Backbone

The Rubicon River #1

by Andrew Murray

BACKBONE is book one of THE RUBICON RIVER SERIES. The series is a meditation on the the nature of fear and courage, about stoking the passion that is required to overcome fear. BACKBONE is the story of Scotty McKay, a rudderless young man from a large Midwestern family of over-achievers, who meets a rookie race car driver named Michael Grahame. Grahame's life has been anything but a stable one - having persevered through a childhood of hardship and neglect - he harbors a self-destructive nature as a result of it. In the coming years, Scotty and Michael will forge an unlikely friendship, aided by a willful Colombian ex-model and fashion executive, Alejandra Hernandez Saavedra, who has conquered the driver's heart. She will prove to have much to teach the both of them about courage and love. Their journey together truly begins with a crisis of faith and hope, after both Scotty and Michael are severely injured and endure long months of hospitalization and rehabilitation at one another's side. The brotherhood that forms between them will cement bonds that echo down through the generations of two disparate families. The series dances back and forth through the thin veil that separates the mortal from the divine. It ponders the symbiotic relationship between good and evil - the necessity of each - and the unseen presence of the two in our daily lives. The story dwells in the anguish and foolhardiness of human existence, while keeping a healthy sense of whimsical humor along the way. Intertwining threads follow the machinations of supernatural beings, including a meddling immortal who has thrown a monkey wrench into the Universe's grand design, and a tale of unrequited love between a moody demon and a virgin deity.

483 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2021

About the author

Andrew Murray is a writer and international marketing executive. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he has since traveled the world for both business and pleasure, and has called three continents home. He is a lifelong student of history, language, and culture, as well as a lover of literature and the arts. Murray is a proud graduate of Southern Methodist University and Thunderbird School of Global Management. He currently lives in South Florida.

Reviews

[Blake Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend highly recommended Backbone and by page 44 I could easily see why. First time author, Andrew Murray’s descriptions are vivid and real. The reader quickly gets to know the key characters Scotty McKay and Michael Grahame with all their strengths and flaws. Murray’s description of the behind the scenes action during a professional auto race is thrilling. Later you are concerned for Scotty and Michael when both experience life threatening injuries and their friendship is challenged. Murray is a wonderful story-teller with a wicked sense of humor, who left me wanting more when I quickly finished his book.

[Robin Bagwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family saga that draws the reader into the lives of the McKays. Backbone is filled with anguish and joy. The dysfunctions that are hidden in even the most perfect families are exposed. A great bookclub read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I mean, come on, Lucifer at a Grateful Dead concert? How awesome is that, and for anyone that saw The Dead, truly believable. It moves fast and gut-punches you at the end.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about an Indianapolis family, the devil, Indy car racing, love, loss, a drug cartel… it’s got a little bit of everything. I loved the writing, it’s colorful, humorous and rich, and being a native Hoosier myself, I loved all the references to local spots and the Indy 500.