I don't really want to call it a short story because shorts do have an ending which this one doesn't. My fault for not looking closely enough in the first place to realize that this was not an entire novel, but rather a first installment of what will be a much longer piece. I already have part 2 so I will continue on; I just can say yet if I'll carry on all the way to the end.

It looks now that further parts of this series are not being given separate distinction from the overall title of 'The Last Town' since I've read parts 2 and 3 but don't find them listed on their own. I'm not a fan of serialization of novels ('The Green Mile' is one of my all time favorites but I waited until the parts were released as one novel) so I wish I had waited here as well. It's not bad or anything, and seems pretty typical of this author's work, so I'll stay with the 3 star rating for the 'series' overall. ( )