Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (2010) Signed First Edition Reference

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter was published by William Morrow in 2010 and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. The novel follows two men in rural Mississippi — Larry Ott, a white mechanic suspected for decades of murdering a girl who disappeared after he took her on a date, and Silas “32” Jones, the Black constable investigating a new disappearance that reopens old wounds. Their shared history as unlikely childhood friends adds layers of race, class, and loyalty to the crime narrative.

The Book

The title refers to the children’s mnemonic for spelling Mississippi, and the novel uses this foundational act of learning to explore how the South educates its children in the ways of racial division. Franklin handles the racial dynamics with nuance — avoiding both liberal piety and Southern apologetics — and the crime plot is genuinely suspenseful.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins), New York Publication date: 2010 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first edition, fine/fine: $75–$200
• Inscribed copies: $100–$350
• Unsigned first edition: $15–$35

Franklin’s most acclaimed novel and the cornerstone of any Franklin collection. The Los Angeles Times prize adds institutional prestige.