Olympus, Texas: Contemporary family drama might be entertaining, but no one did it like the Greek gods

? UNDER THE LAMPLIGHT-

Olympus, Texas: A Novel by Stacey Swann: Infidelity, betrayal, murder — the Greek deities did it all. Swann gives us a modern reimagining of Mount Olympus’ juiciest drama, Greek gods and demi-Gods, but this time set in Texas. The Briscoe family is the most well-known family in the small town of Olympus — not because of the small population or because the family’s patriarch just happens to own most of it. The family is described as “a walking collection of deadly sins,” which the reader immediately learns once March, one of the characters, returns home two and a half years after pseudo-exile for having an affair with his brother’s wife. Within days of his return, murder, divorce, and treachery wreak havoc on the Briscoes.The characters’ complexities and motives, as well as Swann’s masterful writing (and no doubt the violent and surprising turning point in the plot) earned the book a starred review on Kirkus, a high accolade.