The Palms: A novel

by Clay Anderson

68 year-old Ronnie Wells has recently been paroled for a murder he committed 36 years ago. He lives in a run-down trailer park outside Pensacola, Florida. Daily life for Ronnie changes when he befriends Mary, the 7 year-old girl who lives next door with her mother, Clara, a drug-addicted prostitute. In Mary, Ronnie finds the daughter he never got to raise. Clara is reluctant to the friendship at first but soon realizes Ronnie is the only man she’s ever known who didn’t want to use her. To escape Joe, Clara’s violent pimp, Clara and Mary move in with Ronnie. With Ronnie’s help, Clara gets clean, but her past still haunts her. Her relapse kicks off the series of events that lead Joe to kidnap Mary, putting her in the hands of human traffickers. Ronnie must decide if he will return to his old, violent ways to save Mary.

298 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2019

About the author

Clay Anderson is an author and bookstore owner. He holds an MA in History and an MFA in Creative Writing. He is the author of the novel The Palms, which was nominated for Georgia Author of the Year in 2020. The Palms won the Reader's Favorite Award for Southern Fiction in 2023 and the BookFest Award for Domestic Thriller in 2023. His second novel, Though I Walk, was published in 2022.

Reviews

[Jon Utterback · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very good book addressing some real problems in today's world. One really could empathize with the main character Ronnie as he dealt with an escalating series of issues.

[Pat Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written. By page 55 I had fallen in love with the 3 main characters.

[Arthur]

Clay Anderson's The Palms is a story of redemption for a Vietnam vet who spent thirty years of his life in prison for a senseless murder. Vietnam taught Ronnie Wells how to kill efficiently; prison taught him to deliberate before acting. A reformed Ronnie replaces his estranged wife and daughter with Clara--a young woman struggling to break free of meth addiction and prostitution--and Mary--Clara's innocent young daughter. When Clara relapses into addiction and Mary is kidnapped by sex traffickers, Ronnie becomes the Rambo of the Florida Panhandle and retrieves Mary from certain hell at great cost to himself. The plot is built on a sturdy foundation of character and becomes gripping as the violent, heroic tale comes to its tragic ending. Despite the body count, the reader is left with hope for people enslaved by addiction and sexual exploitation. This book ought to be made into an action/adventure movie. It's too bad that Clint Eastwood is too old to play Ronnie.

[Wyly OBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world of the Palms is “deeply set in the world of gray.” This story had me captivated from the start. The mix of tenderness and brutality creates a friction that kept me turning pages with fervor. While I have no personal experience with drugs or prostitution, the humanity, the desperation, the patience, the hopelessness are all relatable. Anderson’s descriptive powers allow him to paint tangible pictures and conjure fully-rounded characters. Highly recommend!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Palms is one of those rare novels that comes along, grabs you by the hand (and heart), and doesn’t let go. It’s a book that will make you think about the characters long after the last page.
It’s a beautiful, amazing story of redemption and finding family, love and acceptance in others that you may not have expected to find.
It caught my attention from the very first page and didn’t let go. The author writes in such a brilliant way that you feel every emotion the characters do. And I won’t lie, I ugly cried at some points.
The writing is just so beautiful at some points that I found myself writing down some of the quotes.
This is a book that will forever stay among the top of my favorite book list and I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Juliet Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the style of writing and flow of the story. While I wished for a different ending, I like that it left me feeling conflicted. The characters were well developed and relatable. One scene left me angry and uncomfortable as it was intended to do and part of me hopes for a sequel to give Mary more of a long term voice.

[Clay Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read it.

[AJ Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The mark of a good book, to me, is when you can feel the emotions of the characters. Their happiness, sadness, pain, joy. And that is exactly how I felt reading The Palms. From the very first page i was captivated by these characters. I honestly did not want the story to end and had a hard time picking up another book for a little while. Their stories will stay with you long after the last page.
This book is absolutely in my top three favorite books of all time.

[Bill King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, I have read some outstanding books, but this is by far one the best! I was captivated by this book! I have a list of quotes and notes several pages long that I pulled while reading. Since I reached the shocking ending (seriously! What an ending!!!), I have been going back to those quotes and notes and finding even more clues and meaning in them.

[Ellen Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. An unusual writing style which fits perfectly with the trailer park setting of the storyline. The author highlights problems brought about by drinking and drug addiction. Ronnie, Clara, and Mary’s paths cross and the storyline focuses on the result of this liaison. It is desperate and it is engrossing and the book is worth reading.

[Whitney Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a touching, dark book that discusses what family, community and redemption. The descriptions of the scenes in the book make you feel you are there. It’s not a book for the faint of heart. I loved it!

[Donald Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fastastic book. The author did a wonderful job of weaving the different characters in a fast past narrative. A book that made me think and will stay with me. I highly recommend for those who enjoy southern literature and grit lit.

[Sarah Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisite book. The writing from three different point of views is done exceedingly well. The description and vernacular were incredible. The last portion of the book keeps the reader on their toes and is shocking. Very well done story!

[Tina Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Palms was a great read. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line. The author is very detailed and you feel like your in the story. Early on, I was curious how this story would end, and it ended better than I imagined.

[Gabe Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel reflects on issues current in today's climate: drug addiction and poverty that ravage our communities. Despite the hardships around each character, they all find redemption and perseverance.

[Bentley Coben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was superb. I fell in love with the characters. The novel was written from three different points of view that seamlessly webbed together a powerful novel. Plus, the ending was fast paced and exciting.

[Jane Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always a delight to find a new voice in fiction, someone who seems a 'natural' when it comes to breathing life into a story and bringing characters to life within the pages of a novel. In The Palms, Clay Anderson does just that.

[Craig Chastain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading and could not stop. The story Clay Anderson imagined is terrifying but the reader follows along as he tells his story. I felt as desperate and drenched as his characters but I couldn't walk away. His writing is beyond good.

[Rene Straub · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best characters are the ones you don’t expect to fall in love with. That’s what Anderson is so great at creating. Ronnie is a very sad man who made all the wrong decisions in his life, but was redeemed in the end!

[Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is gritty, full of melancholy, full of bad decisions, but, there’s always hope and redemption. You won’t read this to escape from your life, you’re probably going to read this and be glad that you don’t live this life. But, you must read this book.

[Kimberly Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Palms is a beautiful, and challenging, work of southern literature. The writing itself and the wonderful descriptions of the panhandle really held my attention. Nice plot motion, and excellent character writing. A marvelous Southern Gothic story.

[Ellery Chang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot fully express how this book left my emotions. When I sat to read this I never expected to read it so quickly. I couldn't put it down. I read in 2 days what would normally take about a week. Please read this. No one should miss the art that Clay Anderson puts on these pages.

[Johnny Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Would highly recommend for those who like contemporary and southern literature.

[Samantha Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong story with even stronger characters. Place driven too. Felt like you lived in the trailer park.

[Ivy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book hasn't moved me quite like this book did. Highly recommend

[H.M. Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the realistic approach the author took. It felt like a true, moving story, and the vivid imagery put you right in the middle of it.

[Deborah Rouda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good story. Sad but happy ending. Makes you think about inequality and addiction in the US.

[Marshal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will make you fall in love with the characters. Written from three perspectives, the author weaved them together to make an excellent novel.

[Anthony Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is really moving—it meant a lot to me personally because I’ve been through similar situations in my life.

[Rick McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Palms by Clay Anderson is a compelling Southern Gothic novel that delves into themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the quest for meaning. The story centers around Ronnie Wells, a Vietnam veteran who has recently been paroled after spending thirty-six years in prison for a murder he committed. Set in a run-down trailer park outside Pensacola, Florida, the novel explores Ronnie's attempts to rebuild his life and form meaningful connections with his neighbors, Clara and her seven-year-old daughter, Mary.

Ronnie Wells is a complex protagonist whose journey is marked by a blend of vulnerability and strength. His character is deeply human, shaped by his past experiences in Vietnam and prison. Upon his release, Ronnie befriends Mary, who becomes a surrogate daughter to him, and Clara, a drug-addicted prostitute struggling to escape her violent pimp, Joe. The dynamics between these characters form the crux of the narrative, as they attempt to create a semblance of a family amidst their challenging circumstances.

Clara's initial reluctance to trust Ronnie gradually transforms as she realizes his genuine intentions. Her character arc is poignant, reflecting her struggles with addiction and her desire to protect her daughter. Mary's innocence and resilience add a layer of hope to the story, making her a symbol of the potential for renewal and redemption.

Anderson's novel is rich with universal themes such as loss, forgiveness, and the search for meaning. His approach to these themes is fresh and avoids clichés, offering unique insights that resonate with readers. The pacing of the novel is deliberate, allowing the story to unfold naturally and mirroring the ebb and flow of the tides, which are a prominent feature in the setting. Each chapter builds upon the previous one, leading to a satisfying climax that leaves a lasting impression.

The writing style is leisurely, permitting more depth and texture in the story. Anderson's skillful handling of the novel’s climax and resolution is commendable, offering a conclusion that resonates with hope and the enduring power of human connection. The novel's setting and atmosphere are vividly described, immersing readers in the gritty reality of the characters' lives.

In conclusion, The Palms by Clay Anderson is a significant addition to contemporary Southern Gothic literature. It is a novel that offers both an escape and a reflection, entertaining as much as it enlightens. Anderson's ability to connect with his audience on a deeply personal level, combined with his masterful storytelling, makes The Palms a must-read for fans of literary fiction. Whether you are looking for a summer read or a book club selection, The Palms is a perfect choice that will spark meaningful conversations and leave a lasting impact on its readers.

For those seeking a meaningful and delightful story, The Palms is a rare gem that deserves a spot on your bookshelf.