The Harder They Come

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Acclaimed New York Times bestselling author T.C. Boyle makes his Ecco debut with a powerful novel that delves into the roots of violence and anti-authoritarianism in the American character. Set in contemporary Northern California, the story follows the volatile connections among three damaged individuals: an aging ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran, his psychologically unstable son, and the son's paranoid, much older lover. During a vacation cruise, seventy-year-old Sten Stensen kills a gun-wielding robber threatening senior tourists, returning home to Fort Bragg, California, only to discover his son Adam's downward spiral. Adam, now involved with Sara Hovarty Jennings, a hardened member of the Sovereign Citizens' Movement, becomes increasingly unstable. Sara, fifteen years his senior, serves as both protector and lover. As Adam's mental state deteriorates into schizophrenia, he commits two shootings, prompting a massive manhunt across California. Through the lens of a father's legacy of violence and his struggle to connect with his equally violent son, T.C. Boyle provides profound psychological insights into the American psyche. Inspired by a true story, this novel is a devastating exploration of human nature from a modern master.