While I was not completely taken with the main plot of the book, the final chapter and the epilogue were superb. The epilogue especially salvaged what otherwise would have been a disappointing end to The Border Trilogy.

It was great to be able to get John Grady Cole and Billy Parham together in this novel, but it felt like there was a lot of missed opportunities that could have utilized the first two books of the trilogy. John Grady Cole's character also just got done so dirty. Maybe I am not just enough of a romantic at heart to appreciate his story here, but it did not feel like there was enough there to justify how dumb he was here. Other than him being young, I guess.

What this book did not lack was of course McCarthy's masterful prose and profound insight. I am amazed that be this underwhelmed yet completely awed at the same time.