Nothing but the bones is the novel where Brian Panowich sets the bar even higher than one of the gold standard of southern grit lit he published in 2015 when his first novel, BULL MOUNTAIN, came to light.
The story evolves as the characters do and he uses just the right amount of easter eggs and nods to the past works of the BULL MOUNTAIN universe to keep his fellowship happy, and to make this new installement accessible to new readers.
It is a remarkable work of fiction, brutal, honest, and where you can't help but root for half the cast of the story, while hoping to see the other half in a subsequent novel even though you'd hope to see them meet their maker.

NOTHING BUT THE BONES
BY: BRIAN PANOWICH

About 4.25 Stars!

In "Nothing But the Bones," Brian Panowich's latest Southern Noir fiction started off with a bang full of action and doesn't let up until the last ten percent of this novel. It's full of suspense and I was surprised how simple the language it's written in, yet it paints a strong vivid picture that's visually powerful. It starts out in North Georgia at a bar in which Nelson "Nails" McKenna kills a man while he tries to defend a young woman named, "Dallas," that is being taken advantage of. I was hooked from the very first page. The setting in this rural mountain feels authentic and foreboding of what's to transpire.


Nails is banished to Jacksonville, Florida by Clayton's father Gareth Burroughs who is the local crime boss that runs everything on the mountain. Nails has been Gareth's enforcer even though his heart's not really in it since he was a teenager. Nails has a typically abusive father who the reader understands early on why Nail's is primed from a young age to learn to defend himself as a crucial means of survival in this crime riddled environment.

The young woman named, "Dallas," who Nails was defending ends up going with him on the run to Northern Florida. I didn't like her at first because I got the sense that she had a role in what sets off the trajectory of everything that is to come. She is not who she appears to be and her actions while they are in Florida get Nails in situations he might not have otherwise experienced. It very soon becomes easy to root for these two misunderstood people. There are a multitude of characters, but it's never confusing trying to keep them all straight. This was a very easy reading experience throughout its entirety.

Gareth is helping his son Clayton build Clayton's house for Clayton and Kate. Nails had defended Kate and Amy when they were younger and they ended up talking Clayton into doing the right thing by Nails by trying to assist him in Florida. Clayton makes the decision to try to help his friend, and even though he is a member of the Burroughs clan he is nothing like his ruthless father. Quite the opposite he is loyal and a likable character as well as Nails.

Nail's reluctantly finds himself in the position of giving Dallas a ride to protect her from being alone walking at night by herself. She is not everything that she seems and with his car attracting attention from two unsavory brothers who overhear Nail's talking on a pay phone, they steal the eight thousand dollars of Nail's traveling and expense money. Dallas robs the store where they have stopped to get gas causing them to hide his car in the woods, and Nail's has to steal a black Honda for them to elude the police.

I have had the novel called, "Bull Mountain," sitting on my Kindle since it was first published, but never got around to reading it. I read another review of this in which it stated that this wasn't as good as that one in that reviewer's opinion. I was actually surprised at how much that I enjoyed this one which far exceeded my expectations. I had read the synopsis to this when I first requested this, but had totally forgotten the particulars of what this was about. I had heard of how wonderful "Bull Mountain," was many years ago. I'm glad that I knew as little about this as possible which only enhanced my reading experience of this.

What a roller coaster of a wild ride this turned out to be, albeit it's not my usual genre. For the most part it's a story of a man with a big heart who tries defending a young woman, but goes overboard with what he witnesses being done to her. Brian Panowich did an excellent job keeping his words stark therefore they strike with impact leading to visualization of one precarious thing leading to another. At 336 pages this did take me a lot longer to read than usual. I neglected my errands and my "to do," list in order to read this in one sitting. I'm definitely planning on reading "Bull Mountain," after enjoying this one so much.

I did think the last 10% dragged and bogged down what was otherwise a powerful narrative. I really liked the characters that were the main protagonists of this story. The nefarious characters were horrible lending to this being credibly realistically developed. This is probably going to be popular with male readers as well as some females. There is violence and blood, but only where necessary to serve the plot. That being said this isn't going to be for everyone so I recommend this with caution. I do hope that with some edits the ending doesn't need to get so bogged down. I truly enjoy the kind of storytelling that the pacing stays consistent from start to finish.

Publication Date: April 16, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Brian Panowich and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NothingButtheBones #BrianPanowich #StMartinsPressMinotaurBooks #NetGalley

Brian Panowich delivers in this gripping story from McFalls County. The story, the characters, everything is *chefs kiss*.

Another good one from Panowich. Gritty, poetic, heartfelt. In the process of defending a woman being assaulted, Nails McKenna, an enforcer for local crime boss, Gareth Burroughs, ends up killing the abuser. From there the story takes us on the run with Nails, and the woman he saved, Dallas. And there's plenty of nefarious characters more than interested in tracking them down. There's a bit of everything for crime fans. Violence, a love story, father/son tensions, you name it. Panowich continues to shine.

Once again, Brian Panowich delivers an authentic, southern lit read.

Nelson, also known as Nails, has always been somewhat of a loner. Since childhood he’s only had a rare, few people around him that have tried to look after him. But most just stayed clear. He’s a large man and a known enforcer for one of the most powerful families on Bull Mountain.

But Nails has a softer side too. Enter Dallas. They are magnetically drawn to one another. When Nails steps in to protect Dallas he goes a bit too far and once again finds himself on the run.

This was a heart-felt, emotional read about friendship and loyalty, interlaced with some even deeper themes throughout.
Though it took a while for this book to capture me, once it did I was all in. And was rewarded with a very satisfying and contented ending!

Brian Panowich is a staple in the Southern Lit genre. His books encapsulate the atmosphere and deliver you straight into the Appalachian mountains.
Looking forward to more from this very talented author.

A buddy read with Susanne.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press

Powerful, gripping, moving and addictive. I did not want to put this book down! Panowich delivers another page turner that packs a punch in many ways. If you have not read one of his books, you are missing out!

McFalls County is run by local crime boss, Gareth Burroughs. Nelson “Nails” McKenna has been his enforcer since he was a teenager. One night at a bar, Nails takes things way too far in defense of a woman and not even Burroughs can get him out of the trouble he has gotten himself into. Nails and Dallas, the woman from the bar go on the run....

This book had me hook, line, and sinker from the very first page. I was fully invested in the plot and rooted for Nails and Dallas the entire way. Fans of the series will recognize key figures and as this book is a prequel to the Bull Mountain series. There were characters I loved and characters I loved to hate in this book.

I thought the author did a great job blending crime fiction, drama, being on the run, and love in many forms i.e., friendship, family, romance. This book also showed the cruelty and vileness in the world but also the goodness as well.

I found this to be a well written and powerful read. The pacing was spot on and kept me turning the pages long into the night. I love tension in books and this one had it in droves.

A well written and gripping page turner!

Ever find yourself gripped by a book, unable to put it down but can’t pinpoint what kept you hooked? That’s how I felt about this one. So much I loved; however, I have a few buts…
I love Brian Panowich, and after reading his previous books, he set the bar for Southern Noir, and I became his newest fan. Nothing But Bones doesn't hit as hard as his other books, and he has toned down on the violence. It's just a bit less punchy and hard-hitting but as intense, engaging, and exciting.

Panowich excels in spinning some likable, intriguing characters that are worth rooting for and some nasties meaner than a snake on a Monday..

But, here comes the "but."

So many worthy themes are at play here, but I won't spill the beans. While I appreciated Panowich's more significant picture theme, he slips into some déjà vu moments and leans on a few worn-out tropes. It's stuff I hoped we'd moved on from; however, while he misses the mark on some things, he nails the emotional pull he is going for.

It gets my brain buzzing, questioning things; however, in the end, I'm brushing off the noise and soaking in the joy of reading a book that hooked me from start to finish. I can't argue with that.

I have heard Brian Panowich read from and speak about his work several times, so I was excited to see this book available on NetGalley. I understand it's a prequel to the other novels in his series set in McFalls County, in the North Georgia mountains.
The protagonist is Nelson (a.k.a. Nails) McKenna, a slow-witted giant with a deformed hand who suffered an abusive childhood. Fortunately, he has friends who understand him, such as Clayton, the youngest son of local crime boss Gareth Burroughs. Nelson is basically gentle, but if something angers him—such as seeing a woman mistreated—he lashes out. He doesn't know his own strength and bad things happen.
The story opens when Nelson and Clayton are still in school, and they have a confrontation with some bullies. Defending their friend Amy, Nelson beats one of the bullies almost to death. Panicked, they call Clayton's father to clean up the mess.
Flash forward to adulthood; Nelson now goes by "Nails" and works for Gareth as "an enforcer." He's hanging out in a local bar when he witnesses a group of thugs taking advantage of a young blonde. He ends up beating her boyfriend to death.
The bar owner gives Nails money, and Gareth arranges for him to disappear. Little does Nails know he has a stowaway—the blond girl, who goes by the name of Dallas. On the run, they get into more trouble but, as two outcasts, they develop a poignant friendship.
Clayton realizes his father has sent Nails into a trap where he is sure to be killed, so he vows to find his friend and bring him home to face the consequences legally. But Clayton's not the only one looking for Nails; Alex Price, brother of the man Nails killed, is also on the trail. He actually cares less about avenging his brother's death than about finding his blond companion, who has something he desperately wants.
Nothing goes well, and the ending seemed depressing. Then a last-minute twist, although a bit sappy, made me smile through my tears.

Another fantastic book by Mr. Panowich!! "Nails" McKenna is minding his own business, living his life in McFalls County and working for Gaerth Burroughs. That is until one night he walks into a local bar and defends a woman who is being attacked. In the process his kills the wrong man, setting off a chain of events that he could have never predicted. "Nails" and the woman go on the run. In the process leaving bread crumbs to where they are headed to disappear. The problem there is "Nails" can not take the woman with him where he is going. Some good and bad people are after them. Can you guess who gets to them first? Read it and find out!!

1989. McFalls County GA. Young Nelson McKenna and a couple friends are exploring a creek on Bull Mountain. Nelson is fodder for the local bullies because he is ‘different’. He has cognitive issues, a curiously constructed face, and his deformed left hand is more akin to a club. His mom died when he was very young, and his father used Nelson mostly as a punching bag for his own inadequacies. A couple jerks come upon Nelson and start messing with him. Pushing becomes shoving becomes hitting and Nelson hits the ground . . . where he starts to lose it. He comes up swinging. Swinging so hard one boy hits the ground (and maybe a rock). Nelson pummels the boy. As this happens on Bull Mountain and nothing happens on the Mountain that Gareth Burroughs doesn’t know about, he cleans up the mess and talks to Nelson about what kind of man he may become, given what’s happened. Two kinds of people in the world: those that are hammers and those that are nails. Gareth brings Nelson into the family and brings him up to be another enforcer in Gareth’s businesses – the birth of Nails McKenna.

1996. Nails has grown up. Considerably. He’s big. Bigger than Jack Reacher big. And he’s an effective enforcer for Gareth. But deep down, he’s not wired to enforce. He is wired to protect. And that’s what gets him in far too deep for what he is capable of understanding or solving

He, like many of the deadbeats on Bull Mountain, enjoys spending some time at The Chute, the local bar/club/meth house. But the owner, Freddie, knows Nails isn’t there for the ambience. He comes in for a couple cold pints of apple juice. The music is loud, and the dancing is fierce. Nails eyes a girl roughly his age dancing her ass off. Looks like she’s with a few other guys who’ve ascended the mountain to party. Nails spots them all go into the men’s room, but thinks the girl really isn’t a willing participant. He follows them into the can where one of the trio of guys confronts him and blocks his path to a closed stall behind which are 3 sets of feet, and one set doesn’t seem to be having any fun. He levels the punk in his path, busts open the stall door and picks up the girl and heads back into the bar so he can get her out. One of the punks takes issue with Nails, whips out a knife, draws first blood from Nails whose lethal left-hand club puts the guy down. For good. In front of a bar full of witnesses.

Nails and the girl, who calls herself Dallas Georgia, now become odd couple fugitives. Gareth gives Nails some money and a phone number in Jacksonville, FL. Tells them to get to Florida, call the number, and do whatever the guy on the other end says to do. The guy is a fixer. He will fix what’s happened and make it all go away.

Their road to Jacksonville is littered with tangential issues - related to the bar, to the victim, the fixer, Dallas’ parents, motel clerks, a kindly old gas station owner and others. And notably, Gareth’s son Clayton (before he became sheriff of McFalls County).

One of the kids with Nelson that fateful day by the creek was Amy who’d become one of his only real friends. She convinces Clayton that it’s in Nelson’s best interest if he tracks him down, brings him back up the mountain and turns himself in. That bar full of witnesses all know, and will testify, that Nails was just defending himself . . . mostly. Clayton agrees and sets out to find Nelson/Nails.

Upon finding Nails, everyone on God’s green earth that are looking for Nails descend on Clayton and Nails where Panowich delivers one thing he is well known for . . . a bloodbath.

This is Panowich’s 4th book based on Bull Mountain, and we’ve reviewed them all. Panowich is firmly entrenched in my Power Rotation. Bull Mountain was his first novel, and it blew me away as did books #2 and 3. Add #4 to that list even though it’s a bit different; more character driven about 2 unlikely fugitive/kids, both sort of on the run from failed family lives, who are running away from something that really wasn’t of their own making. Guess that makes them victims of both their past and their present. Yes, drugs and mayhem ensue, but the developing love story between Nails and Dallas is the driving force of the story. Not to mention:

1. Panowich give us a peak into some of the issues that drive wedges into the Burroughs clan seen in books 2 and 3 and . . .

2. A twist that I never saw coming. Maybe you will. But I didn't.

And I am truly sorry to say this: It’s not available April 16, 2024. But thanks to NetGalley for making an advance reviewer copy available. Trust me folks. This one is worth the wait.



ECD

I like gritty back of the woods crime stories and this story was no different I look forward to more books from this author.

This wonderful book but you'll hate some of the lessons. Just read the book well worth your time! Honest!

I love this author and all his books about the Bull Mountain folks. He has a way of making the reader care about characters with all their imperfections. I hope he has more stories in him with Clayton in them.

Growing up in a small town where specific names held power, I was drawn to this book. I was surprised along the way. Love and friendship go a long way; this book proves just that.

I really like this author and his depiction of the gritty rural south. He has a way of writing immersively and has a enough to keep you guessing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book .

Nothing But the Bones is my favorite Brian Panowich novel so far, and I've read them all. This novel was a tad bit less graphic, though still as violent, as his previous novels; however, it tackled a very controversial subject with compassion and positivity.

This book is a prequel to the other Bull Mountain stories. In this one, Clayton Burroughs is just a young man, a teenager as the book begins, and we're introduced to his father Garreth and the condescending, hurtful way he treats Clayton.

We meet Clayton's wife Kate before they're married, as well as friends Amy and Nelson. It's Nelson, aka Nails, who becomes the main character in the novel, as we trace his painful, gentle youth that soon follows a troubled, violent, and dangerous path, thanks to Garreth Burroughs.

A really good read, and I thank Goodreads and .St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A really well written book that is making me look for other books by this author. The main character Nelson (Nails) has some learning issues and it tormented as a teenager. Something happens that changes his life's trajectory, and he becomes an enforcer for the local crime boss of the area. Under all his toughness is a good heart and when he tries to do the right thing, his life falls apart. He is sent away and here is where the story takes place. The characters are well developed and I wanted to keep the pages turning to find out how it all turns out. A must read.

Wow this was incredible! Action packed and such an immersive storyline. It had some well thought out twists that left me stunned.

So thankful to NetGalley for my ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Another great book by Brian Panowich. Powerful and hard to put down. Characters that jump off the page and pull you into the story. And what a story! So good! Highly recommended.

This is my first time reading a book by the author and I was drawn in from the very beginning. I loved the bad cowboy vibe I got from the story and I connected with every character. There was not one character that I did not like besides maybe Stan. It’s a fast pace story filled with lots of action and violence.

Nelson is a teenager who is bullied but has great friends to stick up for him. Then one day the bullying got taken too far and Nelson fought back. The fight ended horribly leaving the teenagers in a tough position. They end up calling one of the friend’s (Clayton) criminal father to help clean up their mess. Claytons father took things into his hands immediately but this one incident would now shape Nelsons adult life turning him into a bad boy on the run with his Bonnie (Dallas/Riley).