The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne

Praise

“Darkly funny, shocking, and unblinking, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne is a tour de force with a palpable rendering of place and time and unforgettable characters. Who would guess that there’s another Godfather saga, but this one exists in northern Maine and the principal in charge is named Babs Dionne?” —C.J. Box, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three-Inch Teeth

“A furious page-turner that kept me up way past my bedtime, a beautiful hymn to the lingering ghosts of Maine’s French-Canadian past, and a harrowing meditation on what it means to assimilate into the great American experiment. The authenticity reaches up off the page and grabs you with two hands. Ron Currie is a literary beast.” —Matthew Quick, New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook and We Are The Light

“The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne has everything I want in a novel: exquisite writing that’s at once gritty, poetic, and wry; an unputdownable story; and the perfect ending that leaves you teary and utterly satisfied.” —Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Falls

“[A] gritty, genre-blending crime saga. . . Darkly funny, this literary thriller delves into loyalty, identity and intergenerational resilience, delivering an unforgettable tale of power, love and survival in the heart of Maine.” —Seattle Times

“Violence, heartbreak, sorrow, and a dash of grim humor are splashed across the pages with abandon as Currie carefully chronicles the fascinating, unforgettable life of a woman who will do anything for her family, her French American heritage, and her town. Fans of Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River, as well as readers who appreciate their crime fiction served straight up with no chaser, will be mesmerized by Currie’s latest.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Filled with idiosyncratic characters, Currie’s stirring, cinematic tale blends mystery, suspense, and domestic drama to incisively interrogate the limits of filial responsibility. It’s a major achievement.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“What Dennis Lehane has done for the Irish of South Boston, Ron Currie does for the Acadians of Maine—lifting the lid on a community bound by the fiercest bonds of history, with all its love and pain. Heartfelt, beguiling, gritty, and true.” —Justin Cronin, author of The Ferryman

“A study of families, power, and violence with the sweep and texture of folklore.” —Flynn Berry, author of Trust Her

“Literary thrillers just don’t come any better than Ron Currie’s The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne. It’s profoundly serious and terrifying in equal measure.” –Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Somebody’s Fool

“The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne is an ambitious novel that revolves around crime but that’s really about class, prejudice, addiction, exploitation, war, trauma, loyalty, friendship, and above all about family. A remarkable achievement that’s also a deeply enjoyable reading experience on every page.” –Chris Pavone, author of Two Nights in Lisbon

“Ruthless, beautiful, cutthroat, gorgeous, poignant, incendiary, and important, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne is simply one of the best novels I’ve read in years. It reveals the sharpest truths, the deepest cuts, and the toughest love. I am in awe.” —Ivy Pochoda, author of Sing Her Down, winner of the LA Times book prize

“The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne reads like a French-Canadian The Godfather, with the toughest women this side of Carmela Soprano. Beautifully written, with a wonderfully rendered, authentic Maine setting that you won’t find on a postcard, this is the rare novel of equal appeal to fans of Elizabeth Strout and Dennis Lehane.” —Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of An Honest Man

“[Currie] never shies away from big questions about morality, history, and what role people play in the history of the universe.” —Mary Kassel, Screen Rant

“Currie’s tale and his powerful writing are reminiscent of small-town sagas by Richard Russo, and are peopled by the same kinds of won’t-let-you-go characters. An immersive book to be savored.” —firstClue

“Ron Currie doing a big family crime novel seems like a ticket to a great time to me.” —Literary Hub