Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

I can’t remember why, of all the books I put on my TBR list this year – and believe me THERE ARE A LOT, that I decided to buy this one. Maybe it was a review I read or heard, maybe the price was right but for whatever reason I did.

If I had to pick a theme in my books this year, it would be “atmospheric.” Not intentionally, of course, but I’m finding the thread running through my favorite reads of this year at least.

This novel, by Tom Franklin, isn’t a mystery or a thriller but at the same time it is. I’ve never read Franklin before but it’s a delicately woven narrative linking two characters and a difficult problem, in a tough time and place. It’s complicated and dense, like relationships are, but at the same time it’s engaging and thoughtful and pulls you along to the next page. Some of his descriptions are lovely but mostly it’s just about people and the things we do and how we punish each other.

So if that wasn’t obscure enough, I highly recommend it.