{"product_id":"backlands-a-novel-of-the-american-west-9780451471666","title":"Backlands: A Novel of the American West","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBacklands: A Novel of the American West\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe second installment in Michael McGarrity's acclaimed American West trilogy, \u003cstrong\u003eBacklands\u003c\/strong\u003e continues the sprawling frontier saga that began with the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller \u003cem\u003eHard Country\u003c\/em\u003e. Set against the harsh landscape of New Mexico's Tularosa Basin during the Great Depression, this epic Western delivers authentic frontier storytelling in the tradition of Larry McMurtry and A.B. Guthrie Jr.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlot and Setting\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYoung Matthew Kerney faces devastating personal losses that force him to abandon childhood prematurely. Scarred by his older brother's death, estranged from his father, and watching his mother's health deteriorate, Matt must shoulder responsibilities far beyond his years. When economic collapse grips the nation and drought transforms the land into a sun-blasted wasteland, Matt fights to save the family ranch from ruin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Tularosa Basin becomes more than a backdrop—it's an unforgiving character that tests Matt's resolve at every turn. As he navigates the ranch's survival during America's darkest economic period, Matt uncovers a web of dark family secrets, hidden crimes, broken promises, and lies that threaten everything he's fighting to preserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichael McGarrity\u003c\/strong\u003e brings unmatched authenticity to his Western fiction. A former deputy sheriff for Santa Fe County, he served as an instructor at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and worked as an investigator for the New Mexico Public Defender's Office. His law enforcement background and deep knowledge of the Southwest infuse his novels with gritty realism. McGarrity is also the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eHard Country\u003c\/em\u003e, the Anthony Award-nominated \u003cem\u003eTularosa\u003c\/em\u003e, and eleven Kevin Kerney crime novels. He lives in Santa Fe with his wife, Emily Beth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Readers Love This Series\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis paperback edition from Penguin Publishing Group delivers expansive, lyrical storytelling that captures the last vestiges of the twentieth-century American frontier. Readers who appreciated the scope and authenticity of \u003cem\u003eHard Country\u003c\/em\u003e will find Matt Kerney's coming-of-age journey equally compelling. The novel balances intimate family drama with the sweeping historical canvas of Depression-era America, creating a multi-generational saga that resonates with fans of literary Western fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers seeking authentic ranch life narratives, Southwest regional fiction, or character-driven historical novels set in the American West.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680613208338,"sku":"9780451471666","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_672114a4-4a5c-4815-a7e9-f0a886528812.jpg?v=1734923216","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/backlands-a-novel-of-the-american-west-9780451471666","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}