Additional information
by Lydia Peelle (Author)
The Whiting Award--winning author of the story collection Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing delivers her enchanting debut novel, set in 1916 Tennessee: a rich and rewarding tale of two flawed yet endearing grifters who pursue women, wealth, and a surprisingly valuable commodity for the troops in Europe--mules.
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion--making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman, just like the mythical father he's never met. Longtime horse traders and partners, they've recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters skilled in the art of the underhanded deal have just been swindled themselves. They're saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
Charles should have listened to Catherine, the beautiful, rebellious daughter of Leland Hatcher, the richest man in Richfield, Tennessee, and the former owner of The Midnight Cool. The horse would be worth a fortune--if she weren't a verified man-killer who attacks on sight. Charles and Billy are rooted in this muggy town until they can miraculously retrain their recalcitrant mare, and in the shadow of the growing inevitability of war, their bond begins to fray. Falling in love with Catherine--and under the spell of the deceitful, wealthy Leland, the vision of himself he'd like to be--Charles pulls away from the older man.
Despite their growing distance, Billy and Charles find their business thriving when the war in Europe pushes the demand for mules sky-high and the United States enters the fight. But when a trade goes terribly wrong, Charles is forced to reevaluate his allegiance to his country, the moral implications of his lifestyle, his relationship with Catherine, and, ultimately, his mysterious and surprisingly deep connection to Billy.
Populated by spirited, memorable characters, The Midnight Cool is a startlingly profound tale of aspiration, loyalty, and love--and the eternal search for something lasting in a transitory world.
Front Jacket
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion--making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman. Longtime horse traders and partners, they've recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters have just been swindled themselves. They're saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
Charles should have listened to Catherine, the beautiful, rebellious daughter of Leland Hatcher, the former owner of The Midnight Cool. The horse would be worth a fortune--if she weren't a verified man-killer who attacks on sight. Charles and Billy must now miraculously retrain this mysterious mare, but their bond begins to fray when Charles falls in love with Catherine and resolves to make a settled life for himself.
The Great War in Europe has pushed demand for mules sky-high, and when America enters the fight in 1917, the two men become town heroes, supplying Tennessee mules to the Army. But in the fervor of patriotism, xenophobic paranoia, and the strengthening grip of war, Charles is forced to question his ideals, and when a trade goes terribly wrong, he must choose between freedom and responsibility, self and country, and, ultimately, duty and love.
--Bookreporter.comBack Jacket
A middle-aged Irish immigrant, Billy has a gift for illusion--making damaged objects look new. His companion, Charles, the smooth-tongued teenage son of a prostitute, is a natural salesman. Longtime horse traders and partners, they've recently turned their talents to trading mules. But in the summer of 1916, these seasoned grifters have just been swindled themselves. They're saddled with the one thing they may not be able to unload: a gorgeous, murderous black mare named The Midnight Cool.
Charles should have listened to Catherine, the beautiful, rebellious daughter of Leland Hatcher, the former owner of The Midnight Cool. The horse would be worth a fortune--if she weren't a verified man-killer who attacks on sight. Charles and Billy must now miraculously retrain this mysterious mare, but their bond begins to fray when Charles falls in love with Catherine and resolves to make a settled life for himself.
The Great War in Europe has pushed demand for mules sky-high, and when America enters the fight in 1917, the two men become town heroes, supplying Tennessee mules to the Army. But in the fervor of patriotism, xenophobic paranoia, and the strengthening grip of war, Charles is forced to question his ideals, and when a trade goes terribly wrong, he must choose between freedom and responsibility, self and country, and, ultimately, duty and love.
