A delightful blend of 1950s style and anthology television shows.
By Karen Couey ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
Fender Lee is a talented musician living in a small desert town in New Mexico in 1959. He works at the Last Chance service station and has been offered jobs by Howard Hughes and Johnny Cash, but he would rather stay put and try to win the heart of Ruby, the waitress at the Bluebird Diner. Then a strange storm brings an Easterner called Leon Green to town, and Fender forms a band with him and another friend. The teens at the Bluebird love them, and Fender finally gets Ruby’s attention. But he must contend with Chigger, his rival for Ruby’s affections. When Chigger suddenly disappears, Fender is presented with a new mystery to solve.
The author’s prose captures the atmosphere of the small desert town in the mid-20th century, and the novella length contributes to the feeling of an enclosed story. The narrative is episodic, but it picks up in the second half when the more speculative elements of the plot begin to emerge. Couey’s nostalgic take on American storytelling should please readers who share her appreciation for the era.
Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 33
Publisher: Manuscript
Review Posted Online: June 26, 2023