Roots Down to Hell by noir author Matthew Louis is an intense read that immediately grabs hold of you, unrelenting until the story’s dramatic closure. We enter the mind of Kevin Chapman, a broken and desperate man clinging to the edge of his sanity. When his life comes crashing down, he commits a terrible crime. Through the mind of Kevin, we see a killer attempt to build back some semblance of normalcy at whatever cost, using cruel wit, dizzying tenacity, and a ruthlessness only found in the darkest moments of despair. Can he ever be redeemed?

Kevin is a smart young man, but pessimistic about current times, seeing broken and corrupt people in one form or another, and lamenting internally how it reflects the state of Western civilization. This was also a reflection of how he thought about himself. His horrible actions are justified in his thoughts, though he still has the human struggle of coming to terms with such an act. However with each success, whether through chance or methodical, he gained confidence in himself. This dark path was interrupted by a Christian girl, holding the key to a better life.