Press Profiles - A.D. Matson

Prior to writing The Wake of the Hound Dogs, A.D. Matson worked as a political speechwriter, giving him a close-up of the bizarre side of America and the humor in all of it. Matson grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a place which inspired much of the material in his debut novel. He currently resides in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Jill Grinager is holding her life together with one hand—literally. As the one-armed owner of the only funeral home in the fading small town of Rockdale, Minnesota, Jill’s days are already grim. Add in her responsibilities as the guardian of her Elvis-obsessed nephew, Randall, and her life feels like a tragic comedy. When Jill learns that a bully from her past, Vicky Veitch, is returning to town, things take a sharp turn for the worse.

Now a rising political star, Vicky has orchestrated a lavish funeral for her infamous father-in-law, a man whose ruthless mentorship helped her transform from a grade school tormentor into a powerhouse politician. For Jill, it’s just another funeral to get through. But for Vicky, it’s the perfect opportunity to cement her political image.

However, what starts as a media spectacle quickly spirals into chaos. Through a series of fatal mishaps, comical criminal blunders, and bad luck, Vicky’s polished facade begins to crumble. Jill and her rhinestone nephew find themselves the unlikely obstacles standing between Vicky and her personal ambitions.