Chris McGinley

Chris McGinley’s new collection of short stories, Coal Black, is more than just a great collection of brutal crime stories; it’s a deep exploration of the social ties and crises confronting people in eastern Kentucky. From petty thieves to poachers to cops, he imbues his characters with nuanced life… even when they face grisly deaths. […]

They hadn’t let him take a jacket when they grabbed him.  By now the blood from his nose had dried almost black on his tee shirt.  With a two-day stubble and his matted grey hair, he looked like a B-film horror character.  Terror in Appalachia.  The truck had no heat, and he could see his […]