The Evil To Come

THE EVIL TO COME is Thomas Holland’s fourth novel in the Big Ray Elmore series, is set in the town of Split Tree, Arkansas in 1964. Someone shot Dave Tucker as he sat on his tractor. Ray, the town’s police chief, tries unsuccessfully to save his life, using the medical training he got in the navy. A couple of days later, a high school football player is shot during a big game. Undercurrents amongst the townsfolk, his wife’s manic depression, trying to train a new young officer, and trying to save his job when his first love’s husband tries to oust him all add to the pressure. The characters are well developed and multi-faceted, and the layers of connection in the small community run deep, and often hidden. The sense of place and atmosphere are strong, with the setting offering visceral elements to the story. Ray’s frustration as he tries to put the pieces together from a killer who always seems one step ahead drive the story, and how he finally puts together the final piece, understands the motive, and finesses the confrontation make the book a solid, satisfying read.