Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

Spoilers welcome on this topic for the entire book.
When These Mountains Burn
We are discussing this book with one spoiler comment thread rather than multiple spoilers welcome segments.

Our usual segment style of commenting included summaries on each chapter group; for this book we will list characters and use broad strokes for summaries rather than that much detail. Feedback welcome.

The story introduces characters Ray Mathis and off stage, his son Ricky Mathis.

I finished the book so my summary ******including spoilers **** will go through the entire novel; but first more character introductions.

»»» We meet Denny Rattler, a heroin addict, and Leah Green, a sheriff's deputy. An undercover DEA agent, Rodriguez works with handler Ron Holland to gather evidence of the drug trade in the area partially led by Watty Freeman.

»»» Ray Mathis, Ricky's father, is Leah's uncle. Ray has tried to help Ricky get off drugs but it isn't working, and Ray is forced to pay Watty the last of his savings to pay Ricky's debt.

»»» Ricky splits and meets up with Denny, who isn't quite as far gone, and who witnesses Ricky as he overdoses.

»»» In a nutshell, Rodriguez is trying to get enough evidence of the drug activity on the Cherokee land, Leah is trying to talk sense into the grief stricken Ray, and Ray, he just wants revenge.

»»» Does the revenge give Ray closure or just tank the DEA case? In a fast paced denouement Denny is blackmailed by Watty into killing Ray. Best laid plans, as they say. In some touching scenes Denny realizes who Ray is, and the good guys have a renewed chance to not only get Watty, but the level above too.

I was glad to continue with the Kindle version though also used an audible credit to listen to the last half of the book. I found the writing to be beautifully done, even in such a bleak story.
David Joy's words - by recognizing the pain and unrelenting addictions, and by giving voice to the pain, illuminate both the human suffering, and the human strength. I found gems of quotes throughout.

I listened to the audio version and agree the writing was very well done though the story was dark.

The narration at times was perhaps a bit too authentic portraying Ray's laconic dialogue style so I had to download the e-version of the book because there were a few times I could not make out what he was saying.

I thought the ending was realistic in that we don't know what happened with Denny. No happy ending but maybe a glimmer of hope for him.

Sandi, yes the dialogue is very authentic. I found the print version to be a benefit to reread the insightful passages, which the book is chock full of. The actions and reactions of the characters felt very authentic too, often painfully so. Denny’s attempts to not use, only to have an uncontrollable urge was frightening to contemplate.
*******spoiler*********
I also liked the ending, the open ended path for Denny and the turning point for Ray leave us with a lot to think about.