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	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
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English
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Fiction & Related items
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THE SALT LINE

Holly Goddard Jones

A dystopian novel in which the world has collapsed into tightly controlled zones, but the very rich can still tour what's left of nature--that is, if they don't succumb to the deadly miner ticks that caused the global collapse or the insurgents determined to overthrow the drug production that has kept them for years on the wrong side of the salt line.

How far will they go for their freedom--once they decide what freedom really means? In the spirit of STATION ELEVEN and CALIFORNIA, award-winning novelist Holly Goddard Jones offers a literary spin on the dystopian genre with this gripping story of survival and humanity about a group of adrenaline junkies who jump "the Salt Line."

In an unspecified future, the United States' borders have receded behind a salt line--a ring of scorched earth that protects its citizens from deadly disease-carrying ticks.

Those within the zone live safe, if limited, lives in a society controlled by a common fear. Few have any reason to venture out of zone, except for the adrenaline junkies who pay a fortune to tour what's left of nature.

Those among the latest expedition include a popstar and his girlfriend, Edie; the tech giant Wes; and Marta; a seemingly simple housewife. Once out of zone, the group find themselves at the mercy of deadly ticks--and at the center of a murderous plot. They become captives in Ruby City, a community made up of outer-zone survivors determined to protect their hardscrabble existence.

As alliances and friendships shift amongst the hostages, Edie, Wes, and Marta must decide how far they are willing to go to get to the right side of the salt line.

Holly Goddard Jones is the author of three previous novels and a short story collection. She teaches at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Available products
Book Published 2017-09-05 by Putnam
Book Published 2017-09-05 by Putnam

Comments

One of the better dystopian novels I’ve read in a long time. While we may overuse the comp of STATION ELEVEN, I think THE SALT LINE warrants the comparison, in regards to the storyline and “heart” at the core of the novel. I especially enjoyed the fable, The Shaman and the Salt Line, which touched on conservation, explained the reason for the tick infestation, and was woven throughout the story. The characters were really 3-dimensional and empathy-worthy, especially Violet, Edie, Marta and Wes. In the end, I was cheering for them all. I’m making THE SALT LINE a Wendy Pearl’s Pick.

Great, near-future sci-fi . . . ?A propulsive, character-driven thriller ?. . . I really love this book.

What an amazing read this one is! This dystopian tale where a deadly tick infestation has changed the world as we know it, is just great entertainment. Words of warning: Do not read this anywhere near the great woodsy, outdoors like I did. (Was that an itch I just felt?) Great adventure, great characters, an eerie future where only the wealthy have access to real nature (and its consequences). If you liked STATION ELEVEN or even Claire Vaye Watkins’ GOLD, FLAME, CITRUS, you’ll love this one.

A lot like what Golding might have produced had he diverged into a world of arachnids. And, it must be noted, nearly as well examined and executed. Read more...

…[T]he narrative twists and turns…. This mystery-like structure keeps the reader guessing as Jones switches seamlessly from evocative pastoral descriptions of North Carolina and Tennessee to action-packed scenes of violence. Along the way, she explores themes of environmental degradation, technological dependence, and corporate greed. At once dark, disturbing, and highly enjoyable, this is a timely novel bursting with ideas.

[A]mazing world-building, great character development, and a thrilling pace. Read more...

SIBA Selected THE SALT LINE as a 2017 Okra Pick.

Jones' darkly clever worldbuilding creates a nightmare that seems far from unthinkable, from the bug-borne health crisis and climate issues to anti-abortion legislation (they call it feticide) and severe socio-economic division. It's The Hunger Games meets The Godfather meets Robin Cook, with female characters playing all the key roles. Hell, yeah. Read more...

Terrifying and bold...a character-driven thriller with shocking plot twists, jaw-dropping revelations and splashes of horror, sci-fi and romance... Jones' unique riff on dystopian fiction as a platform for examining present-day concerns like climate change, immigration, technology and fundamental human rights offers plenty of surprises, but the most disarming aspect of The Salt Line is the unexpected tenderness expressed by its fully fleshed out, complicated characters who are fighting not just for their lives but for their very humanity. More than just a high-octane, speculative survivalist tale,The Salt Line is also a powerful meditation on humanity's fragility and resilience.

Fans of Jones will appreciate her return to an ensemble-driven narrative, and new fans will find social commentary and intense thrills rolled into one seamless story. Outwardly an adventure story, this suspenseful novel uses a thrilling premise to examine the fallout of abandoning universal freedoms in order to ensure collective safety.

The Salt Line is a ‘literary thriller’ that manages to fulfill each side of that phrase with admirable vigor. It's both gripping and emotionally resonant, both suspenseful and heartfelt. Holly Goddard Jones has a true storyteller’s instinct for suspense, along with a deep gift for empathy. She’ll make your heart race as you turn the pages, and then she’ll crack it open a little before she’s through.

With this intense, arrestingly vivid fever dream, Holly Goddard Jones fully realizes a completely original and wholly terrifying dystopian nightmare. Jones's wild, ventriloquist talent unfurls in this novel like never before. Each magnetic character in The Salt Line is boldly alive to the novel's world, at once monstrous, uncanny, and yet entirely ours.

Southern Living Magazine named THE SALT LINE “One of the Best Southern Books of the Year”

Engrossing... The Salt Line is a well-written, literary novel. Making deft use of shifting third-person viewpoints, Jones creates complex and interesting characters. ...These richly drawn characters and the world in which they struggle provide twists and turns that will draw in any reader brave enough to enter a grim and frightening world with killer ticks. Read more...