Tawni O'Dell brings the raw authenticity of western Pennsylvania's coal-mining region, her childhood home, to vivid life. Her prose probes the depths of human psychology and the intricate relationships shaped by this demanding landscape. O'Dell masterfully explores themes of family, loyalty, and survival with a voice that immerses readers in the heart of her stories. Her ability to portray characters' resilience and vulnerability makes her a truly compelling storyteller.
After the tragic death of their father, teenage brothers Kyle and Klint Hayes confront the daunting prospect of moving to Arizona to live with their estranged mother. However, their fate takes an unexpected turn when Candace Jack, a wealthy and eccentric matriarch from their hometown, decides to take them in. Despite lacking maternal instincts, Candace feels an inexplicable urge to help the boys, leading to an unconventional new chapter in their lives filled with challenges and potential for growth.
"On the surface, Chief Dove Carnahan is a true trailblazer who would do anything to protect the rural Pennsylvanian countryside where she has lived all fifty of her years. Traditional and proud of her blue-collar sensibilities, Dove is loved by her community. But beneath her badge lies a dark and self-destructive streak, fed by a secret she has kept since she was sixteen. When a girl is beaten to death, her body tossed down a fiery sinkhole in an abandoned coal town, Dove is faced with solving the worst crime of her law enforcement career. She identifies the girl as a daughter of the Truly family, a notoriously irascible dynasty of rednecks and petty criminals. During her investigation, the man convicted of killing Dove's mother years earlier is released from prison. Still proclaiming his innocence, he approaches Dove with a startling accusation and a chilling threat that forces her to face the parallels between her own family's trauma and that of the Trulys" --
Set in the coal-mining town of Jolly Mount, Pennsylvania, the story follows Shae-Lynn Penrose, a former police officer turned cab driver. With a bold personality and a wardrobe full of miniskirts, she navigates her life with a sharp tongue and a knack for handling men, whether through confrontation or seduction. As she balances her unconventional lifestyle and motherhood, Shae-Lynn's journey reveals the complexities of her past and her determination to forge a path for herself and her son in a town where traditional roles are challenged.
Set in the coal-mining heart of western Pennsylvania, the story follows local deputy "The Great Ivan Z." as he grapples with the impending release of a former football teammate from prison. Haunted by a tragic mine explosion that claimed 96 lives, Ivan's journey unfolds over a week filled with introspection and confrontation of his past. As he wrestles with personal demons and a long-buried secret, the narrative delves deep into themes of guilt, redemption, and the impact of tragedy on a community.
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE Funny and heartbreaking, this New York Times bestselling debut perfectly captures the maddening confusion of adolescence and the prickly nature of family with irony and unerring honesty. Harley Altmyer should be in college having the time of his life. He should be free from the backwards Pennsylvania coal town he calls home, with its lack of jobs and no sense of humor. Instead, he’s constantly reminded of just how messed up everything is... Harley’s mother is in prison for killing his father, so he’s in charge of bringing up his younger sisters and working two jobs to pay the bills—and that doesn’t leave a lot of time for distractions. But lately, he’s getting more and more sidetracked by lusting after Callie Mercer, his middle-aged neighbor. As he struggles to keep it together, things begin to spin out of control. Soon Harley finds that as shattered as his family is, there are still more crushing surprises in store. “In Harley, O’Dell has created a hero who’s heartbreakingly believable; like Holden Caulfield, he uses caustic humor to hide his pain. Readers will care very much about him and his future, if indeed he has one.”—St. Petersburg Times
Pennsylvania Country Noir In der einstigen Ortschaft Campbell’s Run schwelt seit Jahrzehnten der Kohlebrand, glühende Erdspalten klaffen im Boden. In einer davon hat jemand eine Leiche deponiert. Jung, blond, weiblich: Die 17-jährige Camio ist ein typisches Mordopfer. Oder doch nicht? Polizeichefin Carnahan kennt ihr Kaff und gibt sich mit Klischees nicht zufrieden. Sie geht jeder Spur nach und wühlt in Privatleben herum, bis die Geheimnisse ans Licht kommen …
