This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. Winter's Bone

   

   Set in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks, the story follows a determined, hard-bitten teenage girl who, in the face of her drug-dealing father's disappearance, takes on the responsibility of caring for her two younger siblings and mentally ill mother. When she learns their house will be taken away unless her father shows up for his court date, she embarks on a dangerous journey through the criminal underworld to find him, encountering violence and betrayal along the way.

   The 3609th Greatest Book of All Time

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2. 2. Under The Bright Lights

   

   Under the Bright Lights follows the life of a small-town teenage boy who becomes involved with a travelling carnival and a corrupt local world of gambling and violence; as he navigates love, loyalty, and survival in a depressed Ozark community, he must confront the consequences of choices that pull him deeper into danger and moral compromise.

   The 17152nd Greatest Book of All Time

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3. 3. Muscle For The Wing

   

   Detective Rene Shade must protect himself and the small Cajun town of St. Bruno when a group of ex-convicts moves in to seize control of the town’s illicit trade; the novel blends noir crime with dark humor.

   The 17152nd Greatest Book of All Time

4. 4. The Ones You Do

   

   In St. Bruno, Cajun police detective Rene Shade must protect his estranged, drunken father — a former pool hustler whose money was taken by his young wife — from a violent killer hunting the missing cash.

   The 17152nd Greatest Book of All Time

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5. 5. Tomato Red

   

   Set in the Ozarks, this gritty tale follows the life of Sammy Barlach, a drifter who finds himself entangled with the Merridew family, including the fiery Jamalee and her brother Jason. As they dream of escaping their impoverished existence, Sammy is drawn into their world of ambition and desperation. The story explores themes of class struggle, the pursuit of the American Dream, and the harsh realities of life on the fringes of society, all while painting a vivid picture of the rural American landscape.

6. 6. The Death Of Sweet Mister

   

   Set in the Ozarks, this gripping tale unfolds through the eyes of Shuggie, a young boy navigating the complexities of adolescence amidst a backdrop of poverty and dysfunction. Living with his manipulative and troubled mother, Glenda, and her abusive boyfriend, Red, Shuggie is thrust into a world of crime and moral ambiguity. As he grapples with his own identity and the harsh realities of his environment, Shuggie is drawn into a series of events that challenge his innocence and force him to confront the darker aspects of human nature. The narrative is a poignant exploration of love, betrayal, and the struggle for redemption in a world where hope seems elusive.

7. 7. Give Us A Kiss

   A Country Noir

   

   Set against the rugged backdrop of the Missouri Ozarks, this gritty tale follows a disenchanted writer who returns to his rural roots, seeking solace and reconnection with his past. As he becomes embroiled in the chaotic lives of his family, particularly his brother, he is drawn into a world of crime, drugs, and violence. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the inescapable pull of one's origins, all while painting a vivid picture of the harsh yet beautiful landscape that shapes the characters' lives.

8. 8. Woe To Live On

   

   Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Civil War, this gripping narrative follows the journey of a young man named Jake Roedel, who finds himself entangled in the brutal and morally complex world of guerrilla warfare. As a member of a Confederate bushwhacker band in Missouri, Jake grapples with the harsh realities of loyalty, friendship, and survival, all while confronting the haunting consequences of violence and betrayal. The story delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of identity and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a war-torn landscape.

9. 9. The Outlaw Album

   

   Set in the rugged landscapes of the Ozarks, this collection of twelve short stories delves into the raw and often violent lives of its characters, who grapple with themes of revenge, justice, and survival. Each tale is a poignant exploration of human nature, revealing the complexities and moral ambiguities that define the human experience. The narratives are rich with atmospheric detail, capturing the stark beauty and harsh realities of life in a region where the past lingers and the present is fraught with tension. Through vivid prose and compelling storytelling, the collection paints a haunting portrait of a world where the line between right and wrong is often blurred.

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10. 10. The Maid's Version

    

    Set in a small Ozarks town, the story unravels the mystery surrounding a catastrophic dance hall explosion in 1929 that claimed the lives of 42 people. Told through the eyes of Alma DeGeer Dunahew, a maid who lost her beloved sister in the tragedy, the narrative weaves through past and present as Alma seeks to uncover the truth behind the disaster. Her relentless pursuit of justice and the secrets she unearths reveal the complex web of human emotions, class struggles, and hidden motives that permeate the town, ultimately painting a poignant picture of grief, resilience, and the enduring quest for closure.

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11. 11. Winters Knochen

    

    A resilient 16-year-old girl in the rural Ozarks fights to keep her family and their home when her father disappears after putting up the house as bail; faced with a community that protects its own and a violent, meth-tainted criminal network, she must navigate threats, betrayals and brutal silence to track him down and prove his fate, revealing the harsh, unforgiving realities of poverty, loyalty and survival.

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