Over the next few weeks I'm going to share my thoughts on some adult books, fiction and nonfiction, that I've read in 2026. Note that my reviews are not blanket endorsements. I believe there are books for everyone, and different books are meant for different people. These reviews are observations and musings more than recommendations.
Into The Night Woods is E. Davis Enloe's debut novel (Regal House Publishing, 2026).
Set in the North Carolina Appalachian mountains, Enloe's mastery of details brings the characters and setting to life.
"Sheriff Muskey was about the same height as Grange, but scrawny, as if he'd started out tall and fit but had smoked so many cigarettes half his blood had dried up. His leathery face remined me of the crepe paper we used in crafts ay school." (p. 38)
Although the book is intended for adults, the main characters of the story have just finished sixth grade and are looking forward to their summer vacation in this coming-of-age tale about friendship, trust and the dark side of some people. By page two, it's clear that things have gone awry. While profanity doesn't bother me, I was surprised to see the children using it at the opening of the story, before we had gotten to know anything else about them. And the main character's lack of judgment in stabbing a boy with a pencil on page three also startled me and brought to mind a much rougher, tougher childhood. While I don't recall seeing an actual date in the text, the references to Mantle and Maris' baseball rivalry and Chubby Checkers' The Twist placed the story in the early 1960's.
I enjoyed Boyd's relationship with his parents, uncle, and grandpa "Grange." They are a hard-working, loving unit, trying to do the best for each other. Boyd's relationship with his best friend, Roger also felt true to life as did the "free-range" way kids could roam. The difficulty of knowing what the right thing is to do sometimes is captured well. "And there I stood, hoping he would and wouldn't pull the trigger." (p.202). The ending is satisfying, although there is a bit of deus ex machina concerning a cougar.
The book includes book club questions at the end. Regarding them:
I believe Boyd and Grange's actions were motivated by morality. Whether they were morally right isn't a simple yes/no answer where life and death moments are involved and the weight of lives are in the balance.
I'm not sure the book benefits from a few asides about racism and civil rights. Those moments almost felt like a different story that took the focus away from the main conflict.
I don't know Appalachian history of the 1960's, so I can't comment on historical accuracy.
Women don't play a big role in the story. Boyd's comment on p. 13 about party line phones showed a lack of respect . "Old women," I said, "should not be allowed on the phone during daylight hours."
My review is based on a copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was given or expected in exchange for my honest review.
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