The Painter

Right and wrong. Good and evil. Often, these are difficult distinctions to make, as we see in this second novel from the author of the acclaimed The Dog Stars. Expressionist artist Jim Stegner finds sanctuary in fly-fishing, especially after the murder of his teenage daughter. He has been jailed once for almost killing a man, but he isn't what most of us would call a bad person. When Jim sees lowlife Dell Siminoe viciously abusing a small horse, he becomes angry, and they fight. Jim never planned to kill over it, but when he stumbles upon Dell in the dark, by the side of a river, Jim doesn't let him walk away again. For the rest of the novel, Jim battles his demons, producing brilliant paintings even as he dodges the police, and Dell's family, at every turn. The story is at times suspenseful, at times melancholy, at times spiritual, but always engrossing. Jim is no hero, but he is certainly compelling.