Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

By Tom Franklin
     

Mississippi... M I Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter I Crooked Letter Crooked Letter I Humpback Humpback I

Young children have used this formula for years to help spell the name of this southern state. In the early seventies racism was still very much alive and well and races were not allowed to mix.

Two young boys, Larry Ott and Silas Jones formed a deep friendship during that time that had to be hidden from adults and other children alike.

They played in the woods between their houses, sharing dreams, ambitions and long summer days.

Many years later Silas returns and becomes a local cop. His friendship with Larry has dissolved, and he makes no effort to resurrect it.

Larry is the odd one. In high school he dates a young girl who disappeared and was never seen again, and the town has dubbed him ‘Scary Larry.’ He lives in his old home place overrun with papers and many, many books - all horror, his favorite author being Stephen King.

When another girl disappears all eyes turn once more to Larry. Silas finds that he must defend his once secret friend and let the past be revealed in the present.

I loved the writing in this book. The lazy summer days as the boys played in the woods and the lead-up to the present was right on. The reader gets a hint early on that there is something from the past creeping up, but when it explodes on the scene there is a sense of amazement. I think will go back and look for Tom Franklin’s earlier works.