As Good as Gone (Watson)

Book Reviews
There’s a plainspoken toughness to this writer...that has led to him be overlooked in the large herd of fine Montana novelists. As Good As Gone is the latest of his books to forge satisfying drama from the intersection of Western mystique and middle-class reality. Mr. Watson points up some grubby truths behind the archetypal Western tale of the loner who comes to town and dispenses rough justice.... As Good As Gone is nuanced rather than explosive, and its traces of heroism are found not in violence but in a show of restraint.
Sam Sacks - Wall Street Journal
 

Watson is a naturally gifted storyteller, plainspoken and unpretentious...excellent at building suspense, and As Good as Gone is frequently exciting in a cinematic sense.... And even though the novel isn't perfect, Watson is a generous writer, and his love of the West and the people who live there shines through.”
Michael Schaub - NPR.org
 

[T]he virile, enigmatic character of Calvin, Watson...[and the] wistful territory covered here will be familiar to Watson’s fans.... A master of spare, economical storytelling, Watson sweeps us up in a captivating family drama that departs as quickly as it came, leaving us gratified yet hungry for more.
Seattle Times


Whether Watson is describing the inside of a 1952 Ford Tudor, a homey tree-lined street in Missoula, an afternoon branding a herd of cattle...he writes evocatively and with great persuasion. This book is vintage Watson: laconic, dramatic and tough as a dry Montana stream bed.
Minneapolis Star Tribune


[A] remarkable novel. It is like watching the sunrises over the prairies of Montana about which Watson writes so eloquently. But as with the reward of the lavender-and golden-hued sky to come, the ultimate effect of this novel is well worth the time spent watching.
New York Journal of Books


Fans of Larry Watsonwill recognize his mastery of foreshadowing.... And when [all] erupts, readers are in for a heart-pounding read. Watson keeps readers speculating until the end of this tense, fast-paced story of family drama as modern times clash with Old West mores.
Shelf Awareness


[An] excellent family drama from Watson....a very well done novel in which every character faces an individual conflict, resulting in a rich, suspenseful read.
Publishers Weekly


(Starred review.) [S]tunning.... Having received numerous awards for his fiction, Watson is sure to win more praise for his powerful characterizations in the manner of Kent Haruf and Ivan Doig. Readers won't get a novel any better than this.  —Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
Library Journal


(Starred review.) Watson has written rich, sometimes heartbreaking novels...featuring resolute men and women whose very strength of character...has left them ill-equipped to deal with emotional turmoil. So it is for Calvin Sidey.... Fine writing in the grand western tradition of William Kittredge and Mark Spragg.
Booklist


Calvin's "capacity for ferocity," deserves a Clint Eastwood performance. Watson's powerful characterizations frame large and connected themes: family loyalty, the conflicting capacities of love, and the tenuous connections between humans.
Kirkus Reviews