Jess Walter, the New York Times bestselling author of "Beautiful Ruins," is back with a new novel, "So Far Gone" (to be published June 10 by HarperCollins).It's about Rhys Kinnick, a journalist who's living off the grid.
But when his grandchildren are kidnapped by a right-wing militia, Rhys is forced back into the world – and he charges off on a wild adventure to save them.Read an excerpt below. "So Far Gone" by Jess Walter $27 at Amazon Prefer to listen? Audible has a 30-day free trial available right now.Try Audible for free ONEWhat Happened to KinnickA prim girl stood still as a fencepost on Rhys Kinnick's front porch.
Next to her, a cowlicked boy shifted his weight from snow boot to snow boot.Both kids wore backpacks.
On the stairs below them, a woman held an umbrella against the pattering rain. It was the little girl who'd knocked.Kinnick cracked the door.
He rasped through the dirty screen: "Magazines or chocolate bars?"The girl, who looked to be about ten, squinted."What did you say?" Had he misspoken? How long since Kinnick had talked to anyone?"I said, what are you fine young capitalists selling? Magazines or chocolate bars?""We aren't selling anything," said the boy.
He appeared to be about six."We're your grandchildren." A sound came from Kinnick's throat then—a gasp, he might have written it, back when he wrote for a living.
Of course they were his grandchildren.He hadn't really looked at their faces.
And this strange woman on the steps had thrown him.But now that he did look, he saw family there, in the pronounced upper lip, and the deep-set, searching eyes.
No, clearly this was Leah and Asher.Christ! When had he seen them last? He tried to remember, straining to apply an increasingly muddled concept: time.
His daughter had brought them up here for a short visit one afternoon.When was that, three years ago? Four?Either way, these were ...