This book was sad and haunting, but beautifullly written.

It's a dual timeline. In 1987 Harlen LeBlanc is employed in the grounds department at Carter Hills High School in Texas. He keeps to himself and is quiet and reserved. Gene Thomas is his coworker, once the high school football star whose grades didn't get him to college, he's working at his former high school. Gene is found holding the dead body of his former girlfriend and is charged with murder, but LeBlanc doesn't believe Gene did it and takes it upon himself to find out who did.

In 1965 in Louisiana, Michael Fischer tries his best to protect his little sister and survive their mother, even though he's only twelve. He steals from trap lines to provide for the family and does what he can to get by. His father, a child molester and murderer, returns from prison, and his eveil sends Michael on the run. He finds safety with an older man - a good man - who is dying and he teachers Michael to also be a good man, even when the world around you is oozing bad.

The writing weaves these two stories together. Such a touching book about the struggles to be a good and kind person in a world filled with evil.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publising for my advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beast of the Earth is a story with dual perspectives that take place 20 years apart.

In the 1980s we follow Harlan LeBlanc. Harlan is a groundskeeper at the local high school. He sticks to himself and is often made fun of by students and his peers. Harlan comes off as a genuine person and for me, it was easy to picture him and relate him to someone I have experienced in my life.

The other point of view is from a boy named Michael Fischer. Michael’s father gets out of jail and returns home which then causes Michael to run away.

Until everything started to come together in the end I did not care much for Michael’s story. I was more invested and interested in Harlan’s story. One of Harlan’s young coworkers is accused of murder and Harlan believes in his innocence. I was very intrigued by how far Harlan was willing to go for the truth.

Harlan mentions his favorite book is Of Mice and Men which is a tragedy. Well, strap in because Beast of the Earth is also one and it’s one I would recommend.

A book to break your heart; beautiful rendered prose with strong, memorable characterization and settings that encompass both Texas and the Louisiana swamp. Unputdownable. I’ll be thinking of this novel for a long time.

I fell for this book because of the title and cover. It’s a sad 5⭐️ read for me. This was about a child who had a monster for a father and he grew up with so many demons.
He’s was forever haunted by the realities of his past and the mundane presence. But Beneath all of that was a lost, kind even gentle person trying to fight against it.
This was a quick read and I hope you pick this up. It’s written very well and I’m still thinking about all these characters. How it played out. What changed him and what didn’t.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and the narrator was excellent. I felt like I was there. Highly recommend!
Thanks Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley.

Thank you for ARC. There is nothing I love more than a free Audio book.
This one was weird for me. I don't listen to/read a lot of books by men. I have a hard time relating as a non man to their language and rituals, but a girl needs to explore other cultures at times.
I loved our main character. I got him. I understood most of his friends and motivations. He was pretty cool.

The Narrator couldn't have been more perfect for the role. He was spot on.