A SERVING OF DECEIT

A string of crimes and accusations turns residents of a small Virginia town against one another in this sequel.

Twelve-year-old Billy Gunn has had more than enough adventure during his 1955 summer vacation. After braving an abduction and a sniper stalking the town of Highland, he and bestie Kent Clark just want to enjoy their freedom before seventh grade starts. But bullies won’t let that happen; they knock the friends around and take off on their bikes. Of course, the bullies deny stealing anything, sparking back-and-forth finger pointing, intimidation, and revenge-fueled attacks. Even Billy’s dad, who runs a garage and towing business, calls in his Army pals to help out. Meanwhile, Matt Cubley, Billy and Kent’s boss at Cubley’s Coze Hotel and Resort (where the boys wash guests’ cars), takes over the unexpectedly vacant office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. He’s been a lawyer before, but now he’s facing numerous criminal cases, including murder, bootleggers, multiple shootings, and the racist beating of a local Black pastor. Much of the mess revolves around Big John McCulloch, who owns most of Highland and has the town cops in his pocket; his son is the much despised recently appointed chief of police, and his grandson is one of the bullies. Ultimately, the working-class townsfolk find themselves pitted against Big John and his loyal cronies, with a “class war” seemingly on the horizon. As Matt tries to solve the recent crimes, he, Billy, and Kent hope they can somehow ease the tension threatening to tear Highland apart.

Armstrong’s follow-up picks up right after A Serving of Revenge (2020) during the same mid-’50s summer. It has a surfeit of allusions to the preceding installment, such as Billy’s listing the bullies’ vicious assaults across both novels. These references are sometimes overwhelming, though readers new to the series certainly won’t be lost. Despite its length, this sequel keeps things popping; scenes bounce among the tweens and bullies, Matt in the courtroom, and locals engaging in gunfights. Immensely likable Billy and Kent will easily charm readers and win sympathy. Kent, for example, is awful at lying, as in his hilarious claim that he hasn’t seen someone: “I never saw him, not one time, and that’s the truth.” Other characters, however, are a mixed bag. Billy’s kindhearted mother dotes on both her son and Kent, constantly correcting Billy when he says “ain’t” or a double negative. Contrarily, his father is frighteningly violent; his arguments quickly turn physical, and he’s disciplined Billy with a much-feared belt against the back. No one, at least in this novel, really calls out this man on how he treats his young son. Armstrong zeroes in on the town in disarray; it’s more about the culmination of crimes than solving individual ones, such as unmasking a killer. There’s nevertheless some mystery, involving issues from a couple of missing people to the identity of the sniper who shot a child. The book ends with plenty of avenues for another sequel, which could very well see Billy and Kent in a classroom.

A brisk, entertaining story of feuding youngsters and adults alike.