Liz's Reviews > The Trackers

The Trackers takes the reader to Wyoming and beyond in the later years of the Depression. Val Welch has been given a commission to paint a mural on the wall of the new post office in rural Dawes. He has been invited to stay at the ranch of John and Eve Long. Long collects art and loves to spend late nights talking about art. Among his collection is a small Renoir.
Frazier paints a detailed picture of the people and times. We learn everyone’s backstory. The focus of the story is the lovely Eve, with each man wanting something different from her.
Frazier has never been known for a fast paced story and this is no exception. He takes his time setting up the premise. His writing is beautiful and descriptive. Once Eve goes missing, John asks Val to take up the search for her. John is thinking of running for political office and doesn’t need any surprises about his wife. Val’s travels take him from one side of the country to the other. Throughout, Frazier plants you right into the despair and horrors of the Depression. Frazier inserts bits and pieces about the politics of the time. Not FDR and his liberal politics but the rich conservatives of the day. I was unaware of FDR’s attempts to expand the Supreme Court. “I set in to warn him, telling him that in New York and the other wealth centers of the nation, they use those convenient dreams to mash lower classes flat and build personal fortunes on that foundation. They slap their knees laughing at the naïveté, wipe their asses on trust and ignorance.” Whenever Val’s view on politics arose, I couldn’t help but think that Frazier was drawing parallels to more recent times.
It’s not a straightforward story, the ending is purposely ambiguous. The characters are well thought out. I had a special fondness for Faro, with his own definitive moral compass.
This would make for a good book club selection as there are multiple themes to be explored.
My thanks to Netgalley and Ecco for an advance copy of this book.