I think this excerpt does a really great job of establishing Joey's family situation and its tragedy, with his father's failing memory and the way that's weighing on everyone's lives. At the same time, while taking plenty of time to focus on this mundane sort of tragedy, there are definitely lots of hints of a more intense future, particularly the emphasis placed on the missing gun, which is really intriguing. Overall, a very well-written and compelling first excerpt, with a lot already established and a lot of places to go from here.