The Devil in the Valley

October 15, 2015
Freeman, whose novel Go with Me (2008) is soon to be a film starring Anthony Hopkins, here delivers a Faustian tale in his inimitable style. Langdon Taft is feeling stuck despite the fact that he has his health, friends (well, one friend), enough money, and a comfortable home. So when the dapper, loquacious Mr. Dangerfield appears in a rocking chair on Taft's front porch and offers him the use of his talents in exchange for Taft's life some six months hence, the bored Vermonter agrees. But instead of enriching himself, Taft uses his newfound powers to be of use to his community, turning some nasty high-school bullies into ugly toads, paying off one neighbor's astronomical medical bills and forestalling foreclosure on another neighbor's property, and bringing a drowned teenager back to life. Freeman infuses his morality tale with humor and warmth, making even the redoubtable Mr. Dangerfield a charming drinking companion. Full of laconic dialogue and waggish asides on contemporary culture, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read from the ever-inventive Freeman.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)