A boyhood reminiscence of a mysterious murder in East Texas during the Great Depression. Lansdale's writing is suspenseful and spare, and he creates an unflinching portrayal of Southern racism at its worst. An eerie, atmospheric read. Followed by the equally well written
A Fine, Dark Line, an intriguing reinterpretation of the 50s coming of age novel. It's about a boy whose family owns a small town drive-in who tries to solve a mystery of a murder, but the true draw here is the richly drawn characters.
