Watershed

A gripping and intellectually provocative thriller that explores race, vigilante justice, and moral ambiguity in contemporary America.

In Watershed, Percival Everett delivers a powerful and unsettling story about Robert Hawks, a hydrologist living in the remote wilderness of Colorado. When Hawks witnesses the brutal lynching of a young Black man, he is faced with a terrible choice: report the crime through official channels that have historically failed to deliver justice, or take matters into his own hands.

As Hawks becomes increasingly consumed by the pursuit of the perpetrators, Everett crafts a tense psychological drama that examines the limits of the law and the dangerous allure of vigilante justice. The novel explores how violence begets violence and questions whether true justice can ever be achieved through revenge.

Set against the stark beauty of the American West, Watershed is both a thriller and a philosophical meditation on race, morality, and the American justice system. Everett's spare, precise prose builds tension while forcing readers to confront uncomfortable questions about complicity, action, and the price of seeking justice in an unjust world.

A masterful work from one of America's most important contemporary writers, Watershed is a novel that will haunt readers long after the final page.

Key themes: Racial violence, vigilante justice, moral ambiguity, American West, revenge vs. justice, systemic racism, ethical dilemmas