Brief Description
In a small Mississippi town, two men are torn apart by circumstance and reunited by tragedy, in this resonant new novel from the award-winning author of the critically acclaimed "Hell at the Breech."
Learn More about the Book
The classic trifecta of talent, heart, and a bone-deep sense of storytelling .A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind.
David Wroblewski
A new Tom Franklin novel is always a reason to get excited, but
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is more a cause for celebration. What a great novel by a great novelist.
Dennis LehaneA powerful and resonant novel from Tom Franklin critically acclaimed author of
Smonk and
Hell at the Breech Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter tells the riveting story of two boyhood friends, torn apart by circumstance, who are brought together again by a terrible crime in a small Mississippi town. An extraordinary novel that seamlessly blends elements of crime and Southern literary fiction,
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is a must for readers of Larry Brown, Pete Dexter, Ron Rash, and Dennis Lehane."
On the Back Cover
In the 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood pals in a small town in rural Mississippi. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry was the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, black single mother. But then Larry took a girl to a drive-in movie and she was never seen or heard from again. He never confessed . . . and was never charged.
More than twenty years have passed. Larry lives a solitary, shunned existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has become the town constable. And now another girl has disappeared, forcing two men who once called each other "friend" to confront a past they've buried for decades.
About the Author
Tom Franklin is the New York Times bestselling author of Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award. His previous works include Poachers, Hell at the Breech, and Smonk. He teaches in the University of Mississippi's MFA program.
Review Quotes
1. "[A] terrific new novel....If you're looking for a smart, thoughtful novel that sinks deep into a Southern hamlet of the American psyche, "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" is your next book."--Washington Post
2. "A new Tom Franklin novel is always a reason to get excited, but "Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter" is more--a cause for celebration. What a great novel by a great novelist."--Dennis Lehane
3. "A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind."--David Wroblewski
4. "Long after the other 75 novels of suspense you've read this year merge in your memory, you'll vividly recall this novel. Franklin has written not just a thriller of the first order, but a very fine novel, indeed."--Richard Russo
5. "Beautiful writing, a spot-on sense of place, wickedly funny dialogue, and an emotionally potent story charge this highly original, literary crime offering from master stylist Tom Franklin."--George Pelecanos
6. "A ripping good mystery, this novel also has depth and a subtle literary side, as the local area comes to life through the writer's cinematic descriptive phrases and a large and colorful cast of supporting characters. Highly recommended."--Library Journal (starred review)
7. A ripping good mystery, this novel also has depth and a subtle literary side, as the local area comes to life through the writer s cinematic descriptive phrases and a large and colorful cast of supporting characters. Highly recommended. --Library Journal (starred review)"
8. Long after the other 75 novels of suspense you ve read this year merge in your memory, you ll vividly recall this novel. Franklin has written not just a thriller of the first order, but a very fine novel, indeed. --Richard Russo"
9. Beautiful writing, a spot-on sense of place, wickedly funny dialogue, and an emotionally potent story charge this highly original, literary crime offering from master stylist Tom Franklin. --George Pelecanos"
10. A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind. --David Wroblewski"
11. A new Tom Franklin novel is always a reason to get excited, but Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is more a cause for celebration. What a great novel by a great novelist. --Dennis Lehane"
12. [A] terrific new novel .If you re looking for a smart, thoughtful novel that sinks deep into a Southern hamlet of the American psyche, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is your next book. --Washington Post"
