Cranor, Eli

A third winner by a rising star of Southern noir.

A novel that reverberates with suffering, harking back to Shakespeare or even Greek tragedies. Rather than misfortune coming from defying the gods, however, Cranor’s tragedy is born out of human deeds so atrocious that their stains will last for generations.

Cranor’s debut is a searing exploration of the toxic heart of Southern high school football culture, including the human price of winning at all costs; think Friday Night Lights with extra darkness. Readers of Daniel Woodrell and Allen Eskens will appreciate the visceral detail in this Ozarks noir.