The BottomsThe Bottoms
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1930s East Texas, eleven-year-old Harry Collins and his little sister find the mutilated body of a Black woman tied to a tree in the river bottoms. Their father, the local constable, sets out to find the killer, but the town would rather blame a Black man, or the legendary Goat Man said to live in the woods. Harry, now an old man, tells what happened that summer.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Edgar Award for best mystery novel. It's often compared to To Kill a Mockingbird, a dark, atmospheric story about a boy facing evil and racism.
You'll love it if you liked
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Last Child
All the Colors of the DarkGood to know
There are brutal murders and racist violence, including a lynching. The Southern dialect is strong.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics49 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller4 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #78 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #426 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #828 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
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Quick answers
Is The Bottoms worth reading?
Yes. It won the Edgar Award for best mystery novel. It ranks #828 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Bottoms about?
In 1930s East Texas, eleven-year-old Harry Collins and his little sister find the mutilated body of a Black woman tied to a tree in the river bottoms. Their father, the local constable, sets out to find the killer, but the town would rather blame a Black man, or the legendary Goat Man said to live in the woods. Harry, now an old man, tells what happened that summer.
How long does it take to read The Bottoms?
About 8 hours (340 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Bottoms won?
Edgar Award winner (2001).
What should I read after The Bottoms?
If you liked it, try To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Last Child by John Hart or All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.