The Whirlpool of Lebanon
There’s something in the water in Lebanon, Kansas.
Zeb Stout is an eccentric rancher with a sick wife and a field of junkyard sculptures. As hope fades, a whirlpool appears in the pasture, offering a choice he never imagined.
Consequences ripple through Lebanon. Calves wander down Main Street. Rumors spread of impossible recoveries. Neighbors vanish. Soon the entire town is drawn to Stout Ranch, desperate to drink, to heal, to be young.
The Whirlpool of Lebanon is a surreal and darkly comic novel about love, longing, and the terrible beauty of second chances. This is what happens when a miracle arrives—and refuses to leave.
“A rollicking joyride through small-town Kansas where the characters are as big as their hearts. The story sucked me in with the same awe and mystery as the whirlpool spinning at its center. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to go back in time—for better or worse—then this book is for you. I loved every page.”
Becky Mandelbaum, author of Bad Kansas (Flannery O’Connor Award)
“A well-crafted comedy about the bad side of miracles. Pass expertly blends humor with moments of darkness, and the pacing stays strong throughout, picking up speed toward the end and racing smoothly along to the finish.”
Kirkus Reviews · “Get It”
“An exquisitely constructed novel with a large cast of believable, well-rounded characters you come to care about. Pass captures the nuances of High Plains village life, which many have attempted but few have achieved.”
Bryan L. Jones, author of North of the Platte, South of the Niobrara
“Strange, darkly funny, and surprisingly emotional. This book takes the idea of a miracle and turns it into something both beautiful and unsettling.”
Crystal · advance review via NetGalley
“There is a profound sense of place where it truly feels like you’re reading about real people that populate a real town in the sticks of Kansas. An accomplished balance of absurdity and humour with the grounded, delicate fears and hopes that encompass the most diverse of personalities.”
Ashlee Sawyer · advance review via NetGalley
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