Super Short Summary

Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon follows Tommy Hansel and his girlfriend Maggie Koderer as they bring four horses to the low-budget racetrack Indian Mound Downs to make quick money. Interwoven lives of track regulars like Medicine Ed and Deucey complicate their plans, revealing harsh realities of animal cruelty and power struggles. Multiple races and conflicts culminate in unexpected outcomes and a final, violent confrontation. The book includes depictions of animal cruelty, racism, and sexual violence.