Rider, Josiah and Corvin are on a journey of self-discovery. The question is: when the time comes, what choice will they make?
Set in the late 19th century, A Murder Country is all about keeping your senses at the edge of their seat. This is a delightful little tale that perfectly captures the era. I admit to have since finishing the novel looked over my shoulder a few times, anticipating finding the Rider standing behind me. Creepy!!
Fans of Roland Deschain, this book is bound to please you!
Second Josiah. Coming home one fine day to find his parents hung and his house burned, Josiah set out to find the culprit. The people that cross his path will teach him a lot about life, from the old lonely man to the blind man and a few others. Their personal tales are a valuable addition to the story as a whole.
Third, William Corvin who returns to his childhood home by the coal mines and hopes to start anew with his lovely bride. Will he be able to keep the demons of his past at bay?
Following these characters one enters a world in which guns and bullets are the only acceptable currency. The Rider, Josiah and Corvin are on a journey of self-discovery. The question is: when the time comes, what choice will they make?
Set in the late 19th century, A Murder Country is all about keeping your senses at the edge of their seat. This is a delightful little tale that perfectly captures the era. I admit to have since finishing the novel looked over my shoulder a few times, anticipating finding the Rider standing behind me. Creepy!!
Fans of Roland Deschain, this book is bound to please you!
August 22, 2016
Brandon Daily displays an impressive mastery over figurative language, beautifully painting pictures with finesse I wish I could possess. While I read, there were gaps in time that passed unnoticed due to the author’s ability to create a mental change in environment for his readers. However, several times these lengthy descriptions detract from the narrative, making it difficult to focus on the plot. Every other time they enhance the story, making it more compelling.
Throughout the book, the mood shifts from a light, peaceful feeling to a dark, Poe-esque atmosphere in an undulating pattern that makes the book hard to put down. The dynamic nature of the novel’s atmosphere is very appealing to me.
Daily creates a dark world in which he puts man’s heart on display through well-developed characters. Each character is a different angle from which the reader can observe the nature of man. In contrast to other novels in the vengeance and crime genre, Daily directly reveals to his audience the conflicts and pain inside of each main character to provide context for their actions. Daily turned what could be a cliché, typical novel of its genre into a thoughtful work of art that scrutinizes the convictions of man’s heart. Between the aesthetic, contemplative prose, Daily weaves a tale with deep meaning that is hard to resist.
Throughout the book, the mood shifts from a light, peaceful feeling to a dark, Poe-esque atmosphere in an undulating pattern that makes the book hard to put down. The dynamic nature of the novel’s atmosphere is very appealing to me.
Daily creates a dark world in which he puts man’s heart on display through well-developed characters. Each character is a different angle from which the reader can observe the nature of man. In contrast to other novels in the vengeance and crime genre, Daily directly reveals to his audience the conflicts and pain inside of each main character to provide context for their actions. Daily turned what could be a cliché, typical novel of its genre into a thoughtful work of art that scrutinizes the convictions of man’s heart. Between the aesthetic, contemplative prose, Daily weaves a tale with deep meaning that is hard to resist.
December 9, 2014
How does one simple act affect those around you? It can have wonderful or devasting affects. That is what A Murder Country does. It takes place a in the latter part of the 1800's. The main characters Josiah Fuller is on a mission to find the person/s that killed his parents. A horrific act of violence has ruined the peaceful existence that William Corvin has worked so hard to maintain and lastly there is the Rider, a man who believes himself God and believes it is his duty to kill those he feels deserves it and collect their souls.
This is a novel that is very dark and brooding a western only in the sense of the time it takes place in, each man's paths crossing in different ways that leads each one of them to face consequences for their actions and change what they believe in. This is not a happily ever after story by any means but it does make the reader think a little. Will they get their revenge? This is a historical thriller that will have the reader eagerly turning the pages. A well written first novel for this author. I especially like the cover as I am a person who definitely judges a book by it's cover. It captures the bleakness and austerity of the time. Go give this book a try!
I received a copy for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
This is a novel that is very dark and brooding a western only in the sense of the time it takes place in, each man's paths crossing in different ways that leads each one of them to face consequences for their actions and change what they believe in. This is not a happily ever after story by any means but it does make the reader think a little. Will they get their revenge? This is a historical thriller that will have the reader eagerly turning the pages. A well written first novel for this author. I especially like the cover as I am a person who definitely judges a book by it's cover. It captures the bleakness and austerity of the time. Go give this book a try!
I received a copy for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
December 17, 2014
If you like intense suspense, drama, crime and the fight within, then this book is for you! As the synopsis states, it is about the lives of three men who follow their own paths, but are also connected together. There is an eerie, Edgar Allen Poe type sensation throughout the book & I can see it fitting right in with those stories. Because the book is set in the 1800s, it also takes me back and makes me think of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. Many times these days we see modern crime dramas on TV and read about more modern violence, but we rarely think of those old days and how life and crime was back then. Although this book was a bit too much on the violent/creepy side for me, it was nice to read something different than the typical modern CSI type story. It was interesting that the author brought in the concept of the the struggle the characters have within themselves because that is also a rarity in this type of crime story. It was intriguing to read about the different stories and see how they connected and related to each other at the same time.
Note: I was given a digital copy of the book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Note: I was given a digital copy of the book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2015
What a fantastic and powerful read!!
I met this author last weekend at a book signing with his family and thought that the book sounded intriguing.... it was very well reviewed (for those reviews that you can find). I was at the start of a much longer book and thought this book would be a quick read at only 200 pages.
NOPE - I was wrong. There are so many beautiful words in this book you do not want to pass any of them by, you want to read and properly absorb each one. Forgive me for saying, but the story itself is much more of a man's story... that being said - I wanted to see where the Rider and Josiah and Corvin would travel and what would bring them together.
This is not a quick read, but it is a powerful, intense, beautifully written and thought provoking read. Each page so intense it carries you to the next, and so vivid. Though I have never read Cormac McCarthy that Daily is compared to - I was reminded of his style as I understand it and the movie No Country for Old Men - but MORE relevant I think would be a comparison to Steinbeck whose "short" stories were deep and powerful, beautiful and thought provoking... highly recommend this book!!
I met this author last weekend at a book signing with his family and thought that the book sounded intriguing.... it was very well reviewed (for those reviews that you can find). I was at the start of a much longer book and thought this book would be a quick read at only 200 pages.
NOPE - I was wrong. There are so many beautiful words in this book you do not want to pass any of them by, you want to read and properly absorb each one. Forgive me for saying, but the story itself is much more of a man's story... that being said - I wanted to see where the Rider and Josiah and Corvin would travel and what would bring them together.
This is not a quick read, but it is a powerful, intense, beautifully written and thought provoking read. Each page so intense it carries you to the next, and so vivid. Though I have never read Cormac McCarthy that Daily is compared to - I was reminded of his style as I understand it and the movie No Country for Old Men - but MORE relevant I think would be a comparison to Steinbeck whose "short" stories were deep and powerful, beautiful and thought provoking... highly recommend this book!!
September 5, 2014
This was not an easy book to read. It is not long but it is very powerful. The writing is both spare and lyrical which is surprising but it worked in this tale of violence and vengeance.
It's hard to share the story without spoiling the plot and the synopsis provides what you need to know. Once I started it I was drawn into the worlds of the characters - young Josiah, the Rider and William Corvin. The Rider being the most compelling and the most dark. As with most villains, all is not as it seems but he is one sick dude. Man is a creature of mistakes and forgiveness is necessary but some feel that simple forgiveness is not sufficient and more need be done. The Rider feels he is the Right Hand of God on Earth dispensing justice as he sees fit.
The story moves between the characters and this was a bit jarring but it did all make sense in the end. In a way I almost wished it were a longer tale because I think these three men had more of a story to tell. This was a very compelling, well written if dark novel and I will look forward to more from Mr. Daily.
4.5
It's hard to share the story without spoiling the plot and the synopsis provides what you need to know. Once I started it I was drawn into the worlds of the characters - young Josiah, the Rider and William Corvin. The Rider being the most compelling and the most dark. As with most villains, all is not as it seems but he is one sick dude. Man is a creature of mistakes and forgiveness is necessary but some feel that simple forgiveness is not sufficient and more need be done. The Rider feels he is the Right Hand of God on Earth dispensing justice as he sees fit.
The story moves between the characters and this was a bit jarring but it did all make sense in the end. In a way I almost wished it were a longer tale because I think these three men had more of a story to tell. This was a very compelling, well written if dark novel and I will look forward to more from Mr. Daily.
4.5
September 16, 2014
Debut author Brandon Daily's A Murder Country while not a "western" in setting does share some aspects of stories from that genre. Daily, however, rather than stay on the well-worn pathways of the western genre, particularly the revenge plot so common to westerns, takes A Murder Country off in a different direction entirely; it is closer to the territory of Cormac McCarthy's genre-twisting Blood Meridian than more traditional works such as Jack Schaefer's Shane. With its dark and somber styling it also differs from the typical post-American Civil War set novel and brought to this reader's mind more literary writings by authors like Upton Sinclair. Provided the reader does not go in expecting a "he murdered my maw and paw"-type story, there is a rich read to be had with A Murder Country.
Note: This reader was given an advanced copy so as to provide this review.
Note: This reader was given an advanced copy so as to provide this review.
May 17, 2018
Absolutely love this book. The author does a great job of describing each of the characters’ actions and thoughts throughout the book. He also does a great job with imagery and describing the setting. The book is told from different characters’ viewpoints, which makes the book interesting and wanting to know more in every chapter. Daily uses each of the characters to show how we as humans struggle in the world and how the world has become more and more corrupt due to our human nature. He focuses on many themes throughout but I think the main one is revenge. Josiah seeks revenge after The Rider who killed his parents. Many of the other characters also seek to be satisfied and or fix something in their lives. Overall, it is a great book and makes you focus in on the themes the author is trying to portray through the different characters.
August 12, 2015
This was a fantastic read!! I am an avid reader and I have never read anything quite like this. The author, Brandon Daily has an extraordinary way with words that shows his mastery with the english language while making his words flow with grace. Some might call this book dark and although it is dark in some ways, I found it more like an interpretation of life with a sad but realistic feel to it.
Sometimes, we don't want to look in the mirror and see that dark side of us that we all have. Daily makes sure you have nowhere else to look and in so doing presents you with a story that intertwines the life of these men to show life in it's most rawest form.
I dare you to read this book and see his unique view on man.
Sometimes, we don't want to look in the mirror and see that dark side of us that we all have. Daily makes sure you have nowhere else to look and in so doing presents you with a story that intertwines the life of these men to show life in it's most rawest form.
I dare you to read this book and see his unique view on man.
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