More than just a compelling mystery or a well-executed police procedural—though it is both—In the Fullness of Time (Turner Publishing, 2025) offers profound reflections on the nature of time itself. Roberts masterfully weaves together past, present, and future in ways that feel almost magical. His lyrical descriptions of the mountains and valleys of North Carolina also elevate the novel into the realm of literary fiction. Fans of Donna Tartt, Tana French, and David Guterson will find much to appreciate here.
Clinton Salter, the somewhat reluctant sheriff of a rural county in western North Carolina, serves as the novel’s moral and emotional anchor. Urged into office by his brother Will—who may have used underhanded tactics to ensure his win—Clint nonetheless carries out his duties with unwavering integrity. He upholds the law but also lives by a deeper, more personal code:
“What are the agreements, the unwritten laws, that hold our fragile human family together? That children are sacred and not to be violated. That elders are to be venerated, listened to, cared for. That a man shall not strike a woman, regardless of provocation. That a man shall not force carnal relations with a woman. That our kinship to the earth is that of caretaker, not ravager. That life itself is sacred and not to be sacrificed lightly. Yes. To all of these—we say yes.”
This passage reveals the kind of man Clint is—and the kind of sheriff he intends to be. Readers will admire him. So do the people of his county, despite the “effrontery” of his being a Democrat in a staunchly Republican region. When a series of crimes shocks the community—including barn burnings, grave desecrations, and the brutal murder of an elderly couple—Clint is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, no matter who they are.
A widower, Clint is involved in a clandestine relationship with the high school principal, Catherine Metcalf. Clandestine because she is married. Wait just a doggone minute—what about that code of honor? Well, Catherine’s husband James has been comatose in a rehab center for years. Still, people would talk—and one or both of them might be fired—if word of their relationship seeped out. Roberts portrays their bond with such emotional depth that readers will find themselves rooting for the couple. Their connection, like much in this novel, is shaped by the mysterious elasticity of time:
“As the afternoon sun falls away toward the Divide Mountain… the two of them are one animal, complete against the passage of time. Or so it seems to him. They have a past and a future full within this moment.”
Time, and the philosophical weight it carries, is a recurring theme. As Roberts writes:
“Each moment of the present… contains a thousand moments that we call past, a thousand moments that we call not yet. And from this the current moment derives its mysterious depth.”
Yet the novel never loses momentum. The mystery remains central, with an engaging cast of deputies—some loyal, others less so. Part of the narrative’s pleasure is discovering who Clint can trust as he works to solve the crimes.
Clint’s relationships with his family deepen the emotional resonance. He shares a warm bond with his daughter Marian, a teacher at Catherine’s school. In contrast, his son Matthew, a successful attorney, has distanced himself for reasons left largely unexplained. Then there’s his brother Will, the scheming political operator, and Will’s son Willie, who may be following in his father’s morally ambiguous footsteps. Through these interactions, Clint reveals a rare sensitivity and emotional depth.
An essential part of Clint’s identity is his connection to the land he calls home. Catherine sees this clearly, unlike Clint’s late wife, who wanted to uproot him:
“Because we are sitting on the land, Clint. This is who you are… the side of the mountain will always be you. The dirt, the trees, the smell of the wind.”
With that observation, Catherine has earned the right to be Clint’s partner. She sees him, really sees him.
In the Fullness of Time is a richly layered novel: a suspenseful mystery, a tender love story, a meditation on time, and a portrait of a man shaped by honor and the land that raised him. Terry Roberts has created a story—and a sheriff—that lingers well beyond the final page.
Terry Roberts
Terry Roberts is the award-winning author of six previous novels, including A Short Time to Stay Here (Willie Morris Prize, Sir Walter Raleigh Award), That Bright Land (Thomas Wolfe Literary Award, James Still Award), The Holy Ghost Speakeasy and Revival, My Mistress’ Eyes are Raven Black (ITW finalist), The Sky Club, and The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape. (Read our review of The Devil Hath a Pleasing Shape here.) A lifelong educator and reformer, Roberts was born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina and lives in Asheville with his wife.
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