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Crimes in Southern Indiana: Stories Audiobook
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(3.03) - 565 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With this critically acclaimed debut collection, Frank Bill announces himself as an author of fiercely defined vision. In these vivid tales, Bill's southern Indiana proves a literary destination of immense nuance, even as his mostly working-class characters cry out in voices that cannot be denied. "Blasts off like a frigging rocket ship and hits as hard as an ax handle to the side of the head after you've eaten a live rattlesnake for breakfast."-Donald Ray Pollock, best-selling author
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"After the first three stories (which will quickly sift out the Eat-Pray-Love lightweights), it's hard not to think of a Tarantino movie. Murder, rape, revenge, drugs, guns (lots of guns), dogs, meth labs, pot, booze, hard men and hard women, living in a hard land during a merciless time (the 1980s to the present). Characters in previous stories show up again (though in this grim landscape, you only have so many bites at the apple), as Frank Bill populates (and de-populates) his little blood soaked postage stamp of earth with enough familiarity to have you wondering at times if you aren't in fact reading a loose novel (like Faulkner's Hamlet). In the end, I felt this effort does stand as a collection of short stories, most of which seem to clock in at 15 pages or so. The stories are so short that I found myself wishing Bill had extended some of them into something longer. Most of the time they work fine just as they are, but there were a couple that faltered a bit due to the rush to wrap them up. That said, the dialogue is spot-on, the violence, memorable. Does Bill wallow in it. Yes. But what I found, which was strangely satisfying, is a pretty steady pattern of "Old Testament Wisdom" in most of these stories. When lines are crossed and your loved ones are "touched," then you must touch back. To do otherwise would be to ignore "the doctrines of existence.""
— Steve (4 out of 5 stars)
Crimes in Southern Indiana Listener Reviews
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" Like a shot of whiskey, it goes down hard, gives you a shudder. A strong aftertaste lingers. ... But [said in a raspy post-whiskey voice] .. so good. Gimme another. "
— Greg, 2/6/2014 -
" Best short story compilation of 2011. Noir Indiana tales in the Daniel Woodrell vein. Many thanks to Scott Montgomery at Book People/Mystery People in Austin for introducing me to Frank. Freakin' Great!....get it "
— Bobby, 1/10/2014 -
" Rough, Raw and Real. "
— Keith, 11/16/2013 -
" intense and brutal short stories, but really good if you like that sort of thing "
— Ed, 11/4/2013 -
" Not exactly the southern Indiana with which I am, unfortunately, familiar, but a good read "
— Nancy, 11/2/2013 -
" Dd you see/read "Winter's Bone"? Well, that was the pretty side of meth in rural America. This is the ugly truth. Raw in its description of rural meth-addicted America, this book draws you in and you can't put it down until the gory end. "
— Stacy, 10/31/2013 -
" These stories portray rural lawlessness vividly and grittily. Bill piles up a nice stack of contemporary noir. "
— Don, 8/5/2013 -
" Short stories are about crimes in Harrison County, Indiana. This book is full of rapes, murders, drug dealing, and violence. I read about 100 pages and wished I had not. It gives Southern Indiana a bad name and might just discourage anyone from taking a trip here! "
— Peggy, 7/1/2013 -
" This is not a book for everyone. But it is part of a genre of fiction that is coarse and at times violent, but make one consider the human condition and just how far we'll go sometimes. Knockemstiff by Pollock and American Salvage by Campbell are in this group. "
— Darryl, 5/31/2013 -
" I liked this collection better than "Knockemstiff" although both are very good. I look forward to reading this author's book later this year. "
— Robert, 3/23/2013 -
" This is my favorite collection of short stories since Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. It's harsh in subject and tone - not for those looking to relax. "
— Kenneth, 11/11/2012 -
" Good grief...these stories take dark and disturbing to new levels! Frank Bill writes so well and succinctly - it makes me want to avoid southern Indiana at all costs. This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. "
— Lindsay, 10/24/2012 -
" One of the best short story collections I've read this year. "
— Tim, 9/12/2012
About Frank Bill
Frank Bill is the author of the novel Donnybrook and the story collection Crimes in Southern Indiana, which was named one of GQ magazine’s favorite books of 2011 and a Daily Beast best debut of 2011.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.