This brief, literary piece burns slowly and beautifully … and will jerk tears out of anyone who knows the bite of regret, the burn of things loved and lost. Blake’s work definitely qualifies as poignant … and gentle. It’s restless … and something else. But I don’t know how to describe that something else. It invites its readers to spin a story from a reflection in a mirror behind a bar, from light glaring off a rearview in an outdated sedan.

If you are looking for something sad, something you haven’t read before, something that will feel familiar if you’ve ever wanted to just put some clothes in a bag and walk westward, try this one.

The audio book has nice production values and fits the story well. And if you love cats, well, have a handkerchief handy.

Thank you Mindbuck Media Audio for allowing me to read and review Pineville Trace by Wes Blake on NetGalley.

Narrator: Michael Mau

Published: 09/03/24

Stars: 4.5

Cleverly written and smart. I had to stay focused on the story. I actually sat down and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Early on I was frustrated, I knew this was a novella (less than 100 pages) at 15% I couldn't see a story developing. I put the book aside for a couple days and started over: fresh mug of coffee, rested, and Swedish Fish. After rereading the synopsis I started over. Again, I was perplexed until I wasn't and then it was over.

This is the trifecta: Writing a uniquely different story, musical chime at each chapter, and a fantastic narrator -- it's a production.

Essentially when it was over, I was left with wondering how would I reconcile my past if I were left alone with only my thoughts. Was that Blake's point? I don't know, it's what I took from his writing. My only disappointment was not locating any other works by the author.

I do recommend for mature readers.

My thanks to the publisher for providing this advanced reader copy through NetGalley.
“Pineville Trace” tells the story of an escapee prisoner through atmospheric travels through the wilderness and country, exploring past and present, while accompanied by his cat Buffalo.

I have to say, Buffalo was probably my favourite part about this novella. She felt like she had character and the interactions between her and main character, Frank, were really pleasant to read about. I think Frank could have been expanded upon a little bit, personally. It felt strange his motivations behind escaping prison weren’t really explained as much as they should have been.

On the point of prison, the juxtaposition between something as presumably tense as escaping versus the very slow journey Frank takes afterwards seems bizarre and unrealistic, though I think this is potentially purposeful by Wes Blake to emphasise Frank’s fear of his past instead.

Unfortunately though, the story was kind of boring, piquing my interest in some places but then losing it just as fast. I think going in to this you should know it is much more atmospheric and monologue based rather than containing any real action.

I listened to the audiobook version which was narrated well by Michael Mau, though it had strange musical interludes which really threw me off initially and continued to seem odd.

Overall, I think this was an okay, super quick, read. I did really enjoy the autumn-esque vibes!

TW/CW: smoking, anxiety

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After being sentenced to a minimum-security prison in eastern Kentucky, former southern revival preacher and confidence man, Frank Russet, escapes. Taking only a cat named Buffalo and a desire to outrun his former life, he journeys to the fringes of society. As he struggles to survive, Frank confronts his past, seeking redemption amidst the wilderness. As Frank traverses the shadowy edges of society, he encounters remnants of his former self, forcing him to confront his deepest regrets and desires. Blake’s haunting prose captures the essence of a man on the brink of transformation, urging readers to ponder the thin line between redemption and damnation.
Release Date: September 3rd, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 140
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Audiobook has added sounds and music
2. Loved the cat; Buffalo

What I Didn't Like:
1. Very monotone
2. Just mid

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

The relationship between buffalo and Frank. It's quite adorable the way he doubts on the cat and the way the cat follows him around places.

Okay Frank we get it you love the cat why do we have to be reminded every 3 seconds??

Final Thoughts:
No offense to the author of this book and I'm super grateful that I was given an arc of it, but it's pretty boring. Countless chapters about Frank talking about what he fed Buffalo and what they've done for the day.

I ended up dnfing it at 66% because I really felt like we were going nowhere and we had actually come from nowhere. I wish something more would have happened but it just seemed very monotone. I kept continuing on because I thought maybe something would happen sadly nothing does.

At first I loved the music that would change between chapters but progressively as we continued on with the shorter chapters it kind of got on my nerves and gave me a headache. I appreciate adding music to audiobooks but having this long banjo between every chapter became too much. Maybe this would work if you had a full novel, but with such a short novella it becomes a lot since the chapters are much shorter.

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Thanks to Netgalley for this advanced copy of the audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Frank’s journey to face his demons was very touching . Everyone has to face the mistakes of their past and traveling the path with Frank and his beloved cat Buffalo keep me captivated from the very beginning . I found the story relatable and cathartic.

3.5 stars rounded up. Pineville Trace by Wes Blake was a very short audiobook that was portrayed beautifully through Michael Mau’s narration. I enjoyed the unique musical guitar accompaniment between chapters. It proved to be a calming addition that separated the chapters and added to the ambiance of the story. There were two main characters, Frank, an escaped prisoner and his cat, Buffalo. Frank had escaped from a low security prison and was trying to get to Canada. He had a vision in his mind of the cabin he was destined to find and live in. Along the way, Frank and Buffalo adopted each other. There friendship and reliance upon each other was touching. Wes Blake did a wonderful job of describing the terrain and landscape Frank and Buffalo journeyed through on their way to find the cabin they were meant to find. Unfortunately, Frank never truly experienced the freedom he hoped to find. He was always looking over his shoulder and felt compelled to keep hidden in case of discovery.

I felt that Pineville Trace was a little slow at times. In my opinion, the first part of the book was much better than the second part. The best part for me was the relationship that developed between Frank and Buffalo. It was a sweet addition. If you are seeking a book that explores human nature and the opportunities life presents then I recommend Pineville Trace by Wes Blake.

Thank you to Mindbuck Media Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Pineville Trace by Wes Blake through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Pineville Trace by Wes Blakeman follows Frank Russet who escapes prison and goes out on an adventure with his cat, Buffalo.

This atmospheric novella was a captivating listen. The background music and sound effects added depth to the audiobook, enhancing the immersive experience. The cover art was also exceptional, perfectly capturing the story's mood.

Thank you Mindbuck Media Audio & Netgalley for the digital ARC!

I really tried but couldn't find myself able to get into the content of the book itself. I don't think I am the intended audience, and it just couldn't hold my attention for longer than a few pages. The narration was good, that wasn't the issue it was the plot itself.

DNF, I enjoyed the voice acting and the sound design of this novel, but overall the story was lacking depth for me.

Maybe this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Nothing was exciting about it. Just told a story that I found very boring.

This was a peaceful read.

Blake’s use of imagery created some beautiful, picturesque scenes and made it easy to follow along with Frank and Buffalo’s story.
The prose gave me Steinbeck and Williams vibes throwing me back to reading such novels as East of Eden and Stoner.

The audiobook was a great listening experience with the guitar chords between each chapter added to the ‘lone ranger’ feeling of Franks character. The voice of Frank made me picture him as Matthew McConaughey 😂
Some beautiful quotes and observations on life in reflection. A favourite of mine: ‘We are all grave diggers’.
This short novel kept me intrigued as to where Frank would find himself while also making me reflect on my own experiences in life.

A great, quick read. Thanks NetGalley and Wes Blake for this beautiful story!

I waited a couple of days to write this review, because I needed some time to absorb what I just listened to. The audiobook format, music, and narrator were wonderful.

However once I started this, it felt more like a journaled journey. It took a little time to finally get into it, and once Buffalo was made a main character - I was in love with this cat!

I almost cried when a certain event happens (without giving it away) concerning Buffalo. The journey this conman went on, didn’t seem to start until after Buffalo led him to the cabin. For me, the journey started after the main character, Frank, left the cabin and really went on a spiritual journey.

What disappointed me was, I loved how he tried to find redemption on his spiritual journey, but it doesn’t make up for escaping prison. How can you be redeemed if your morals at the beginning of the story is escaping a prison? He did something not moralistic to try and find redemption? Just wait until your time is up, then find redemption. The novella would have been so much better if he was let out when he was suppose to, because then you could feel more for the character.

Also the genre isn’t really noticeable. Is this work of fiction following a true story but a work of fiction? Is this work of fiction a literary, contemporary, etc, fiction? I cannot figure out what genre it is and that is driving me crazy.

Also, the journey didn’t really pick up until toward the ending. And then it felt it ended abruptly and needed more depth and more time spent on those parts that made my heart feel for Frank.

If you want to listen to a journal type novella, that doesn’t really flow, but it does pull at your heartstrings, I would recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Etchings Press for letting me review this novella!

3.5 stars for this quick read! This isn’t my usual read, but the audio was impressive. I really enjoyed this narrator (Michael Mau). I thought the story was a little hard to get into at first, but I all came together for me at the end. If you’re looking for a quick audiobook with a superb narrator, I would recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gritty and engaging, Pineville Trace is a book to read if you enjoy prison-escapes and American lifestyle stories.

Pineville Trace is a contemplative, atmospheric novel that focuses on Frank Russet’s internal journey for redemption. Blake’s lyrical prose beautifully captures Frank’s bond with nature and his cat, Buffalo, but the slow pacing and disjointed chapters hinder the story's momentum. While the landscape descriptions are vivid, the lack of urgency in Frank’s escape and minimal plot development left me feeling disengaged.

This novella was really confusing to me because I have not read anything else by this author. I did like how the novella was set up however and it caught my attention. The way I understand this story is a man and his cat journey across Mexico where they finally reach their destination. Along the way Frank our main character ran into several different obstacles. I was confused as to what genre this story was honestly because certain sections made you think it should have been a science fiction or fantasy. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it and would be interested to see what else this author has to offer.

Narration is splendid, I love listening to Michael Mau. His soulful voice resonates and truly sets the tone for this book.

Frank has just escaped from prison but can he escape his reality? On the road with his cat Buffalo he sets off on a journey which leads him back to the places he can't outrun or forget about. I felt like I was there with Frank on his journey to cross rivers, to buy cars, and to confront his reality.

this was beautifully written but rather meandering. the best part was, of course, the cat named buffalo.

You really fall in love with the characters. I enjoyed following the main characters journey. It's a short but sweet story. Very heartwarming

This audiobook hit differently than mos of the books I listen to. I think the publisher describes it as a novel in flash, which kind of makes sense. While the book is told in something resembling chapters, they almost feel like they could stand on their own as short vignettes. This book has more of a journey than a plot, and I really enjoyed it. I'm finding it hard to find the words to describe it exactly but I would say it's also nostalgic, regretful, atmospheric. And though our main character has done some things in his life that he's not proud of, I felt such fondness for him. And for his beloved cat, Buffalo.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced listening copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.