When the depression hits the Hornbeck family hard, its patriarch, JC, a religious zealot, robs a bank in Missouri’s bootheel. Later, in Alabama, he is put on trial as a communist. Keen to escape his father’s religious hypocrisy, JC’s teenage son, Monroe, steals his father’s horse and heads to California; along the way, he experiences life-changing events that ultimately define him as a man.
In the wake of Dora’s abrupt disappearance, Monroe is sucked into a dangerous world he knows nothing about, forcing his 10-year-old daughter, Shelda, to fend for herself and her younger siblings on the unforgiving streets of Mexico.
Monroe delves into the Vazquez family’s expanding business, but he quickly realizes he’s in over his head when the younger members steer the enterprise towards dangerous and lethal paths. Meanwhile, Dora tends to her wounds and socializes in Lake Tahoe’s casinos, frequented by both the Rat Pack and notorious mobsters. In this chaotic situation, Shelda steps up, ingeniously finding ways to find food for herself and her siblings. However, she swiftly comes to realise that their struggle to survive won’t be the greatest challenge they’ll face.
Congratulations on The Baloney Trail, a story filled with memorable characters, indelible scenes, authentic dialogue, and unforgettable details that pulls readers into the scenes and helps them empathize with the human condition in a manner reminiscent of Steinbeck.
William Mike KielkopfAuthor, Journalist, and Language Educator
Weighty, insightful, and a literal encounter in authenticity, “Perpetual Gloom” is aptly titled, not only for the darkness the time period encapsulates, but the consistent undertones of despair and hopelessness shrouding the Hornbeck’s and others like them.
The parallels between the treatment of oppressed, marginalized, and stigmatized groups in “Perpetual Gloom” and those in today’s society do not go unnoticed.
Reader Views
A vivid portrait of Depression-era history. Johnson excels at weaving together rich historical detail, along with immersive colloquial dialogue that never seems to slip, even as it shifts between different regions of America. The familial relationships feel vibrant and authentic, while the undertone of philosophical questions about the Great Depression drives the plot and characters forward. The visceral story and three-dimensional characters make this novel a thoroughly compelling and thought-provoking portrait of the past.
Self-Publishing Review
READER REVIEWS
A Modern Steinbeck & Great Read! A wonderfully engaging, well written saga that will sweep you along into a world worthy of comparison to Steinbeck. I can't praise this writer enough for bringing such a great work to the public!
I can't wait to see where this saga will lead next.
I highly recommend it as more than just a good read!
Alex AAuthor
I usually read nonfiction. I prefer my entertainment to remain grounded in reality. The fact that this fiction is inspired by true events, gives the book that additional bedrock of authenticity. One of the most engaging works I've read in a while.
C. MoreReader
Compelling and True to Life! The story brings out the character of the times and locations and weaves an engaging story that draws you in to find out what happens next. The language and phrases used in the book bring to life the colorfulness of the period.
Sandy JohnstoneUnited States
Weighty, insightful, and a literal encounter in authenticity, “Perpetual Gloom” is aptly titled, not only for the darkness the time period encapsulates, but the consistent undertones of despair and hopelessness shrouding the Hornbeck’s and others like them.
The parallels between the treatment of oppressed, marginalized, and stigmatized groups in “Perpetual Gloom” and those in today’s society do not go unnoticed.
Reader Views
“Super Fantastic!
Their story really grabs your attention right from the start. The accounts are vividly described transporting you from your world into theirs. I especially appreciated the historical notes and the attention to detail. The trials and tribulations of uprooting oneself from one area of the country to another and only being able to carry the necessities is something that I can relate to. This book transcends anything that I have recently read and did not want it to end. I eagerly await the next one. Make haste."
madvaqUnited States
A wonderfully engaging, well written saga that will sweep you along into a world worthy of comparison to Steinbeck. I can't praise this writer enough for bringing such a great work to the public!
I can't wait to see where this saga will lead next.
I highly recommend it as more than just a good read!!
Alex S.Goodreads
I just completed probably the hardest book I've ever read in my life...It traces a part of American history that most of the people I know in my life came from. These are stories that my family and the families I know whisper about in the dark, but they never say anything about in the shining light of day. This is a modern-day Steinbeck who touches a feeling and emotion of Americana that really should be examined, given the kind of future that we seem to be moving in today.
Daniel Flora, Artist, Philosopher, Educator
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
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Monroe delves into the Vazquez family’s expanding business, but he quickly realizes he’s in over his head when the younger members steer the enterprise towards dangerous and lethal paths. Meanwhile, Dora tends to her wounds and socializes in Lake Tahoe’s casinos, frequented by both the Rat Pack and notorious mobsters.
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