ELI CRANOR, SCOTT CARSON
TUESDAY 8/5. WordsWorth Books. 6:30 p.m. Free.
Pope County writer Eli Cranor is back, but he never really went anywhere. “Mississippi Blue 42,” out Aug. 5, is his fourth novel in as many years. A former pro athlete, the book sees Cranor return to a domain he’s quite familiar with — college football — but I wouldn’t write this one off if you’re not a sports person. In classic Cranor fashion, “Mississippi Blue 42” (read an excerpt here) is far more concerned with intrigue and corruption than the minutiae of the game, as FBI rookie Rae Johnson investigates a potential fraud case in the University of Central Mississippi’s football program that quickly turns deadly. According to Publishers Weekly, “Cranor expertly keeps the pot simmering until a pervasive stench settles over virtually all parties.” A star quarterback gets thrown off the roof of a bar, for crying out loud! Celebrate the novel’s release at WordsWorth Books with a conversation between Cranor and Scott Carson, the pen name of New York Times bestselling author Michael Koryta. Reserve your spot at wordsworthbookstore.com.
Daniel Grear is the print editor at the Arkansas Times. He also writes about culture. Send tips to danielgrear@arktimes.com
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