Looking online at the University of Mississippi’s creative writing curriculum, the entry states that “The respected bi-monthly journal Poets and Writers recently ranked the University of Mississippi’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program 38th among the nation’s top 50 programs”.
Listen, I’ve got your solution to jumping higher up on that list, U of M. It’s alumnus Andy Davidson.
His first novel, “In the Valley of the Sun”, was a damn fine gritty, sweat stained vampire novel full of memorable characters and grisly goings on. Left me eager for the follow up, “The Boatman’s Daughter”. And truly, it most definitely did not disappoint.
Davidson spins the tale of a sordid cast of characters, all well defined and carefully presented. There are no less than 7 major characters in the book and they’ll all leave their imprint on you. Davidson carves out the story of 21 year old Miranda, ferrying dope to make ends meet for a fire and brimstone preacher by way of his crooked lawman associate through the swamps of Texarkana. The mad preacher is dying of cancer with one last task to complete for his long dead wife involving some unthinkable sacrificial evil. Others are coming to claim the preacher’s trade. Still other characters want an end to the whole evil routine. All the while a swamp witch surveys the drama and prepares. And a couple innocents can’t make heads or tales of what is about to get real and just do their best to survive.
Sound overwhelming? It should be. But Davidson plots the story to absolute perfection and paces it magnificently as the pages turn themselves. He jumps from one point of view to another without losing steam and seamlessly propels the narrative to its harrowing conclusion. His prose is flawless and, in places, concise, yet your mind takes the simple and lush descriptive and fills in the detail effortlessly. This is as fine as it gets for an author. He never overwrites or becomes self indulgent; he chooses his words carefully to convey the optimum impact and lets your mind do the heavy lifting.
His descriptors are so visceral you *feel* the swamp and the atmosphere all around you, drenching you in sweat and grit and gore. He masterfully makes you feel every gnat, chigger, and snake pestering his cast of characters. His vivid detail brings the swamp alive (literally!). All the while you’re keeping your mental scorecard up to date as he rotates chapters between characters without losing any of the narratives. Effortlessly.
And there’s a fine, nasty tale to be told here, steeped in European folklore and southern sensibilities by way of true crime nastiness and supernatural subplots. And it all dovetails to a satisfying finality which will leave you aching for more. 400 pages go by quicker than a cottonmouth strike. And when it’s over, you want more.
Hey University of Mississippi—if Andy Davidson is indicative of graduates from your Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, there is no way you stay ranked at #38. This is how it’s done.
5 out of 5 stars and highest recommendation.
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Reviews with images
Spellbindingly hypnotic and dripping with atmosphere.
Wow! The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson blew me away. I found myself completely enthralled and loved every single minute I spent reading this book. I have Davidson's debut novel In The Valley of the Sun sitting on my shelf and if it is anywhere near as good as this one was I'm in for another fantastic read.I don't really know what to say about this book. I don't feel as if my words can do it justice but I'm here to write a review so I'm going to write something. We follow Miranda Crabtree. Orphaned at a young age and raised on the river. A witch and a mutant little boy are now the only ones she considers family. Now as an adult she finds herself ferrying contraband up and down the snaking waterways of the Prosper River for a crooked sheriff and a corrupt old preacher. Davidson has poured life into a colorful cast of disturbed, eccentric, and deeply flawed characters. These people find themselves inhabiting the decaying and derelict structures standing out like rotted teeth along the bayou.What stood out to me the most was the writing. The WRITING. Davidson's prose is stunningly gorgeous. Dripping with atmosphere. There is a tangibility to the world he has crafted. You can vividly feel the heaviness of the humidity, hear the insects buzzing in your ear, smell the fetid stench of earthly rot, taste the sweat on your lips, and see the murky waters gliding by beneath Miranda's boat.Davidson seamlessly blends the magical qualities of a dark fairytale with greasy southern gothic horror into a truly unique tale. Each character has a role to play, whether large or small, and he deftly weaves the threads of their lives together into a rich narrative tapestry. There is a lingering sense of dread that permeates the story like a drop of blood in water. This book is more on the literary side of storytelling but that is not to say there is not a plot here. There most assuredly is but Davidson is not in a rush to run towards the end. The plot unfolds naturally, as if we the reader were sitting in Miranda's boat and allowing the current to push us downstream at its own pace.Spellbindingly hypnotic. The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson masterfully conjures a lush tale of struggle and survival in a harsh yet beautiful landscape full of vile men, and creatures of myth where only the strongest of wills can thrive. In my opinion this is the pinnacle of literary southern gothic horror. Davidson is a truly gifted storyteller and I cannot wait to devour more of his writing.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2021
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Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020
I don't really know what to say about this book. I don't feel as if my words can do it justice but I'm here to write a review so I'm going to write something. We follow Miranda Crabtree. Orphaned at a young age and raised on the river. A witch and a mutant little boy are now the only ones she considers family. Now as an adult she finds herself ferrying contraband up and down the snaking waterways of the Prosper River for a crooked sheriff and a corrupt old preacher. Davidson has poured life into a colorful cast of disturbed, eccentric, and deeply flawed characters. These people find themselves inhabiting the decaying and derelict structures standing out like rotted teeth along the bayou.
What stood out to me the most was the writing. The WRITING. Davidson's prose is stunningly gorgeous. Dripping with atmosphere. There is a tangibility to the world he has crafted. You can vividly feel the heaviness of the humidity, hear the insects buzzing in your ear, smell the fetid stench of earthly rot, taste the sweat on your lips, and see the murky waters gliding by beneath Miranda's boat.
Davidson seamlessly blends the magical qualities of a dark fairytale with greasy southern gothic horror into a truly unique tale. Each character has a role to play, whether large or small, and he deftly weaves the threads of their lives together into a rich narrative tapestry. There is a lingering sense of dread that permeates the story like a drop of blood in water. This book is more on the literary side of storytelling but that is not to say there is not a plot here. There most assuredly is but Davidson is not in a rush to run towards the end. The plot unfolds naturally, as if we the reader were sitting in Miranda's boat and allowing the current to push us downstream at its own pace.
Spellbindingly hypnotic. The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson masterfully conjures a lush tale of struggle and survival in a harsh yet beautiful landscape full of vile men, and creatures of myth where only the strongest of wills can thrive. In my opinion this is the pinnacle of literary southern gothic horror. Davidson is a truly gifted storyteller and I cannot wait to devour more of his writing.
Spellbindingly hypnotic and dripping with atmosphere.
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020
Wow! The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson blew me away. I found myself completely enthralled and loved every single minute I spent reading this book. I have Davidson's debut novel In The Valley of the Sun sitting on my shelf and if it is anywhere near as good as this one was I'm in for another fantastic read.Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2020
I don't really know what to say about this book. I don't feel as if my words can do it justice but I'm here to write a review so I'm going to write something. We follow Miranda Crabtree. Orphaned at a young age and raised on the river. A witch and a mutant little boy are now the only ones she considers family. Now as an adult she finds herself ferrying contraband up and down the snaking waterways of the Prosper River for a crooked sheriff and a corrupt old preacher. Davidson has poured life into a colorful cast of disturbed, eccentric, and deeply flawed characters. These people find themselves inhabiting the decaying and derelict structures standing out like rotted teeth along the bayou.
What stood out to me the most was the writing. The WRITING. Davidson's prose is stunningly gorgeous. Dripping with atmosphere. There is a tangibility to the world he has crafted. You can vividly feel the heaviness of the humidity, hear the insects buzzing in your ear, smell the fetid stench of earthly rot, taste the sweat on your lips, and see the murky waters gliding by beneath Miranda's boat.
Davidson seamlessly blends the magical qualities of a dark fairytale with greasy southern gothic horror into a truly unique tale. Each character has a role to play, whether large or small, and he deftly weaves the threads of their lives together into a rich narrative tapestry. There is a lingering sense of dread that permeates the story like a drop of blood in water. This book is more on the literary side of storytelling but that is not to say there is not a plot here. There most assuredly is but Davidson is not in a rush to run towards the end. The plot unfolds naturally, as if we the reader were sitting in Miranda's boat and allowing the current to push us downstream at its own pace.
Spellbindingly hypnotic. The Boatman's Daughter by Andy Davidson masterfully conjures a lush tale of struggle and survival in a harsh yet beautiful landscape full of vile men, and creatures of myth where only the strongest of wills can thrive. In my opinion this is the pinnacle of literary southern gothic horror. Davidson is a truly gifted storyteller and I cannot wait to devour more of his writing.
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Top reviews from other countries
Alastair
Great service, Great condition, fast delivery
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2023
Cece
🤩
Reviewed in Mexico on June 5, 2020
Cece
Reviewed in Mexico on June 5, 2020
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Peter Buckmaster
If you like horror, take a trip with The Boatman's Daughter!
Reviewed in Japan on February 1, 2021
