Thursday, January 6, 2011

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin

Tom Franklin is someone to watch.  Though it offers a sad story, for my money, the book is just about flawless.  People from rural Mississippi might feel that there's a bit too much South-bashing going on, a few too many slack-jawed yokels among the ranks.  But it reads like poetry, and much of it rings true.  The main characters are Larry Ott, who has been considered guilty of murdering a high school girl for decades and is therefore ostracized by the entire county; and Silas "32" Jones, a black constable who had been Larry's friend for a brief time in their youths.  Larry's isolated peace is shattered when another young girl disappears, and again he is presumed guilty. 

1 comment:

  1. The relationship between Larry and Silas was developed very well. However, to classify this book as a mystery or who-dunnit is a stretch. Most readers will have figured it out within the first few chapters. I found enjoyment from the writing style and compassion for its characters more than the mystery piece of the novel. Nonetheless, I didn't put down the book until it was finished and did not grow bored of the story or its characters.

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