LIKE LIONS

LIKE LIONS

By Brian Panowich

“My girlhood among the outlaws
Was salty, bittersweet
The things I did, I could just kick myself now
Through nights of lousy dreams
As visions gather in my head
I find it hard to live with the things I did and said
But for you, my friend
I’d live it all again and love you in the end” – “My Girlhood Among the Outlaws” by Maria McKee

The best thing about reading Like Lions immediately after Bull Mountain, is that I wasn’t ready for Bull Mountain to end. So, to start on Brian Panowich’s sequel as soon as I finished his debut novel was like moving on to the next chapter that just happens to be in a different binding. What an easy transition! I do think Like Lions can be read as a stand-alone novel but knowing the characters in depth and their brutal family history will surely add a broader perspective to the storyline, in my opinion.

The Burroughs saga continues in Like Lions with a second layer of kinfolk secrets to unearth, and trauma and aggression to struggle with. There may be slightly less bloodshed in this second book than the first, but I’m not positive, as I didn’t go back to count bodies or mop up any crime scenes. However, there are still the same questionable family values for Sheriff Clayton Burroughs to grapple with, as he is once again pulled toward the darker side of his legacy. This time around, the women in the center of his life and on the outskirts are the standout players in the family game.

I was satisfied with where this story led me and thoroughly enjoyed the view from the mountain and beyond, and I loved, loved, loved the gut punch at the end! Another winner for this author, and I’m excited to read more from him.

Reviewed May 2019