I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Doc Ebersole has a serious morphine habit, one that ruined his medical career and left him performing back-alley abortions in San Antonio while being haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams. When a young woman arrives at his doorstep searching for an abortion, the two slowly bond as her spiritual power to heal begins to affect Doc. Steve Earle narrates his novel of despair, magic, and 1960s history with a solid Southern twang that lends authenticity to the story. He proves versatile in creating voices for his characters, switching between Southern and Spanish and flat Midwestern accents. However, Earle occasionally fails to adequately distinguish between his narration and Doc's dialogue, which can confuse listeners. Additionally, his female voices could use some refinement, as they sometimes disrupt the narrative flow. A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hardcover. (May)