Synopses & Reviews
A searing novel about two friends on opposite sides of the law, from the author of Rust and Bone, “a writer of immense power” (Peter Straub)On the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, life beyond the tourist trade isnt easy. Locals like Duncan Diggs and Owen Stuckey have few chances to leave. For Duncan, that means shift work on a production line. For Owen, it means pinning it all on a shot at college basketball. But they should know better; theyve been unlucky before. As boys, they were abducted and abandoned in the woods. Though they made it out alive, the memory of that time wont fade. Over the years they drift apart, but when Duncan is drawn into a chaotic world of bare-knuckle fighting and other shady dealings, Owen, now a cop, cant look the other way any longer. Together, theyll be forced to survive the wilderness once more as their friendship is pushed to the limit in Cataract City, a white-hot novel by the rising star Craig Davidson.
Review
“Davidson smudges the line between comedy and horror, cruelty and mercy. His remarkable stories are challenging and upsetting. Dont look for comfort here.” —Chuck Palahniuk
“Craig Davidsons sentences flash like punches, clean and fast and brutally beautiful, and within a few pages you'll find yourself off-balance and cornered, unable to defend yourself, bruised by this gripping, dangerous knockout of a novel about a town and a friendship divided.” —Benjamin Percy, author of Red Moon and The Wilding
“Craig Davidson asks—and answers—some big, uncomfortable questions about the nature of our humanity.” —Irvine Welsh
Review
Praise for
Cataract City: "Davidson writes fearlessly about cruelty, gleaming cartilage and a friendship built of broken bones." —
Time Out New York “A master of boxing and fight scenes, Davidson knows that behind those violent moments lurk the layers of emotion and dysfunction that hold many relationships together.” —
BuzzFeed, “15 Highly Anticipated Books from (Mostly) Small Presses” “Davidson makes Cataract City itself into a character, and brilliantly evokes life in a gritty industrial town. . . . The characters, audacious sweep of the story, and propulsive noir writing make this novel a standout. To live in Cataract City, Duncan observes, is ‘to accept many disappointments; Davidsons novel, on the other hand, lives up to its promise.” —
Publishers Weekly, starred review “The icy chase scene that brings things to a head is worthy of Hitchcock, and Davidson's writing is assured and nuanced even while giving tough-guy noir a good working over. ‘Its a big world out there, our narrator tells us. So it is, and while you wouldnt want to live in this corner of it, its well worth a visit.” —
Kirkus Reviews
“Craig Davidson not only dives headfirst into the deep end of thriller fiction, but perfects it while showing the dedication and skill needed to jump in the first place.” —The Summerset Review Praise for Craig Davidson: “Davidson smudges the line between comedy and horror, cruelty and mercy. His remarkable stories are challenging and upsetting. Dont look for comfort here.” —Chuck Palahniuk
“Craig Davidsons sentences flash like punches, clean and fast and brutally beautiful, and within a few pages you'll find yourself off-balance and cornered, unable to defend yourself, bruised by this gripping, dangerous knockout of a novel about a town and a friendship divided.” —Benjamin Percy, author of Red Moon and The Wilding
“Craig Davidson asks—and answers—some big, uncomfortable questions about the nature of our humanity.” —Irvine Welsh
About the Author
Craig Davidson is the author of Rust and Bone, which was made into a critically acclaimed film; Sarah Court; and The Fighter. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, and his work has appeared in Esquire, GQ, and The Washington Post. He lives in Toronto.