Review of Beyond the Higher Ground

[Osazuwa Ogbebor]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Higher Ground" by Thomas A. Brigger.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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We see every day, and even on TV, the menace of drug trafficking all around us. The complications it creates, especially among those with low income levels, get one worried. The book Beyond the Higher Ground by Thomas A. Brigger takes us into that world. The book is centred around a man named Tuck, who had to deal with the untimely death of his wife. Still trying to cope with the demise of his beloved, he was sent to the Appalachian Mountains in Southern Virginia for about eighteen months to oversee the construction of a new prison there. Now, he rented a house close to the construction site, which allowed him to stay among the local residents. The whole story then moves on to how he had to deal with issues from his neighbors, the community, and his friends. He kind of got himself engrossed in the whole drug trafficking activity in the community. This got him into trouble and harassment with the locals. All the while, he still had to deal with the death of his wife. 

The author raised some relevant issues in the book, like the impact of drug trafficking on local communities. How is it that these consequences are mostly found among the poor? I do hope that, as a result of this book, more efforts will be made to curb the menace. Beyond the Higher Ground also brings to light the challenges of losing a loved one and the problems that arise with immediate family members. The book is not your everyday kind of book. It's not a light read and did have a good use of words. 

I liked the exactness the author used in describing the setting, which shows he has good knowledge of the place. The vivid descriptions also helped in forging the story in the minds of the readers. The book also did very well in describing the behavioral patterns of the locals.

I didn't like the use of over-inflated words and narrative. It did almost seem like an academic exposition instead of a fictional story. Apart from that, it was a good read. There were no typos as the book was exceptionally edited. I would rate the book a 3 out of 4 stars. This is simply because of the use of over-inflated words and the fact that it was not a light read. This is just my opinion. Others may find this very point I raised as a good thing. 

I recommend this book to people dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. People who are interested in getting to know some details about the Appalachian Mountains will also find this book useful. 

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Beyond the Higher Ground
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