Bad Day Breaking

Starred review from June 27, 2022
In Galligan’s stellar fourth novel set in Wisconsin’s Bad Axe County (after 2021’s Bad Moon Rising), the trouble begins with the arrival of the House of Shalah, a prosperity theology church, whose members set up a communal living space in a former self-storage facility. Hostile locals believe the church is really a pernicious cult. The already high tensions rise after Deputy Mikayla Stonebreaker roughs up its leader, Prophet-Father Euodoo Koresh, because she believed Koresh possessed illegal narcotics—which proves not to be the case. Sheriff Heidi Kick suspends Stonebreaker, but months later, after county commissioners overturn the suspension, the reinstated deputy sues Kick for gender discrimination. Meanwhile, Stonebreaker’s husband has formed an anti–House of Shalah vigilante group. Fuel is added to the fire when a church member is found murdered in a lake, “his neck and belly sliced open with a knife.” The appealing Kick, whose personality and skills never strain credulity, is complemented by a thoughtfully developed supporting cast. Galligan elevates his already impressive game with this one. Agent: Joanna MacKenzie, Nelson Literary.

July 1, 2022
This is Galligan's fourth visit to Bad Axe County, Wisconsin, whose residents seem stunningly unaware of the name's punning possibilities. This adventure begins with a meaty mystery puzzle: Was there a backpack near the dead body? The answer may help solve the murder. Then a pause to review the country-town problems that plague Bad Axe in general and police investigator Heidi Kick in particular, from boneheaded politicians to lonely seniors tying up the emergency lines in search of somebody to talk to. Then a puzzling interlude, introspective and essayish, before it's back to the good stuff. But different stuff. We watch Heidi do something bad. Will she be found out? What then? The reader waits, a bit impatiently, for these questions to be answered. They are, finally, in long scenes of fine writing and overpowering tension and violence. The matter of the backpack is resolved but almost as an afterthought. Most countrifed writers, like the late Bill Crider, suggest everything will be fine once the trash is thrown out. But not here, friend.

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