Laura Pritchett is an award-winning author who has quickly become one of
the west's defining literary voices. We first met hardscrabble ranchers
Renny and Ben Cross in Laura's debut collection, and now in Stars Go
Blue, they are estranged, elderly spouses living on opposite ends of
their sprawling ranch, faced with the particular decline of a fading
farm and Ben's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He is just on the cusp
of dementia, able to recognize he is sick but unable to do anything
about it --the notes he leaves in his pockets and around the house to
remind him of himself, his family, and his responsibilities are no
longer as helpful as they used to be. Watching his estranged wife forced
into care-taking and brought to her breaking point, Ben decides to leave
his life with whatever dignity and grace remains.
As Ben makes his decision, a new horrible truth comes to light: Ray, the
abusive husband of their late daughter is being released from prison
early. This opens old wounds in Ben, his wife, his surviving daughter,
and four grandchildren. Branded with a need for justice, Ben must act
before his mind leaves him, and sets off during a brutal snowstorm to
confront the man who murdered his daughter. Renny, realizing he is
missing, sets off to either stop or witness her husband's act of
vengeance.
Stars Go Blue is a triumphant novel of the American family, buffered
by the workings of a ranch and the music offered by the landscape and
animal life upon it.
