I love writing rich with detail, humor, and grit; writing peopled with characters I want to hang out with the minute we’re introduced and will miss as soon as they’re gone. I love a writer whose voice is so confident and vision so sure I’m snagged at the outset and unable to let go until the end. Shug’s Place is such writing, and Bob Strother is such a writer. Think 1980’s Detroit; picture a blue-collar bar owned and operated by Vietnam vet, Shug Barnes. Go on in and order a beer. Meet Leon, who’s always got Shug’s back. Shake hands with Darcy, the lady cop on the hunt for a serial killer. Shoot the breeze with the old soldiers in the corner—they look out for their own. But steer clear of that Weatherman tying up loose ends. This is writing with heart about characters with soul. Take it to the beach or curl up with it in front of the fire. You’re sure to enjoy Shug’s Place.
— Gary V. Powell, Award-winning short story writer and author of Lucky Bastard and Beyond Redemption
Shug’s Place: A Novel in Stories by Bob Strother
2nd Edition, published by Moonshine Review Press (2025), 292 pages, $15.95
ISBN: 978-0-58848-410-5, Fiction
Website Discount: $14.00 + shipping
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AND don’t forget to check out the sequels to this book, Stories Not to Tell and Bad Time to Be in Love.
Shug Barnes is empathetic, wise, and loyal to a fault. He’s the guy you always want to have your back, especially if you’re ever in over your head—and his Herculean partner, Leon, and perspicacious cat, Midnight, make the perfect addition to his able posse. I love this tightly woven collection of tales—and I’m betting you will, too.
— Susan M. Boyer, Daphne Award-winning author of Lowcountry Boil