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James Shaffer

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Back To The World (Near To The Knuckle Novellas Book 4) Kindle Edition

by James Shaffer (Author), Craig Douglas (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 14 ratings

Book 4 of 12: Near To The Knuckle Novellas

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Johnnie Rae Piper is born in a tarpaper house off a dirt road in the Texas Panhandle just outside Amarillo. His mama, Jenny Piper, a midwife by trade, raises and home-schools him while his daddy, Tom Piper, is off fighting the Korean War. Tom comes home from Korea a changed man. He takes to drink and gambles away any money that comes his way.

In 1969, a low draft lottery number sends Johnnie to Viet Nam. After 18 months in the jungle, Johnnie is discharged and comes back to the world, back to his home. But he soon discovers the world of war he left behind and the world at home, aren’t that much different. He still has to fight. Ed Wills, the local loan shark, who answers to a crime organization that stretches across several states, comes to collect on his daddy’s gambling debts, and the war starts all over again.

Darlene, Jamie Sue and Kelly Jo, three cowgirls from Dallas, in their red, 1960 T-bird convertible help Johnnie escape the Texas mob, driving him into New Mexico. They’re in for a wild ride, heading west on Route 66 and the setting sun. The Dallas cowgirls’ dream is to make it to the Pacific Ocean. To make it happen, all Johnnie has to do was keep his eyes on the road behind for anything that might be coming up fast.

Book 4 of 12

Near To The Knuckle Novellas
Print length

113 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

June 2, 2016
File size

914 KB
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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01GKAYJ50
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Close To The Bone (June 2, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 914 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 113 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,384,951 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #36,032 in Crime Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #73,409 in Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #108,409 in Crime Thrillers (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 14 ratings

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James Shaffer

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Jim Shaffer (James Shaffer) writes crime fiction stories. He's the author of the crime-caper novella Back to the World (Close to the Bone). His neo-giallo story "Blood of the Lamb" appears in The Blood Red Experiment: A Neo-Giallo Anthology (Close to the Bone). Most recently, he's had crime stories published in four more anthologies: Nightside: Tales of Outre Noir (Close to the Bone), Dark Yonder (Joyride Press), Hardboiled (Dead Guns Press), and Wrong Turn (Blunder Woman Productions) where his story “All That the Case Is” earned a shout-out from AudioFile® magazine. More of his short crime fiction can be found on line at Flash Fiction Offensive, Close to the Bone, Retreats From Oblivion, and Punk Noir Magazine.

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4.5 out of 5

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Roger Leatherwood Brown

Cowboy noir/ crime thriller elevates obvious cliches of the genre

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a compelling combo of western, thriller, and a little bit of gothic fiction ala Faulkner. Shaffer has a command of a down-home voice that not only describes what goes on among a family doomed by poverty and PTSD (the father's recently returned from the Korean war), but ties it up with a couple thugs' scheme to tape up a loan shark to haul along to make a sting, and the broken son running through the desolate landscape of the late-century mid-west that isn't likely to end anywhere near to paradise.

Shaffer is more interested in his characters, the father, a couple thugs holed up in hotels, the son John with all their banal but unique back-stories. He has a clear-spoken feel for details that paint a desperation more obvious to us than to the leads -- more Elmore Leonard than Cormac McCarthy. The action amps up in the 2nd half. Shaffer also shifts from character to character, from 1st person to 3rd, depending upon who we're following in a series of relatively short passages that build (or fall) like dominoes to an ambiguous resolution.

The tale might best be described as cowboy noir, a Texas caper. But rather than hit all the cliches it feels fresh. Also, it's short and doesn't wear out its welcome. But I also don't feel it's long enough. Either Shaffer felt his characters shouldn't be teased by unrealistic expectations or digressions before the inevitable confrontations between this set of people took place, or, I expect, a sequel was in his mind for some of these folk.

If so, I look forward to it.

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

No Country For Old Men meets Jim Thompson. For all those noir afficianados who appreciate mood and tone, Jim Shaffer has come with a period novella for fella down and outers.

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Elsa Biron

I would have loved to see what happened to the main characters after ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

This was a fast read that ended too quickly for me. I would have loved to see what happened to the main characters after the surprising ending. Well developed with an authentic view on a slice of Americana not often represented in literature. Dark beginning but always with hope within the protagonists grasp. I enjoyed it immensely.

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Lynda Ann Perkins

Do Not miss this one!! You will defintely be rewarded.

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2016

Verified Purchase

I read this novella in one sitting, I can read almost any genre but my one requirement is that the writing must be good. This book fulfilled my requirement and kept me interested, I have one complaint and that is the fact that it was too short. Will look forward to hearing from this author again.

One person found this helpful

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Marty Yandle

A well structured page turner.

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

If you appreciate a fast-paced novella that harkens back to a time when families did what had to be done to survive and women could be counted on to have your back, then you’ll surely want to read Back To The World by James Shaffer. Marty and Bobbi Yandle

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e. hobart

I enjoyed it thoroughly

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

Fast paced,well written cowboy noir. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2016

Verified Purchase

I loved reading this. Well written with great little details. I read it in one sitting-pretty impressed. Can't wait to read more by James Shaffer.

One person found this helpful

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col2910

Another winner from Near to the Knuckle

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2018

I'm slowly working my way through the catalogues of several small indie publishers and this is about the sixth or seventh I've tried from Near to the Knuckle aka Close to the Bone and it's another solid entry in their canon. Back to the World is James Shaffer's debut novella.

Texas in the 50s and 60s, family life disrupted by two wars - Korean and Vietnam and also by a father's weakness for drinking and gambling. Johnnie, the son back from Vietnam may not like his father, but he loves him and when the piper comes calling for payment in the guise of Ed Wills and a muscled side-kick, Johnnie isn't about to give up on the only family he's got left.

A violent confrontation, two bullies bested and a family double act splitting the cash found in the trunk of the Ed's car and heading for the hills - albeit two hills in two totally different directions.
That's not the end of the matter by a long shot. Wills wants his money back and to recover some face. Johnnie has his wits about him and a sound plan, but true to form Daddy's weakness for a wager, quickly resurfaces and draws attention. Our three amigos meet again for a final confrontation in the company of some good time Texas gals. Matters don't end well for everyone.

Short, sharp, pacey, I enjoyed the back drop of the two wars and Johnnie's upbringing mostly at the hands of his mother and with an interesting family dynamic, I liked the setting and the time frame of the book. The time spent in Johnnie's company was pleasurable but a little bit too brief. Our finale seemed a little rushed (like my review!) and I would have preferred a slightly extended tale. But as Barnum said (disputed) - always leave them wanting more.

Hopefully James Shaffer has a sequel up his sleeve?

4.5 from 5

Read in October, 2018
Published - 2016
Page count - 113
Source - purchased copy
Format - kindle

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

col2910

Another winner from Near to the Knuckle

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

I'm slowly working my way through the catalogues of several small indie publishers and this is about the sixth or seventh I've tried from Near to the Knuckle aka Close to the Bone and it's another solid entry in their canon. Back to the World is James Shaffer's debut novella.

Texas in the 50s and 60s, family life disrupted by two wars - Korean and Vietnam and also by a father's weakness for drinking and gambling. Johnnie, the son back from Vietnam may not like his father, but he loves him and when the piper comes calling for payment in the guise of Ed Wills and a muscled side-kick, Johnnie isn't about to give up on the only family he's got left.

A violent confrontation, two bullies bested and a family double act splitting the cash found in the trunk of the Ed's car and heading for the hills - albeit two hills in two totally different directions.
That's not the end of the matter by a long shot. Wills wants his money back and to recover some face. Johnnie has his wits about him and a sound plan, but true to form Daddy's weakness for a wager, quickly resurfaces and draws attention. Our three amigos meet again for a final confrontation in the company of some good time Texas gals. Matters don't end well for everyone.

Short, sharp, pacey, I enjoyed the back drop of the two wars and Johnnie's upbringing mostly at the hands of his mother and with an interesting family dynamic, I liked the setting and the time frame of the book. The time spent in Johnnie's company was pleasurable but a little bit too brief. Our finale seemed a little rushed (like my review!) and I would have preferred a slightly extended tale. But as Barnum said (disputed) - always leave them wanting more.

Hopefully James Shaffer has a sequel up his sleeve?

4.5 from 5

Read in October, 2018
Published - 2016
Page count - 113
Source - purchased copy
Format - kindle

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Back To The World (Near To The Knuckle Novellas Book 4) Kindle Edition

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