The Tabernacle Bar

A sweet story, with a salty side. The Salt Lake Tribune called it an excellent debut novel, and I agree. Palmer is a writer to watch.

Drive your jeep to Bridger, Utah, head to the Tabernacle Bar for a beer or two and meet a crew of characters on crazy quests for connections, answers and, sometimes, even questions. First there's Jessie Cannon, the bar's owner (she's not just a lapsed Mormon -- she posts an angel above her joint's door) and her family's angry black sheep. Jessie's various lovers, employees and estranged relations populate Susan Palmer's first novel. They're interesting folk, Palmer has a good tale to tell -- and she knows it. In a knowing narrative voice full of warmth and insight, Palmer compels us through Jesse's search and more -- there's an edge to Palmer's whimsy, and an earthy sexiness to her characters' twists and turns, many internal and some jazzed with the everday glamor of good bar talk in a small Western town. Pick up The Tabernacle Bar, by all means, but leave the beer alone. Pour a nice cup of coffee instead; you'll want to be sharp around Bridger.

The King's English, a Salt Lake City bookstore, had this to say in its monthly newsletter: "Peopled with some very unusual and charismatic characters, this first novel is a real delight. Set in the town of Bridger, Utah, home of Bridger State University (BSU), the story showcases the Tabernacle Bar, just down an alley from but not to be confused with the Mormon Tabernacle, gathering place for the local LDS faithful. The Tabernacle (bar) sports its very own angel in a position of prominence just above the front door. An often angry yet somehow captivating tale of quests, questions and quorums, religious and otherwise."