Howard Owen profundiza en las complejidades de la psicología humana y el impacto perdurable del pasado en el presente. Sus novelas, a menudo ambientadas en el sur de Estados Unidos, exploran temas profundos como la culpa, la redención y las intrincadas dinámicas familiares. Con un ojo agudo para el detalle y una perspicaz comprensión de las debilidades humanas, Owen crea personajes tan imperfectos como inolvidables. Su prosa, a la vez cruda y lírica, atrae a los lectores hacia narrativas donde el crimen y el drama personal se entrelazan con una fuerza ineludible.
The plot unfolds in Dogtown, where the brutal murder of a seemingly harmless blue-collar worker raises alarm among residents. The mystery deepens when an elderly couple is also found dead in their upscale home shortly after. As the protagonist, Willie Black, investigates these shocking events, he begins to suspect a sinister connection between the two killings, challenging the notion of safety in his community and unraveling hidden truths.
The River City emerges as a hub for gritty noir, featuring brand-new stories from a diverse array of authors. The introduction reflects on Richmond, Virginia, highlighting its complex history marked by deception, conspiracy, and violence. Henry Miller's sardonic remark about preferring to die in Richmond underscores the city's dual nature. Today, Richmond is a blend of elegance and brutality—home to winter balls and garden parties, yet also notorious for crime and drug activity. The city boasts prestigious ad agencies and law firms, alongside a rich tapestry of residents, from the First Families of Virginia to immigrants from various backgrounds. Richmond's social fabric includes strict manners and a sense of neighborliness, but also an underlying tension that cautions against road rage. This juxtaposition of charm and danger creates a fertile ground for noir storytelling, making Richmond a compelling backdrop for tales of moral ambiguity and human complexity.