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A MOONSHINER WITH A SURREAL GIFT

 A COUNTRY STRONGMAN

AND A TALKING DOG

International bestseller and genre-bender My Brother’s Destroyer is a starkly comedic grit lit thriller told in a Smoky Mountain dialect Kirkus says “perfectly evokes the woods and hollows of the Carolina hills…

Fans of noir tales set in rural America will particularly welcome this addition to the genre. ”

★★★★★ “I struggled to put it down.” Frank Costa

Baer Creighton is a gifted distiller of fruited moonshine, capable of detecting even the subtlest lies. He lives in the woods next to his house, philosophizes with his dog Fred, and writes letters to his high school love Ruth–who long ago chose Baer’s brother.

Baer keeps a low profile. Everyone is happy drinking his sublime moonshines — until Fred goes missing. A week later, while Baer harvests apples in the moonlight, a chain of headlights emerges from the woods. A single truck tosses a bundle to the ditch.

When you discover who stole Fred, you’ll know you’ve found a new master of the dark surreal.

And when you see what Baer does to him…

Them…

And what they do to Baer…

You haven’t read a novel like this.

I promise.

★★★★★ Seattle Book Review
“In short, I was left completely in awe.”

★★★★★ Manhattan Book Review
“I highly recommend it for your next book.”

NO CLIFFHANGER.

My Brother’s Destroyer was written as a standalone, but Baer fans clamored for a series. There are currently 8 novels featuring Baer Creighton.

Signed copies available; write to Clayton@charactercues.com

17 Novels; 250,000 copies sold; all 4.1 -4.7 stars on Amazon

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A RECENT AMAZON REVIEW

Taig Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars 
A nearly unparalleled work of modern American literature.

Wow. I just finished digesting the exploits of one Baer Creighton–a flawed superman of sorts, in his own right–and a new hero of mine for the rest of my days.

I’d never heard of Clayton Lindemuth before I came across My Brother’s Destroyer. I read the positive reviews and smiled at the descriptive references to “literary depth.” ‘Oh come on,” I thought. Boy was I in for a pleasant awakening!

Lindemuth is one of the finest authors I’ve ever read, ever. And that includes writers like Cormac McCarthy, Harper Lee, John Steinbeck, James Faulkner and even old Samuel Clemens himself. I laughed, I cried, I worried and I trembled as I followed Baer through the mystical woods of North Carolina and the sultry streets of small-town America. Between the things Creighton would say (usually to himself or to his dog) or think, I must have underlined over a hundred passages in all.

Other reviewers have aptly described the plot better than I could so I won’t waste your time reiterating, but it suffices me to say that it’s a wonderful story–simple, yes, but the depth is…well, “literary,” in point of fact. 🙂

So do yourself a favor: don’t hesitate and don’t overthink it. Just grab a copy of this mighty work and see for yourself what makes it the one of the most valuable diamonds-in-the-rough I’ve ever come across in all my experience in reading American literature. I know that’s high praise but I mean it–I can only think of several novels that have meant as much to me in my life.

What do readers like you say?

JylaLee

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ No Conparison!

I rarely write reviews but felt I needed to on this one. However, I am finding it difficult to cone up with a description. This story has no comparison that I can point to. I was caught and enraptured on the first page. I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down. This story brought me to a world I had only skirted the edges of. It was gritty and enthralling. As a young man my father lived in a similar world, but spoke very little of it. He escaped it by running away and joining the navy at 16. Back then his 6-ft bulky size allowed him to be convincing when the world was not so locked in technology and paperwork. He passed away years ago but this brought me closer to understanding him a little more. Thank you Clayton Lindemuth for this story. I al glad I found you and look forward to more.

S.H.H. Nosenbook

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book

This book has a lot of bad language and the violence is pretty bad. Not a book for young people. But I have to say I couldnt put it down. Despite his raw and brutal ways, I liked the main character, Creighton Baer. Maybe because he’s more honest and still has humanity in him which the criminals he takes care of left a long time ago. He gives his enemies chance after chance. Warning after warning. They keep beating him down but in the end, they pay. The author is an excellent writer. He nails the western NC mountain patois, gives great dialogue, even between himself and his dog. His descriptions aren’t flowery but lyrical and not too much or too little. The reader gets totally wrapped up in the story and characters. Despite the language, gruesome story, violence and adult situations, this is a well written book with a flawed main character you root for.

Gary Archuleta

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shockingly good book

I didn’t know what to think about this book when I read the blurbs but the comments convinced me to give it a shot and I am very glad I did. Definitely a dark book but with some laugh out loud moments. Plus, who doesn’t love a good revenge story? Do yourself a favor, give it a try.

Perry Miller

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   Wow! Just wow!

I don’t know where to start with what I like most about this book. My Brother’s Destroyer has all of the elements of an epic tale Some of the American Hillbilly vernacular can be a little off-putting, but less so than reading Chaucer in the original Old English (“Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage, to Caunterbury with ful devout corage”?).
The hero is a moonshiner of super-human skill, with an occult power, who has been painfully wronged in more ways than one. In true epic fashion, he sets out on a quest for retribution, not for himself, but for his best friend, a dog that may or may not be able to speak to him; and there is violence and carnage—but also justice.
I would not recommend this book to everyone. It may not be appropriate for some children, or adults with child-like sensibilities. But, for me it was a real page-turner that I just could not put down.

Winter

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐   This Book Will Be Hard to Put Down

This is not my usual genre of book but I am so glad I picked it out to read. It tells the story of an oldish hillbilly moonshiner and the hell he gets into with some evil men. It is vigilante justice at its finest.
Baer Creighton has two loves; his dog Fred and his jugs of ‘shine. When some men mess with his Fred and end up injuring him badly, he starts a war with these powerful men with some very bloody outcomes.
There are dog fighting rings and bad cops. Good women and bad men. Blood and bullets, tears and pain. Death and violence. And a very satisfying outcome.
Not for the squeamish but I would recommend this book and this author, Clayton Lindemuth, to anyone who would like a book that does not disappoint or bore. I smiled a lot. With Teeth.

Elaine

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐    Intense and I could not put it down!

Nice to read something different and learn a little about how each decision we make is important and it matters.
I liked the way Baer talked to animals. His kindness and a need to remove evil that was so cruel not only to the dogs but to him and others.
A rare man!

Kindle Customer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  A good picture of the backwoods of the Appalachian hills

I just finished the first one in the series. Being raised just over the line on the Tennessee side, I had no trouble with the dialect. There were a couple of unfamiliar terms but I easily deciphered those by the context. Both my grandpa and his brother were moonshiners, as were a lot of men in these hills. I can’t get the next one just yet but I will get it. I easily visualized the terrain as the Carolina side and the Tennessee side don’t vary much, if at all. If there’s not a sign, you don’t know when you cross the state line if you’re out in the woods. I enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. The characters stayed with me even when I wasn’t actively reading it.

Randall Lee

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great read!

I gave you a damn good rating because I had a damn good time reading it!
I’m not a hillbilly, more of a sodbuster , but I have a couple of friends that are and I can see some Baer in them. Love their dogs and their likker. When we get together they always bring me a jar of their favorite shine and man its as smooth as any sipping whisky, and like you said it don’t take near as much.
Thanks for the read Clayton, gotta go an start on the next one.

Julia Chandler

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Warning !!! Not for Sissies !!!

If you can’t understand dialect, this ain’t your book. If you are squeamish and cry easily, this ain’t your book. If you can’t take a walk on the dark side, this ain’t your book. But if you want to know what goes on in the backwoods, then hang on. Vivid descriptions on the world of dog fighting, murders, making ‘still, running ‘still, revenge and pure dee hate. It might be hard to find the good guy but you will find a lot of bad guys. I read four books in this series in two days, desperately waiting for the fifth! This author gives me the shivers…

Debbi Martin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Awesome

This was a beautifully written honest portrayal of one of the darker sides of life and the injustices that exist. I grew up in the mountains of NC about thirty miles east of Ashville. I always like to read books set in familiar places. The speech patterns were so spot on and I found myself reading in that mountain accent. This was a different type of book for me but I am glad I gave it a chance and will be reading more in the Series.

Kay Cook

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Baer…He’s not a monster

The writing style of Clayton is unique and compelling. I truly believe his spelling errors were intended to replicate the hillbilly “language”. To me that only shows how talented he is..how can an author misspell words or punctuation? By doing it in purpose to get you strung along in the book. I’m sure he has a proof reader that chuckled everytime he found one of these “errors”. Needless to say, I’m a huge fan of Claytons and have as of yet found anything to disparage him about…keep up the great work, Clayton…I’m following right behind you.

2TheDogz

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Don’t Mess with A Man’s Dog!
First let’s address the reviews criticizing grammar & spelling. It’s absolutely appropriate to the back-woodsy southern story/setting, & very well done I might add.
Ioved this book & was hooked from the first page. My only criticism is that I wish the ending played out a little too quickly & I wish it had been expanded upon. But perhaps that was on purpose & will resolve itself in the next books of the series – which I’m ordering as soon as I post this review!

Ron from Strawberry Plains

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Don’t miss it.

I was told about this book by an author that I follow, saying it was a must read, so I went ahead and bought it and got into it. It was fun and sad, and every emotion there is besides. At first I thought to myself, nah, it’s not my kind of book but I kept reading for some reason and the story drew me in, and with each Chapter I was further hooked. Now I am saying Don’t miss this one. I lived in Eastern Tennessee at the base of the Smokies for a few years and saw somewhat first hand what Appalachia was like and really didn’t understand a lot of it, but Baer Creighton, the hero is definitely Appalachian and definitely one to follow. He operates a still and he talks to his dog, but wait, his dog talks back to him, and that life is the background, but only the basis of it. Don’t pass this by. You would regret it.

erich brinkerhoff

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Gritty, surreal and a great read!

This book and the whole series grab you right off the bat and take you to a place you haven’t been before. It’s a world that should exist. Baer, the main character, is an anti hero you just can’t help but root for. He’s no superhero but through trials and tribulations he gets the job done. The dialect is real, the plots are outstanding and I just couldn’t put it down. Thank goodness there are 6 more in the series as of now. Mr. Lindemuth really has something here that people can relate to. He covers some subjects we all would like to see solved and wish we could be a part of! I highly advise anyone to read this book and the others in the series….you won’t be sorry!

David B. Porter

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ More than a guilty pleasure…

I must admit I didn’t know what to expect. However, I would rate this as my top find in non-fiction of the dozen or so books I’ve read in the last year. It certainly is earthy and violent but with just enough reflection and philosophy for me to tell myself this is more than a pleasure for which I should feel too guilty. Nearly all the good folks survive and nearly all of the bad ones do not, so there is a certain feeling of inevitability as the story unfolds. However, predicting the “what?” still leaves lots of room for surprises in the “whys?” and “hows” categories. Relax and enjoy, COVID will be around for a few more months…

Daison lee

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Baer is a great main character

Couldn’t put this story down. The main character, Baer is an unlikely hero. Baer loves his life as a hermit moonshiner old guy satisfied living on money from making the best “likker”around. His main companion is his dog Fred. Baer is confronted with the ugly evil of dogfighting with fights held on a bad guy neighbors’ property. When Fred is kidnapped he is compelled to act. He tries to get justice for the fighting dogs while dealing with men trying to take over his moonshine business and bend Baer to their will. His personal life is fraught with challenges as he writes letters to the woman he won then lost 28 years ago. A rich read. Look forward to reading more books by this author.

Thomas Mabry

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Walk on the Wild Side not far from Home

As a resident of Buncombe County and an Off Trail Explorer, this book became more interesting the more I read. There’s parts of Buncombe (Asheville) that are cosmopolitan and touristy, and parts where an old logging road will take you to Baer’s World. The language is genuine from the words and intonations, there is ‘shine and violence and dog fights in the area, people hoard and hide fortunes, and then there’s the Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate … all within a 30 mile radius. I’m dying to know what Buncombe County burg that Lindemuth used as for inspiration for the fictional town of Gleason. Yes, the story is dark and foreboding, much like the coves and hollers not seen by many and where outsiders should fear to tread.

rlptwo

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Never Read A Story Like This Before!

I responded to a Facebook post for Author Lindemuth about a book he’d written and it was free. I accepted it and took a virtual journey into the life and mind of a Shiner. Baer Creighton sure has some rough edges and is deeply flawed as are we all. His desire to make those who have wronged him pay for their sins is a sinful human attribute but he has apparently been wronged deeply enough as to seek such severe reprisals. This story has honorable traits but the flawed human heart and soul make Baer a force with which to reckon. A helluva read and worthy of a 5 star rating.

Karen K Amidon

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Heart pounding

Know how I gauge a book’s value? Whether I turn the tv off and read during the day, or whether I can let the story rest all day and just read a bit before bed. This one had me reading most of the day and way into the night. It’s gritty and real. Gets your heart pounding faster and stays in your head.

I don’t know why in the world a person would care to read a “cleaned up” version. This is written in Baer’s voice, Baer’s words, why would you want him to wear a suit?

Well, on to the 2nd book. I have to see what he does next.

David

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Resonates with my soul like no book I’ve ever read !!!

As a 63 year-old lifelong avid reader, this series of books resonates with my soul like no book that I’ve ever read. Lindemuth conveys very philosophical views on life in an action-packed story through everyman characters. If you’ve ever loved a love, thought a thought or lived a life, this series will be perfect for you.

tjcurr

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ someone I’d be glad to know

A lot has been made of the vernacular of the first book, but it’s a non-issue: There is never a time that the reader can’t understand Baer’s meaning, and his grammar is similar to that of plenty of people I’ve known in real life.
More importantly, this character is someone I’d be glad to know, warts and all. I was happy to see it’s become a series, although it could have been a great stand-alone, too. The story ends at a logical and satisfying point.
I enjoyed the writing style, the setting, and the characters–I’ve already ordered two more books from this author, and am eager to read them.

Michael

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A unique voice, well crafted story

The story starts strong and stays there. The characters all have depth. There are no wasted words here. A secondary plot seems to start kind of late in the game, but it just added to the layers for me. I will definitely be reading the rest of these books. Baer is a truly interesting character, one of the best I have met in a book. I would put him up there with Sam Spade and Archie Goodwin. The unfolding of the layers of the plot is well and deftly done. And even the secondary characters have depth and dimension. A most enjoyable read, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Debbie Clark

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Draws You In And Keeps You Coming Back To Read More!

I enjoyed this book though it is not the type of novel I am usually drawn to yet, the blurb I read on the story intrigued me (talking dog and all) and I wanted something different to read.
I was captured immediately and loved immersing myself in the tale of good and evil. Wonderful descriptions brought the visual of the story clearly before my eyes and I fell in love with Baer’s loyalty and sense of justice.
I have Downloaded the next novel to see what choices he embraces next and how he finds his way in the world.

G Lambert

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Love Baer

I read the series in less than a week and each book got better. This is not usually my kind of book; I don’t carry a gun, despise the NRA and don’t necessarily believe in vengeance, but I couldn’t hurt a fly and abhor violence towards animals. And I was hooked from page 1. The book opened my eyes to a society that I knew existed but had not experienced until I read this book. There is evil everywhere, and Baer is unfortunate to find it where ever he goes. Read the series and be thankful Baer is dealing with the good old boys, and you aren’t!