“A dense, brilliantly rendered novel by a new master of Southern gothic." —Kirkus Review, Starred Review

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"A heinous crime tests a freshly minted deputy sheriff's allegiances in Wise's stylish debut . . . Bold characters and splendid prose further enhance the proceedings. Wise knocks it out of the park his first time up to bat." —Publishers Weekly 

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“Thomas Wolfe wrote that “you can’t go home again,” and in this highly anticipated debut, Wise explores what happens when you do and nothing—and everything—has changed. . . .Wise’s writing is strongly evocative of its unique setting, redolent with the sights and sounds of small-town Virginia. Fans of both Southern and crime fiction will welcome this new voice, a hybrid of Faulkner and Grisham, to the genre.” —Karen Clements, Booklist

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"In one of the best debuts I've read to date, Henry Wise weaves a brilliant tale of small town, southern noir. This was one of those novels that touched my heart, reached deep into my soul, and tugged at my emotions."—Stuart Ashenbrenner, Best Thriller Books

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"Dark and gritty at times, elegant at others, Wise will keep you hooked from the start of his debut gem. His writing reminds me of S. A. Cosby as his meticulous storytelling ability reaches creative standards that only come from seasoned authenticity."—Chris Miller, Best Thriller Books

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“Holy City is an amazing piece of work. A Southern novel that examines the pathos and ethos of small-town life and the weight of both grief and hatred. Love it.” —S.A. Cosby, author of All the Sinners Bleed

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"Henry Wise’s striking debut Holy City is a haunting story of crime and the myriad ways that one can be punished. Set deep in the rural expanse of southern Virginia, it’s both a thriller and a dark fairy tale, filled with danger and menace, loss and longed-for redemption." —Megan Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of The Turnout

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“Holy City is a hell of an impressive debut by a great new voice in crime fiction. Henry Wise balances a bold literary voice with authentic storytelling in the kind of gritty Southern thriller that’s right down my alley. From page one, you’ll be absolutely hooked into this evocative world.” —Ace Atkins, author of The Heathens

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"'Literary southern crime fiction' has some fine writers with which debuts must contend. The Dickeys, Browns, Franklins, Greens, Offutts, Lockes and Joys make it hard for a debut to make its mark. Holy City leaves its mark. A deep dark bruise in the literary landscape. Bravo."—Eric Rickstad, author of Lilith

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"A devastating first novel. . . Henry Wise arrives with a powerful new voice in the rarified air of truly literary crime fiction. Deeply rooted in the complex natural and cultural landscape of southern Virginia, Holy City is an engaging, original, and sometimes explosive take on what it can mean to go home again. Wise gives us a suspenseful crime story rich with lyrical flourishes and populated by tough, courageous, complicated people struggling with the power and burden of lifelong guilt, of unpayable debts. . . ultimately Holy City is a searching exploration of the fraught space between revenge and redemption where no choices are easy or even right. Not only wise, but brave as well, Holy City is a compelling and affecting read, not to be missed."—James A. McLaughlin, Edgar Award winning author of Bearskin

 

"Holy City is a debut to be relished. Henry Wise writes like he's been around forever, masterfully weaving together a tapestry of flattened forests and sprawling tobacco plantations, along with intimate portraits of the people who populate rural Southern Virginia. Rarely does a first-time novelist come along with such a bold, singular voice. I've got a feeling Henry's here to stay."—Eli Cranor, author of Don't Know Tough

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 “Henry Wise is a talented storyteller who brings a poet’s ear to the southern landscape he knows so well. The dialogue crackles with authenticity and the characters are drawn with great compassion.” —Chris Offutt, author of The Killing Hills

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"Holy City burns hot and fast, and it's impossible to put down." —William Boyle, author of Shoot the Moonlight Out

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"This is a book I began reading with high expectations due to the astounding blurbs it received from some of my favorite authors. In no way did it disappoint. This book is a rare achievement for a debut, and it does something that few can: combines literary quality writing with narrative momentum. As much as I was savoring the beauty of the sentences, the haunting intricacies of the Southern landscape, I was plowing through the pages. The characters, too, were a work of art. The "good" were far from perfect, and the "bad" showed glimmers of humanity. To me, this novel is William Gay meets Michael Farris Smith. I have little doubt it will make some awards list, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it win some. Holy City is "holy shit" good. Excited to see what Wise cooks up next." —Scott Blackburn, author of It Dies With You

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"A seemingly simple murder forces individuals and a community in rural Virginia to confront history that has held them back, beaten them down and left them in desperate straits.  Written in language that is as lush and atmospheric as the landscape which contains the story, readers encounter characters who constantly make decisions they believe will benefit others only to often find the results to be detrimental.  It is a novel filled with twists, taut plotting and people who evoke both empathy and rage.  This is a fine debut that probes deeply into a neglected and dark area of the American reality."—Bill Cusumano, Square Books

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"Stunning. If there was one word to describe this fantastic debut, stunning. Will Seems, I sure hope there is more of him. Please read this important novel." —David Odeen, Goodreads Review