Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Edgar Award winner Franklin's (Poachers) classic Southern drama is more about the pathos of loneliness than the mystery that unfolds within its pages. Set in racially charged early Seventies Chabot, MS, it centers on an interracial friendship between two boys, Larry and Silas, whose lives are irrevocably changed when Larry is suspected of murder. Some 30 years later, when a local businessman's daughter disappears, the nightmare begins anew—this time, with devastating consequences for both men. Actor/narrator Kevin Kenerly captures the essence of each character; he is especially masterly in his rendering of Larry, from his frustration over having no control over the events in his life to his acceptance of a life of loneliness to his clinging to the faint hope of companionship. Franklin and Kenerly together create a marvelous character that will stand the test of time. With a tone and setting reminiscent of Faulkner; highly recommended. [The Morrow hc also received a starred review, LJ 8/10.—Ed.]—Valerie Piechocki, Prince George's Cty. Memorial Lib., Largo, MD