Charles is a white man that lives outside the Penobscot Reservation where he grew up, directly across the river from his daughter who is now an adult and completely unaware that Charles is her father. Charles has always wanted to be in his daughter’s life but kept quiet so she could continue living on the reservation. As he contemplates whether to tell her the truth, Charles looks after his mother with dementia, supports a troubled best friend, and grapples with the loss of his beloved stepfather.

I enjoyed Talty's story collection THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ and FIRE EXIT exceeded my high expectations. Through Charles, Talty explores the complications surrounding blood quantum and his feelings of displacement. This is one man’s profound search for identity, family, and belonging. Talty is a masterful storyteller and crafts rich, deeply human characters you will never forget. A poignant novel about the stories we choose to tell and those we leave behind.