Thin Blue Smoke
Synopsis
LaVerne Williams is a reformed felon, ex-ballplayer, and owner of Kansas City’s best barbecue joint. Ferguson Glen is an Episcopal priest and faded literary star, lover of God, women and liquor (but not necessarily in that order).
Their lives intersect at LaVerne’s diner – ‘Smoke Meat’, as the regulars call it. There they are joined by a cast of remarkable characters, including LaVerne’s devoted right-hand man, A.B. Clayton; blues legend ‘Mother’ Mary Weaver; and Sammy Merzeti, a young man with a bloody past – and a bloodier future.
Thin Blue Smoke is an epic redemption tale, the story of two men coming to terms with their pasts. It is also a novel about faith, race, storytelling, bourbon, the language of rabbits, and the finer points of barbecue technique.
Author's Biography
Doug Worgul was born into a family of preachers, teachers and writers, in the state of Michigan. He now resides in Kansas City, where barbecue and the blues are a way of life. He has been a newspaper journalist and editor of regional and national magazines. He is married, with four daughters, and is a nationally recognized authority on the history and cultural significance of American barbecue traditions.
Reviews
£ 14.99 Hardcover
Reader Comments
Phenomenal book!
I love this book. It's about bbq. It's about Kansas City. It's about people and their daily struggles.
This is such a fantastic book - a must-read for the summer!
This book is fantastic! I was totally engaged by the great characters and story.
A super read - evocative and gripping.
Fabulous book by an excellent writer who obviously knows his blues and barbecue.
This is a terrific book and I loved the characters.
A wonderful book to read aloud, too. Great characters that you grow to love. I feel like I'm a patron at Smoke Meat.
Brilliant book that left me hungry for more. The ending was amazing and the characters just felt so raw and genuine. Excellent.
Great read...Loved it.
Best book ever!
Thin Blue Smoke is thought-provoking and enlightening. Its characters' lives are so rich with detail, I feel as if I know these regulars at Smoke Meat; that I've sat at its tables and witnessed the action. A satisfying read!
Absolutely loved this book. The stories of the characters all come together for a really satisfying read. And I learned a lot about barbecue!
Tender and wise, this is a rare book. One to cherish.
Brought back memories of 1988 and my week in Kansas City and the barbecue joint we visited.
The characters in this book quickly became people I cared about. The writer made them come alive in my mind. This is one of the best books I've ever read and the fact that it's Mr. Worgul's first book only makes me want him to hurry and write many, many more. In addition to the wonderful characters, he made me hungry for good barbeque.
A great read and fun, especially
if you are inclined to move to
the dangerous side of barbecue
An outstanding debut novel about Americana: baseball, BBQ, civil rights, and even the Lord above. Rich characters, fabulous prose....I didn't want it to end!
This wonderful literary book has it all: delicious food, music, love, death, faith, and baseball. There are tears and laughter aplenty in this brilliant episodic novel.