Continental Drift

by James D. Houston

The San Andreas Fault is both a real and a metaphorical player in this novel of northern California in the early 70s. Set on a ranch near Monterey Bay, it explores relationships in a family jarred by the return of a son from Vietnam, almost whole but shaken and confused. His return coincides with a series of bizarre killings that panic the community—a reminder that in the legendary land of promise abundant possibilities and agents of destruction live side by side.

337 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

James Houston is the author of 8 novels and several nonfiction books. His work includes Snow Mountain Passage and Farewell to Manzanar.

Reviews

[Stephen Becker-Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Houston is under-rated as an American novelist! He has written a string of very engaging books, with intriguing imagery, and characters who draw you in - you will want to learn more about them. Continental Drift focuses on a family living near the central California coast, and their relationships, and struggles to remain connected to each other, and the community. This connection is threatened by the chaos caused by a string of brutal murders in the area. This is definitely a good summer read!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading a novel that takes place in a place I know well--Santa Cruz, California and environs. It's also a portrait of a time, the early 1970s, with a dark vision of violence wrought by humans (the Vietnam War and a serial murderer on the loose) and nature (earthquakes, of course, since this is California). I was very interested in the insights of the main character, Montrose. The women characters were less well-fleshed out. There were times I didn't want to put it down.