Fourth of July Creek

Survival. Thanks to Smith Henderson’s fine writing, especially his character development, I totally enjoyed his debut novel titled, Fourth of July Creek. Protagonist Pete Snow is a rural social worker in Montana. Although his personal and family situation is packed with problems, Pete cares deeply for the troubles of his clients who struggle to survive within the system or isolated from it. Pete adds to his own difficulties when he chooses his clients’ needs over those of his family. The struggle for survival fills a lot of this plot, and I was impressed by how Henderson never came close to relieving the tension at play among so many of the characters. Readers who appreciate finely written literary fiction are those most likely to enjoy reading this novel. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Fourth of July Creek from amazon.com.