Without being the most ground-breaking story I’ve ever read, Harmony, USA has a lot of potential and is sure to keep you flipping through the pages. Not only does it tend to some touchy subjects such as racism, sexual abuse and domestic violence (no pun intended), the story does an amazing job on drawing on the past and discretely discloses how it affects our daily lives. In fact, Lewis Bryan makes great use of the past to build the characters and instigates emotional attachment to the characters among readers. As you progress through the book, you can tell that some characters past haunt their present and make them take decisions based on those past events. Finding out what they’ve been through gets readers to question if their actions in the present time are really unforgivable and uncalled for. Harmony, USA also touches upon the idea of justice and gives readers the chance to decide for themselves what is right from wrong. As a matter of fact, vigilantism is brought into play without the need of superheroes. As we discover the killer and what drives him, we start to wonder if what was done were really outrageous acts or ones that were much needed in a town that has only known peace for several years.
As you reach the ending, you come to realize that Harmony, USA is a fascinating quick read. The way the story is told to give us more information on the killer as we progress through the book is a great strength for this novel. Furthermore, the killer manages to show a personality that’s bound to keep you intrigued throughout the plot. Discovering the dark secrets of Harmony through the eyes of a killer who seeks justice couldn’t have been done any better. Lewis Bryan has done a great job with this book and if it continues to be this interesting, I’d love to see what he’s got in store for us in the future. I’m really glad I received a copy of this book from the author via BookLogix Marketing in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read this novel.
Atlanta, GA– “River mist reveals its secrets slowly and quietly. It’s unsettling as you are never sure, of course until you are certain, what is there and what is not. So it was the awful morning they found TJ Bucknell’s body hanging in the shrouds of the Hickory River mist. I should know: I left him there and the fog will never tell that tale.”
Lewis Bryan’s debut novel, Harmony, USA, takes place in the fictional small town of Harmony. Told from the perspective of the murderer, the narrative unfolds the story of Harmony following the hanging of TJ Bucknell, an African American teenager. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that the quiet town of Harmony, USA, has more than its share of secrets.
Weaving this dark narrative around the complex lives of its characters, Harmony, USA explores heavy themes, such as race and abuse, with complexity and honesty.
“I really became most interested in how people deal with the things that impact their lives,” explains Lewis. “Race became one of those things I could explore, as did abuse.”
Born and raised in America’s Heartland, Lewis Bryan has lived most of his adult life in the Deep South, giving him a unique perspective on the American experience. Using this perspective, Lewis is most interested in the human experience, especially in regards to what we are able to know and accept of each other, and what we choose to keep in the shadows.
Harmony, USA is available in print and eBook through Amazon and BookLogix.
