This is an incredibly well written book. The dialogue is compelling and I felt like I knew each and every character. I loved the premise - the analysis of what we leave behind. There was a sense of an ending throughout this - it’s not a depressing or dark book but there is something somber behind even the uplifting aspects of this tale. I can’t quite explain why, but I loved it.

Life in a small town, like the fictional Maple Springs, Missouri, is lived as an open book. You know your neighbors and their business, and they know yours. Every choice is open to judgement from the crowd.

A tornado will tear apart this town. The impact will change lives without regard for their standing in the neighborhood or their hopes and dreams. Told as a look in the rear view mirror, the tornado in all it's terrible energy strikes the town in the first chapter. Len Joy introduces us to the unforgettable characters as they move through the day of the disaster, closer to their destiny than they know. As they walk the streets of Maple Springs, we hear their joy and their sorrow and hold our breathe that the raging winds we know are coming will not completely destroy those we have come to care about.

A first rate story written so skillfully you would swear you're reading an article in the paper of a real life tragedy. This is a very emotional read. At the end, all I could do was sit and think about the people and place and how it could be our small town in Oklahoma very easily. A 5 star read because there are no more stars.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley. I am leaving my honest review.

The plot involves a revolving cast of characters in a small Missouri town. It is told through various POVs. Generally I don't enjoy that particular plot device but the author is so skillful that there was no problem keeping track of the characters. The variety of POVs adds interest and depth.

I had no idea this book is a sequel. This book stands alone. It is well written and draws the reader in. My one criticism is that I found the ending was abrupt.

I will definitely keep an eye out for this author.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Dancer who list his son a while ago hires awar veteran to consolidate his late sons business in a small town called Maple Springs. During that fateful summer, a tornado hit that small town in Missouri. Who will survive? I enjoyed the vast array of characters in this book.

Readers generally don’t enjoy a work which includes too many characters in it but Len Joy has an art of carving out a great story even after adding too many characters in it; which is certainly a rare thing and thus makes this book one of the finest fiction.
This is a story of common people from a small town of Maple Springs. Dancer Stonemason, an old man and a long forgotten baseball legend was mourning over the loss of his older son, Clayton; and moved to live with his younger son, Jim Stonemason; a dedicated businessman.

Dancer hired Wayne; a war veteran to help him in liquidating his dead son’s Jukeboxes. The businessman they are settling it with (Ted Landis) was having an affair with soldier’s wife; Anita. As Dancer and Wayne set off to deliver those jukeboxes; their life story unfolds, where Dancer was initiating to take wise actions in present, Wayne on other hand was realising the reason for his wife’s indifference and initiated to take revenge.
As a tornado hits the town on the busiest day; people rushed in to save each other. An emotional book which will describe the uncommon lives of common people and the critical decisions of their mundane lives.
Writer kept the reader demanding; there was this urge to turn pages faster. Characters had an impact which is worth caring for; that stubborn old man-Dancer and spoiled young man-Wayne will surely live with you long after finishing this riveting tale.

P.S: Keeping his (Dancer) own life at stake to save Clayton’s dog. Oh! You got me.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

I should start by saying that I have not read the first book and this in no way affected this book.
I really enjoyed this. The pace was good and the chapter length perfect for squeezing on the odd chapter at work. The characters are simple and they felt real and relatable. There is quite a lot going on, but they never felt overloaded with information. The author sets up the story and the crescendo seems inevitable and yet still surprising.

I definitely preferred some characters to others and I like the way their true stories are revealed at the end. I'm not entirely sure what I think about the ending. It was abrupt and fitting and disappointing and satisfying all at the same time. There is a definite uncertainty and I guess you get to decide for yourself what happens next.

I will definitely add this author to my read list.

I will start by admitting something. I did not read American Past Time and did not know that Everyone Dies Famous follows on the story from that until halfway through this book i checked what else this author had written. However i do not feel that you need to read American Past Time first. I was cheering for Dancer the whole way through and felt attached to Wayne. The only thing i would of liked to read is maybe a short chapter from Russells point of view. What does he really think of Ozzie? What was Clayton like through the eyes of his best friend? I will be going back to read American Past Time if only to be in Claytons head for awhile. This was a great read!

This is an incredibly well written book. The dialogue is compelling and I felt like I knew each and every character. I loved the premise - the analysis of what we leave behind. There was a sense of an ending throughout this - it’s not a depressing or dark book but there is something somber behind even the uplifting aspects of this tale. I can’t quite explain why, but I loved it.

“This is a small town, Dancer. Everyone dies famous here. “

This book was a joy to read, even while the characters are dealing with their own personal grief.

These characters show great personal growth, and acceptance of themselves and their circumstances.

I was captivated from the first page and stayed like that throughout the rest of the book. You want to know what happens next. All the characters are relatable in some way and you miss them when the book is done.

Len Joy leaves you wanting more.

Surprised myself by how much I enjoyed it. I loved the writing This story has a strong voice that draws you in and keeps you enthralled from beginning to end. It's gut wrenching. It's about choices and redemption. Vivid characters that insist you keep reading. And so will you. A must read. Happy reading!

This skillfully written story about the choices made by people in the heartland and the aftermath is a great read. The characters are well-developed and the story moves at the perfect pace.