This crime fiction novel is a well-told story of a violent cat-and-mouse journey throughout the bleak western landscape. It all begins when Llewelyn Moss, a Vietnam veteran stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong while hunting, and finds a case of two million dollars in cash. He made the decision to take it, but eventually went back to give water to the only remaining survivor. When he came back, he found that the man was killed, and he is now the target of Anton Chigurh, a hitman hired by the cartel to retrieve their money and kill Moss. Meanwhile, Sheriff Ed Tom Bell tries to navigate the violent and morally ambiguous world around him, as he watches it change before him and the decline of traditional values.
The novel explores themes of fate, morality, and the idea of “letting things go.” There are many twists and turns with this wild back-and-forth between Moss and Chigurh, and it is definitely worth checking out. Llewelyn Moss’ story is interesting to me. He is described as a rugged middle-aged welder, with a strong and determined demeanor. Perhaps it was fate, but I’m not sure why he would go and explore the drug deal aftermath, especially not sure why he would take the case of money, knowing that it likely has a connection to some very bad people. The idea of preserving and helping one’s own livelihood is the only logical explanation. He wants a better life for him and his wife, and that money was a perfect escape from their burdens, a fresh start.
As the story unfolds, with more danger arising, he turns more from focusing on the financial freedom he could gain to protecting his family from the violence that will come from Chigurh. His success was limited and shortcoming as he was eventually overwhelmed and was unable to escape the chaos, ultimately paying the price for his actions and dying off-screen. There are several changes within Moss, his ambition changing from securing a better life for his family, causing him to take the money. But as danger arises, a moral confliction happens within himself, and he has to confront his own morality and actions, and view the problems he’s caused by taking the money. At the end, he accepts what is coming to him and knows escaping isn’t possible.
McCarthy did a good job world building, being able to perfectly fit his characters in the land he created. He was able to keep the surroundings bleak while also staying involved with the story and keeping emphasis on the characters and what was going on between them. I think that it is a somewhat strange novel, but it is very well written. The development of the characters and the story building was enjoyable. I think that it was strange in a way because of all the suspense and the lack of filter on Chigurh’s stopping at nothing to get what he wants.
- Austin Gahwyler
