After reading David Joy’s new novel Those We Thought We Knew, to describe the contents using terms most often associated when describing dark tales of the rural South would be an inadequate disservice.

The novel is written with lush descriptions of people, life, nature, and of topics of such complexity and nuance, a mere encapsulation of what is contained between the covers is very difficult to do in an adequate manner.

As of yet, Those We Thought We Knew is one of the most challenging books I have reviewed. Not because of the lofty and troubled heady subject matter, but because adequate words for a review even closely worthy of the novel's content have been hard to come by.

Though the novel deals with serious crimes and dark aspects of American history and culture, it is not necessarily a depressing novel. For most, it should create an internal debate within one’s mind, resulting in thought-provoking examinations of what it means to be an American and how our history impacts us all and will continue to do so within the future of this divided nation.

Joy’s novel examines today’s continuously evolving opinions of social and cultural issues regarding race, slavery, heritage, symbols, and the Confederacy, and in a way that illuminates ghosts of our past to be visible to all, while colliding with contemporary culture and society.

The main human characters within the novel include Toya Gardner, her grandmother Vess Jones and Sheriff John Coggins.

Toya Gardner is a young Black female artist of renowned talent with a very promising future and has returned home to stay with her Grandmother in rural North Carolina while completing university coursework.

While back home, Toya orchestrates and participates in acts of civil disobedience that ignite a regional fire that brings national attention to the region. These acts, justified by some and vilified by others, bring racial and historical matters of the past to the forefront of current times and the future.

While many residents in the novel believe it is more than time for this to happen, there are also those that feel otherwise and blame Toya for creating the turmoil in their opinion that did not have to happen.

Vess Jones, Toya’s grandmother, is a longtime friend of Sheriff John Coggins, an older white man on the edge of retirement. Coggins and Vess’s deceased husband, Lonnie, were best friends from childhood and until his death, enjoyed many, many times together.

Coggins, mistakenly believes loving relationships are more than enough to exist in a world of latent divides, but soon is forced to realize that just because certain things are not talked about, even among friends, does not mean they do not exist.

During all of this, two deputies have come across a man thought to be a passing-through transient sleeping in his car. In searching the vehicle, troubling items are discovered in the man’s possession. These items include a white hood, bed sheet, firearm, and a spiral notebook containing names and telephone numbers of powerful and prominent people in the region. This discovery leads to further crimes and turmoil, further exposing ancient divides within the area that has for too long existed and have been hidden for several reasons.

In Those We Thought We Knew, Joy again brings forth ideas, concepts, and beliefs that upon first reading are camouflaged and are more powerfully revealed with one’s deeper thinking and study. To some, such things are readily apparent, but to others, ignorance may just bring forth a sense of unwarranted bliss.

Those We Thought We Knew is highly recommended to those readers that do enjoy dark tales of the South, but also to readers that enjoy being pushed into thinking about difficult topics captured in a book where beauty and nuance are further realized the more one thinks about them.

Netgalley provided a copy of Those We Thought We Knew in return for a fair review and it is set to be published in August of 2023.

Those We Thought We Knew asks questions — questions about yourself, about those you know and those you love.

With distinctly Western North Carolina dialogue and meticulous details of the beautiful mountain region where Joy himself resides, Joy creates a community of people who have known each other for generations — or have they?

Joy’s fifth novel weaves together a series of events and emotions that keeps fingers flipping pages, hearts pounding faster and minds pondering moral inventories.

A college student from the big city joins her grandmother for a summer to develop her artistry and immerse in her family history. Her non-violent protests light a fire in the small community filled with individual and communal prejudices and privileges dating back to the Civil War. Two grizzly crimes force the characters and community to look inward as the investigations unfold with dramatic and heart-wrenching consequences.

Reading the book makes the reader look inward as well. This book will raise the hair on your arms — not out of fear — but out of acknowledgement that we can all do better. Like most of Joy’s work, it is not easy reading. Like all of his writing, the work is worth it.

Those We Thought We Knew will be one of the books talked about among the best of the year, and rightfully so. David Joy's latest is an unflinching look at difficult topics that should make everybody ask themselves some important questions -- about race, relationships, and reality. If you don't feel a little uncomfortable, you may need to look in the mirror. Truthfully, finishing a book like this -- which resonates in tumultuous times when seemingly nobody can get along -- carries with it the need to take a long look inward.

When Toya Gardner returns to her family home in Western North Carolina, she brings a passion for art and telling the story of her heritage with her work. But Toya's brash opinions quickly clash with locals proud of the Confederate monument in the middle of town and angry about the established foundations Toya is shaking. The two sides set in motion on a collision course, and as two brutal crimes shake the mountain community, tensions simmer and the townsfolk are forced to reexamine everything they've ever known -- including themselves.

David Joy has spent his short but brilliant career in these hardscrabble mountains and hollers of Western North Carolina, where he routinely finds equal parts heart and hatred in the underbelly of this rich region and its people. He's at his best when dabbling in noir, and TWTWK has plenty of those classic whodunnit moments, dripping with the dialect and details he writes so well. But there's also important social justice questions here, and unlike some works of fiction, he sets out to provide answers, no matter the cost.

Where many books try to tackle racial issues and the shortcomings of honest talk and active listening, TWTWK provides answers found inside, glimpses of compassion, anguish, and evil. When a work can show you equal parts hurt and love and hatred and make you feel every bit of it, it's a great book, and Joy accomplishes that in fewer than 300 pages. TWTWK is hard to put down, and while you may think you have all the answers, the questions remaining will keep you up at night.

compelling characters and competent writing but very slowly paced and the prose was just uninteresting. not really for me but it's well crafted

“You know, it’s like that old saying goes. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing, or something along them lines.”

I have been putting off writing this review for pert near two months now simply because I can’t find the words to do it justice. I’m also afraid that when this book gets released there will be backlash that David Joy wasn’t the right person to be telling this story. If that’s your opinion, go ahead and preemptively block me because I’m telling you I’m not sure anyone other than David Joy could write this novel. I’m going to go on record and say he’s one of the greatest authors of this generation, right up there with a Dennis Lehane whose latest release I’m currently flying through. And he writes about the South like Lehane writes about Southie. Not only are the people fully fleshed out, but the place itself is a viable character and you can feel his connection to where he’s from . . . warts and all.

Joy’s story of race relations in the present South is one that has its finger directly on the pulse of our nation. This upcoming release tackles the goings on in America more so than any corrupt windbag who sits in the Capital Building or well-intentioned social justice warrioring keyboard commando could dream of doing.

As I said, I don’t really have the words to do this novel justice. Hell, I didn’t even bother writing up a synopsis, so you’ll have to go read the one the publisher provided. All you need to know really is this is part whodunnit/part social commentary and 100% brilliant. Oh, and he also doesn't think his audience is full of dummies either and gladly provides you the who of the dunnit if you just pay attention.

I logged on to Instagram today and saw a post from David Joy (one of only a handful of authors I follow) expressing his appreciation to those who help spread the word about his stuff since you most likely won’t ever see his face on a Times Square billboard and I thought it was about time I got off my butt and typed something. Here it is. Take my opinion with as many grains of salt as you see fit – just know that if you aren’t familiar with me 5 Stars is a mighty feat when it comes to my stingy ass and he generally gets every single one of them.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

I love David Joy’s novels. I was so thrilled to get this ARC. It took me five weeks to finish his latest installment. I struggled so hard to get into it as the pace just felt so slow. I’ll still read anything he writes, but this one didn’t have the punch his previous books did for me.

A well-written mystery with a strong sense of place that asks if “Can’t we all just get along?” is enough, without feeling preachy. This is Joy’s best yet.

David Joy's new book is part mystery and part social commentary, what's not to like!
Those We Thought We Knew is a piercing look at racism in our country.

When Toya Gardner destroys a Confederate monument in her hometown, there's more at stake than a community statue.. Local police had recently found a secret Klan man in the area with a large notebook filled with some well known names. There are clearly many forces at work here and not all are apparent to the eye.

The characters are as vivid as the North Carolina backdrop and Joy deftly explore generational racism and hatred as well as love and forgiveness. If. you like sharply pointed mystery, Those We Thought We Knew is for you!
#penguin #ThoseWeThoughtWeKnew #DavidJoy

Joy delivers his biggest novel since his first fiction came out in '09. A novel as great as it is important in this day and age.

I know but 2 or 3 writers who manage to have each paragraph across the whole novel click and tied up by one sentence. Joy's prose and storytelling's tells are all there again with a novel deeply rooted in place, and giving a voice to the suppressed.

A masterpiece of fiction that could very well be a story on the 6 o'clock news.

I'm never sure how to explain when I love a book. I will say for years I've always said that Stephen King was my favorite author...the thing is Stephen King just writes well.
David Joy not only writes well-he makes me feel. I've laughed, cried and yes been mad at his books.

Please don't ever stop writing.

I'm just going with some examples and breaking the rules of not quoting a book I received an advanced copy of.
David Joy gets my feelings on our wonderful south.
"So maybe the difference is I grew up and started reading books and realizing that half the shit I'd been told wasn't right to start with. Maybe that was the biggest difference between me and them."
"You can be proud of where yo come from and not proud of everything that history entails."

And David Joy gets the grief that I and others have experienced.
"There're times I'm walking and it's like the way Daddy's back used to go out. I mean, there I am and I'm fine, and then it's like somebody snapped their fingers and I just crumble. Out of nowhere."
"You know, before they arrested that man, I just kept telling myself that when they found him, maybe then there'd be some sort of closure, that maybe that's when I could start to move on. But then they made that arrest and nothing changed. I might've let on like it did, but nothing changed."

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review

I've read every novel David Joy has written and was therefore thrilled to get the chance to dive into his latest. While this is more of a slow burn than typical for Joy, the impact is no less powerful than his previous works. There's much to enjoy here, including Joy's trademarks of poetic prose, indelible characters, hard people making hard choices, etc. Ultimately, the mystery at the core of this novel isn't even the central driving force to keep readers turning pages. Years ago, the great Dennis Lehane spoke about the weight novels can take on in delving into real societal concerns and Joy touches upon racism, the old South, and the new generation of rabble rousers on both sides of the aisle. When a young black activist/artist is murdered in the mountains of North Carolina, her death is a spark that sets off a powder keg that had been waiting patiently to explode for many decades. The journey Joy takes us on to solving this mystery, as previously mentioned, isn't even the point. Read and you will see for yourself.

"THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW"
BY: DAVID JOY

It's always a celebration for me when David Joy publishes a new novel. I recently treated myself by hunting a rare find in pristine condition, a signed copy on the Title page, First Edition, First Printing of his novel called, "Where All Light Tends to Go." I had been wanting this haunting, debut novel, which is still my favorite of all of his well written novels, and am happy I have it. It has become more rare to find one that passes all of the criteria I have for my specific taste. I own all of his books now, and treasure them. He is an excellent writer whose latest book, far exceeded my expectations.

It could represent a microcosm, of what this Country is facing on a larger scale. This one is very atmospheric, representing a County in North Carolina where there are families that go back several generations, juxtaposed with an increasing population of newcomers. There are those whose motives are to treat everybody equally and promote peace. There are those who are racist, who are corrupt that promote acts of violence that are done secretly. Two acts of violence are done to two individuals that greatly saddened me. They were done in a cowardly fashion, but thankfully these weren't committed by masterminds. That doesn't mitigate the suffering that occurs by these two needless tragedies.

David Joy writes authentically capturing the dialect of some of the characters. I was completely transported by the great storytelling. He brings the things we sometimes would rather not dwell on to inhabit this latest novel. I will continue to read his future works, and this is a must read Author, who doesn't shy away from illuminating in this latest, "Those We Thought We Knew," the things we as a society, can all unite and do our part to improve starting from where we live. This Title is perfect for this novel, so it's my hope that it remains.

Here is my review for my second favorite called, "The Line That Held Us."
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2493199228

Here is my review for "When These Mountains Burn."
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3428865843

Publication Date: August 1, 2023

Thank you to Net Galley, David Joy, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam. G P Putnam's Sons for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#ThoseWeThoughtWeKnew #DavidJoy #PenguinGroupPutnamGPPutnamsSons #NetGalley

This is the third book I’ve read from David Joy, so I thought I knew what to expect, but I had no idea. While this book is less gory than his previous novels, it is possibly his most gritty and heart wrenching. Joy’s writing always brings to mind Flannery O’Connor, and in this novel the resemblance is eerie, especially in the final chapters. I really hope this book gets picked up by a big book club. I would love to see Joy get the recognition he deserves, and this latest novel is packed with relevant and timely discussion topics. Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for this advance copy.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was worried it would be too dense to get through, but I read it in a couple hours. I imagine this will be a big hit with this summer with the literary fiction community.

David Joy has a way with words and those words are woven into a gritty, mesmerizing, richly crafted story of life in the mountains of North Carolina. The folks who live here are deeply embedded in their culture, and when some of their secrets have been revealed, the unspeakable happens.

Toya is a young, black woman who goes to stay with her grandmother to finish her thesis, which traces her family’s history. When she destroys the town’s Confederate statue, for the hatred it stands for, emotions boil over. When Toya’s dead body is later discovered, and a local policeman is found brutally beaten, a deep chasm between good and evil threatens to tear apart the entire town. This story is about racism and the deep hatred that can be hidden throughout generations, but it’s also about family, friendships and loyalty.

I found this book utterly captivating. It’s extremely relevant and enlightening. I rate this book 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy.

David Joy is an extremely talented writer whose words and descriptions of life on his mountains are almost like poetry. Those We Thought We Knew explores several hot topics in today's news in a way makes the reader understand and sympathize with each side. At times gritty and raw and other times a tenderness and fondness, the words are always beautifully crafted. This might just be his most beautifully written book yet, raising the bar once again.

David Joy has written a touching novel set in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. He lovingly describes this setting - the culture, the values, the lifestyle, the people. His characters come to life through his storytelling while they dance, weep, thrive, love and deceive on his pages. Is an amazing book revealing many perspectives and deeply questioning those we thought we knew.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

David Joy never disappoints. This was an excellent book. Examination of race, small towns, and what goes on in people's minds. This was a bit different than his usual southern noir, but was still brilliant. Look forward to more by him, as always

A few years ago, I read The Line that Held us by David Joy and was mesmerized by his writing. The topics he writes about are gritty and harsh, and yet he writes with such beauty and tenderness. This book is no different. It's a story of family, friendship, and coming to terms with who we really are. Heart-breaking and based in a reality some of us will never understand, this book is an important read.

This was a fantastic read! It’s a unique blend of mystery and searing social commentary which I LOVED.

I loved Toya’s larger than life character who uses both her artistic talents and her intellect to get the white folks around her to question what they thought they knew about racism.

The truth of this passage in particular stuck with me:

“The tree with the deepest roots in this country is a tree of White supremacy. And the thing is, you don’t have to be the one who planted that tree or even the one who kept it watered or trimmed the branches to be someone who directly benefits from the shade it provides. There’s a whole lot of people sitting comfortably under that tree, and some of them recognize where they’re sitting and just won’t do anything about it because they like where they’re sitting, and then there are some of them who won’t even acknowledge that the tree’s there at all. Maybe they don’t acknowledge it because they can’t see it, or maybe they just don’t want to see it, but in the end none of that matters because they’re all benefiting from the same thing.”

The book is not *just* about racism.

It’s wonderfully constructed fiction that leads you through a fascinating storyline about murder…while also forcing you to reckon with real world events that you deal with outside the context of the book.

I thought it was a masterful juxtaposition and a really wonderful book. Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #thosewethoughtweknew