Castle Freeman Jr. is the award-winning author of two previous novels, a story collection, and a collection of essays. He has been a regular essayist for The Old Farmer's Almanac since 1982, and lives in Newfane, Vermont.

The Vermont hill country is the stark, vivid setting for this gripping and entertaining story of bold determination. The local villain, Blackway, is making life hellish for Lillian, a young woman from parts elsewhere. Her boyfriend has fled the state in fear, and local law enforcement can do nothing to protect her. She resolves, however, to stand her ground, and to fight back. A pair of unlikely allies - Lester, a crafty old-timer, and Nate, a powerful but naive youth - join her cause, understanding that there is no point in taking up the challenge unless you're willing to "go through.” In this modern-day drama, a kind of Greek chorus - wry, witty, digressive; obsessively, amusingly reminiscent; skeptical, opinionated, and not always entirely sober - enriches the telling of this unforgettable tale as the reader follows the threesome's progress on their dangerous, suspenseful quest.