Lit

Tim Sandlin is back with a deliciously subversive take on a "cozy" mystery that deftly, shrewdly and humorously reflects our turbulent times.

In a small town in the woods of northwest Wyoming, Kasey Cobb lives alone in a cabin, runs a drive-through coffee kiosk, and hangs out at the library, reading the classics. He's the least-likely guy to become the center of a culture clash... and death. Yet that's what happens when he strays past a book-bonfire, ignited by a pastor and his hapless followers, and inadvertently rescues a self-important (drunk) author from being burned with his obscure novel.

From that moment on, Kasey's life becomes a whirlwind that sweeps up a laconic lawman, a pissed off grizzly bear, a relentless podcaster, a sensuous librarian obsessed with death, a fierce female rancher and, most troublesome of all, a devious murderer. And yet, amidst the chaos, Kasey chases another shot at a lasting love, even if it might kill him.

Praise for LIT

"Wacky fun. Mystery fans with a love of the quirky will find much to enjoy here.Think Kinky Friedman, if he lived in northwestern Wyoming." Kirkus Reviews, Editor's Pick

"Sandlin is a national treasure. If you're looking for the comic heir to Charles Portis, look no further. LIT finds him at the top of his game, as droll, observant, and breezy as ever. I can't tell you how much fun it was being back in the world of GroVont!" Jonathan Evison, author of The Heart of Winter

"What a joy to read. This dude can write." Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author

"Sandlin has always been a unique voice in the literary world and LIT once again treats fans to the beautifully drawn characters, subversive humor, and rich settings we've come to expect." Kyle Mills, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

"Sharp, hilarious, and a little unhinged. It skewers small-town quirks, literary pretension, and human frailty in equal measure. I loved it." Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author

"This is classic Sandlin-funny as ever, tender at the core, and steeped in the wild, quirky soul of the West." Tiffanie DeBartolo, author of Sorrow

"Lit wraps you in a story of love, despair, and a gnarly whodunit, a deadly cliffhanger that threatens all the characters who have wrapped themselves around your heart." Deborah Turrell Atkinson, author of the Storm Kayama mysteries

Praise for Tim Sandlin

"Fiction to be savored." Larry McMurtry

"Sandlin understands that the best black comedy is only a tiny slip away from despair, and he handles this walk without a misstep." Dallas Morning News

"Tim Sandlin writes about falling down, screwing up, and climbing back to grace with more wit and heart than anyone writing today." Wally Lamb

"In a region heretofore dominated by Larry McMurtry, Tom McGuane, and Ed Abbey, Tim Sandlin is emerging as a new and wickedly funny talent." Publishers Weekly

"Sandlin can see that there is a kind of gruesome comedy in what happens to us, but the humor is never mean, and he loves his people too much not to understand that their grief and nostalgia and frustration is real." Nick Hornby

Author: Tim Sandlin
Publisher: Brash Books
Published: 10/22/2025
Pages: 254
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.58d
ISBN: 9781954841956


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 10/15/2025