Assumption

In Percival Everett's electrifying novel "Assumption," readers are plunged into a perplexing mystery alongside Ogden Walker, a deputy sheriff in a quiet New Mexico town. When an elderly woman is brutally murdered, the crime scene yields a chilling anomaly: Ogden's footprints are the only ones leading to and from her door, casting a shadow of doubt even in his own mother's mind. As more bizarre cases accumulate, each defying conventional logic and leaving behind equally baffling clues, Ogden embarks on an increasingly surreal investigation. His pursuit of flimsy leads for even flimsier reasons takes him on an unpredictable journey, from the gritty streets of Denver to the serene, yet enigmatic, confines of a hippie commune. Everett masterfully subverts expectations regarding character, plot, race, and meaning, crafting a literary thriller that challenges the very nature of detective fiction and the quest for truth. "Assumption" is a wild, thought-provoking ride that solidifies Everett's reputation as a literary innovator.