The Lonesome Trials of Johnny Riles

Praise for East of Denver:

"Hill gives up plenty of laughs to go with the pain . . . a fine first novel from a writer with a great sense of character."—Booklist

"One of this summer's most pleasant surprises."—Austin American-Statesman

"A slow burn, but by the end it's burning hot. . . . This is writing on a par with that of top-flight black-comic novelists like Sam Lipsyte and Jess Walter."—Lev Grossman

"A witty, snarky, thoroughly enjoyable read."—Portland Book Review

"A keen, at times riveting, understanding of the absurdities and freedoms of small-town isolation and the dying way of life that was once the American standard."—Shelf Awareness

"[An] agreeable, offbeat debut novel. . . . Quirkily satisfying."—Kirkus

"An eye for detail, an ear for dialogue, and a knack for storytelling distinguish this unflinching novel of rural America."—Publishers Weekly

Johnny Riles is in a rough patch. He's lonesome, he's drunk, and someone's murdered his horse. He spends his days searching—for the mysterious killer, for his brother's soul, for a sober reason to live. In this off-kilter tale spun out with dry humor, Johnny delves beneath stark Western landscapes both literal and figurative to unearth the truths behind his nightmares.