On the wild Florida frontier at the turn of the 20th century, sugar planter and outlaw E. J. Watson casts a shadow over the Everglades. Peter Matthiessen’s epic trilogy—Killing Mister Watson, Lost Man’s River, and Bone by Bone—has been masterfully reimagined into a single, powerful narrative.
E. J. Watson’s violent reign terrorizes the region, but as his story unfolds, so does the complexity of a man driven by ambition, vengeance, and survival. As the community’s fear grows, the line between justice and retribution blurs, leading to a dramatic and inevitable confrontation.
In this new version, Matthiessen deepens his characters’ motivations, creating a richly woven tale of power, guilt, and the wild human spirit. Will Watson’s legacy be one of terror—or something far more elusive?
