A Fine Dark Line

The Bottoms is a captivating coming-of-age tale set in 1958 East Texas, following the journey of young Stanley Mitchell Jr.

as he uncovers a buried cache of love letters and becomes embroiled in a murder mystery that exposes the dark secrets of his small town.

With the help of an aged black projectionist who quotes Sherlock Holmes, Stanley navigates the complexities of race, blues music, and lost dreams.

Through his experiences, Stanley gains a deeper understanding of life, death, men, women, and the injustices of the world.

Despite some implausible events and over-the-top dialect, Lansdale's writing is engaging and rich with folklore and humor, making The Bottoms a haunting and memorable read.