Elgin’s seemingly secure life begins to disintegrate when a twelve-year-old neighbor molests his five-year-old daughter. His wife turns to revenge, intense therapy, and religion, while Elgin distances himself from the event and his family. A chance to escape occurs when Elgin happens upon illegal money skimmed from public employees; he takes the money and disappears. A fresh life is all Elgin wants, but he is so mired in regret and doom that his newfound freedom is more suffocating than his former life.

When Elgin meets Carla, Ligon’s talent for terse and guarded dialog becomes apparent. The details of their lives are revealed to each other only in weak moments. There is hesitation followed by hope which gives way inevitably to the long shadow cast by their past lives. Carla and Elgin are like two lead instruments taking solos -- risky, bright and optimistic, but always drawn back to the melody.

There are many coruscate aspects to this book. Ligon’s prose is realistic and tight. But best of all, he is a skillful storyteller. He takes us effortlessly into the gray world of government labor negotiations, juvenile sex crimes and high priced prostitutes. Safe In Heaven Dead is not flashy or anxious to be pleasant, Ligon stays true to the motivations of his characters and delivers an uncommon novel.

Dawn Ballenger, April 3, 2003