Lana Witt

The titular dinosaur bones in this story is coal. Here in Pick, Kentucky (near Harlan), The Conroy Coal Company wants a new strip mine but first has to convince the landowners to sign a settlement. There's Gemma, a loan officer at the bank who suffers from vitiligo and likes to sit naked in the creekbed. And Gilman, a car mechanic who bootlegs liquor and holds a torch for Gemma. While they don't agree on the management of their adjoining properties, they have other distractions to take care of. Gilman's ex-girlfriend, the singer Rosalee, is back in town and she's brought trouble with her all the way from Florida. And then there's Tom, a philosopher/carpenter from California who takes odd jobs for Gilman to get his car fixed. And last but not least, Ten-Fifteen, Gilman's best friend, who tries to keep the peace between everyone.

Slow Dancing on Dinosaur Bones has the right chemistry that makes good Southern novels work. These characters are quirky but they're not quite caricatures. Tonally, it's not as dark as a Hart or Grisham but it's not as light as a Flagg or Hiaasen can be either. It rides a thin line and I think it succeeds. I was captivated by it and almost read it through in one go. I'll be looking out for more of Witt.… (mehr)

Slow Dancing on Dinosaur Bones is a quirky story about a small town community. There is Gilman, the singing, bootlegging, gruff-but-loveable mechanic; Gemma, the town beauty with a viper's heart; Ten-Fifteen, Gilman's best friend; Tom, the from-out-of-town philosopher-turned-carpenter; and Rosalyn, the torch singer with a nasty secret. It's that secret that supplies the suspense. Rosalyn has an ex-lover looking for her. Fearing harm, her friends hide her and take turns falling in love with her. Meanwhile, to add to the drama there is a big, nasty, corporate coal company threatening to drill on Gilman's land and a skeleton waiting in a prayer chamber for a shot of whiskey. There's good old fashioned sabatoge and danger mixed with ancient love and laughter.… (mehr)