The Devil in the Valley

Translated from the English by Dirk van Gunsteren

A Faustian encounter would throw anybody off track – but not Taft, a loner. For him, that’s where the fun just begins. A “little gem of a book that is part comic romp, part nail-biter” (The Guardian). Castle Freeman once again proves his prowess in the genre of country noir.
Taft, who is prone to heavy drinking, is going through a major existential crisis. So, the arrival of Dangerfield, a dashing stranger, is opportune. When he appears on Taft’s porch, he makes him a tempting offer: Taft has six months to have anything he ever wanted – but for a high price. Knowing he has nothing to lose, Taft agrees to the pact and tries to undermine the devil’s game. But as the day of reckoning approaches, the last thing on Dangerfield’s mind is to compromise on his demands. Castle Freeman’s laconic dialogues and deep insights into the human psyche are mesmerising. He also “creates a good mood and is very, very funny.” Deutschlandfunk


“A meeting between Faust and Mephisto in the forest of Vermont. Castle Freeman is the master of understated charm.”
Michael Köhlmeier