C.H.A.R.O.N.

Really enjoyed the book! As someone who has lived in areas near those described, I felt like I was dropping in a neighboring town, with details very familiar (like the way families Knew stuff, the cracked sidewalks and peeling paint on 1960s era homes where the boom left them behind in the 90s, the way the Church still got taken care of by the 80yr old neighbors) and I really felt how the characters were feeling. One small nitpick- a character from the first book just ... disappears without explanation or notice, but if you don't re-read the first book right before diving in, you probably won't notice her absence. It was nice to learn more about Brent's character (on the cover, he's the one in the button-up shirt) and to once more see how his military past as well as the (almost literal) ghosts of his past, still give him a certain empathy most do not share. There are aome nice set ups that will (given the author's amazing talent) pay off nicely in the next installment, especially for Travis (on the cover, the guy with the darker hair). We don't see as much of his backstory in this book as we got in the first book, though there are still insights to be found. Setting, atmosphere, and details for the history nerds like myself, are highlights here. All in all, a most worthwhile read, and I am truly looking forward to the third book in the series!