The Baptism of Billy Bean: A Novel by Roger Alan Skipper

From the Publisher

"Lane Hollar's seen little of the world beyond West Virginia - Parris Island and Vietnam - but that was enough. Now, thirty years later, he's estranged from his only son, Frank, and from society at large. Lane has his grandson, Toby, his daughter-in-law, Darlene, his bait shop, and his banjo, and he desires or needs nothing else." But then one day, he and Toby are out fishing when they witness a drug-related murder. Suddenly, the boundaries of his world are no longer his to define. An investigation rules the drowning accidental but reveals the witnesses to the perpetrators, and without preamble, Lane is fighting for his life, Caught between inept - or corrupt - lawmen and a stone-cold killer, Lane finds that his long-neglected survival skills are, like Lane himself, obsolete and ludicrous in a world gone mad.

Publishers Weekly

Lane Hollar, the manly hero of Skipper's riveting second novel (after Tear Down the Mountain), feels right at home in his West Virginia bait shop, where he helps care for his 12-year-old grandson, Toby, when daughter-in-law Darlene is working. (Lane, a widower and Vietnam vet, is estranged from his only son, Frank, Toby's father.) One misty day, while Lane and Toby are fishing on a boat in the town lake, they hear a truck approaching that they recognize as belonging to fellow fisherman Billy Bean; they hear Billy's canoe slide into the water. Two men appear to be in the canoe, though Billy always fishes alone. Lane and Toby hear a splash. Later, the pair find Billy's empty canoe with blood on it. Certain Billy is still in the water, Lane calls the sheriff's department, and a search leads to Billy's body. When his death is written off as accidental, Lane is unconvinced and unable to let things be, even though his efforts to uncover the truth put him at odds with local lawmen and even endanger his family. Pitch-perfect dialogue, a skillfully drawn supporting cast and a memorable portrait of the changing face of Appalachia enhance this impressive character study. Author tour. (Feb.)

Meredith Wittmann - Library Journal

Lane Hollar has had his lust for life tarnished several times-once by a tour of duty in Vietnam, again when his wife died, and once more at the scene of a recent accident. Estranged from his son Frank, Lane focuses his attention on his grandson, Toby, as he struggles to make things right with Toby and his mother, Darlene, for Frank's failures. When he and Toby witness a drug-related murder, Lane works to protect Toby and Darlene, adding to his burden of feeling that he has already let them down simply by being Frank's father. The book starts off with a flashback, which is meant to introduce the personality of Lane but unfortunately makes it hard to distinguish who is who. The more interesting parts of the story happen in Lane's bait shop, and the fishing theme that runs throughout complements the Southern setting. Set in Appalachia, where the author is originally from (he also fought in Vietnam), the book suffers from character stereotypes that impede the storytelling. Recommended for larger fiction collections, especially where there is a strong interest in Appalachian authors or settings.

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