Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Softcover

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) [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 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 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 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 A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind. --David Wroblewski "[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 "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 "A masterful performance, deftly rendered and deeply satisfying. For days on end, I woke with this story on my mind."--David Wroblewski "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 "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 "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)

Amos, Mississippi, is a quiet town. Silas Jones is its sole law enforcement officer. The last excitement here was nearly twenty years ago, when a teenage girl disappeared on a date with Larry Ott, Silas's one-time boyhood friend. The law couldn't prove Larry guilty, but the whole town has shunned him ever since. Then the town's peace is shattered when someone tries to kill the reclusive Ott, another young woman goes missing, and the town's drug dealer is murdered. Woven through the tautly written murder story is the unspoken secret that hangs over the lives of two men - one black, one white Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is a masterful crime novel, sizzling with deep Southern menace, and distinguished by brilliant plotting and unforgettable characters.