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47 pages 1 hour read

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Book Brief

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Tom Franklin

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009
Book Details
Pages

274

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mississippi • Late 20th Century

Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

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

Reviews & Readership

4.1

50,742 ratings

70%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

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.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter?

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.

4.1

50,742 ratings

70%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

Larry Ott

A socially isolated man living in his parents' house, haunted by past accusations and a connection to a childhood friend, 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.

An outcast with a troubled past, who forms a peculiar attachment to Larry Ott.

The father of Larry and Silas, whose secretive and harsh nature impacts the relationships between his sons.

The single mother of Silas, determined to improve her son’s life despite their challenging circumstances.

Larry’s mother, who now struggles with Alzheimer’s and is portrayed through Larry's memories.

The girl from Larry’s past whose disappearance casts a long shadow over his life.

An EMT and Silas's girlfriend, who helps facilitate the truth about past events.

Chief inspector of Chabot, who plays a supportive role in the evolving relationship between Larry and Silas.

Book Details
Pages

274

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mississippi • Late 20th Century

Publication Year

2009

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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