I’ve just finished reading Breathing Out the Ghost by Kirk Curnutt*.  In his debut novel, Kirk has a strong voice, which also came through in his short story collection, Baby, Let’s Make A Baby: Plus Ten Other Stories.  You can find the first chapter to Breathing Out the Ghost here.  There’s something captivating about “Let me tell you about the time your grandfather took a sledgehammer to the car.”  As opening lines go, that one should suck you in. 

Breathing Out the Ghost chronicles the events involving several people involved in searching for or coping with the fact of missing or murdered children.  Colin St Claire (father to a missing boy) and Robert Heim (a former private detective) are the main characters, but you’ll also meet Pete and “Sis” Pruitt.  Through these characters, the reader sees how different people react to a similar situation in very different ways.  The common thread is that you can’t “just get over it” when your child disappears — even if a body is found.  There is no Happily Ever After for this story — but there usually isn’t for missing or exploited children.  At least one of the characters realizes some things that help her move forward with her life.  It’s a tough story, and Kirk weaves it well.  I had a few quibbles here and there, but overall, I enjoy his work, and I recommend it.  It’s tough to find, but I was able to pick up an authographed copy at Capitol Books in Montgomery.  I did a search and found it quite reasonably priced on Buy.com.

Kirk and other authors will be at the Alabama Book Festival, sponsored by the Alabama Center for the Book on Saturday, April 19th in Old Alabama Town in Montgomery, Alabama, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  I’m going to have to miss the festival, but if you have a chance to attend, I highly recommend it.  In addition to Kirk, I’m really going to miss Amadeus the Traveling Dog — yes, he’s a four-year old Great Pyrenees who also writes books.

*Truth in Advertising:  I’ve known Kirk for about thirteen years, but if I didn’t like the book, I wouldn’t have mentioned it.