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274
Novel • Fiction
Mississippi • Late 20th Century
2009
Adult
18+ years
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin follows Silas Jones, a black constable, and Larry Ott, a white man suspected in a decades-old unsolved murder, as they navigate childhood memories and current mysteries in a small Mississippi town. When another girl goes missing and Larry becomes the prime suspect, the two must confront their past. The book addresses racial tensions and repressed memories.
Mysterious
Dark
Melancholic
Gritty
Suspenseful
50,742 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Tom Franklin's Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter deftly intertwines a mystery with deep, character-driven storytelling set in the rural South. Critics praise the book's atmospheric setting and complex relationships. However, some find the pacing uneven. Overall, it’s lauded for its emotional depth and evocative prose.
A reader who enjoys Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin would likely appreciate Southern Gothic literature, complex character-driven narratives, and crime mysteries. Fans of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and William Faulkner’s works would find this novel engaging for its exploration of race, friendship, and small-town secrets.
50,742 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Silas Jones
The constable of Chabot, Mississippi, known for his baseball achievements in the town’s history, now grappling with personal relationships and his past.
Wallace Stringfellow
An outcast with a troubled past, who forms a peculiar attachment to Larry Ott.
Carl Ott
The father of Larry and Silas, whose secretive and harsh nature impacts the relationships between his sons.
Alice Jones
The single mother of Silas, determined to improve her son’s life despite their challenging circumstances.
Ina Ott
Larry’s mother, who now struggles with Alzheimer’s and is portrayed through Larry's memories.
Cindy Walker
The girl from Larry’s past whose disappearance casts a long shadow over his life.
Angie
An EMT and Silas's girlfriend, who helps facilitate the truth about past events.
Roy French
Chief inspector of Chabot, who plays a supportive role in the evolving relationship between Larry and Silas.
274
Novel • Fiction
Mississippi • Late 20th Century
2009
Adult
18+ years
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