Matt Phillips: Second Lies the Son

Sam Carl and Hayes Simms grew up together, best friends, sort of. Always together, but it was never a friendship of equals. They were hell raisers but not bad kids.

Simms’ father is another story, a cruel, violent man who once pistol whipped Carl just because he felt like it. This kind of generosity was extended to his son.

Adults now, Carl is a short-order cook, a little directionless, but working and dealing with issues in his marriage .

Simms is a Marine returned from service in Afghanistan. He’s not quite in-balance with civilian life, plainly evidenced by the sandbags around his house and his greeting Carl with a gun.

Simms has always disliked the Marine recruiter in their town. Now back home, he’s obsessed with killing the man. Carl tries his best to mitigate the situation – it doesn’t work.

Second Lies the Son is a lesson in how masculinity can metastasize into callous violence, and how the past is never far away. There’s a burning fuse underlying this tale and it will suck you in.

Somewhat different from Phillips’ other books, Second Lies the Son is a menacing study of the lies men tell themselves to justify what comes next. For a review of Phillips’ excellent book A Good Rush of Blood, please Click Here.