★ 07/03/2023
In Cochran’s triumphant debut, closeted 29-year-old bartender Louisa Ward gets tangled up in a murder investigation in 1970s Texas. After a devastating hurricane, Louisa considers leaving her tiny, religious hometown of Parson, Tex.—a move encouraged by her lover, Heather, who also lives in Parson. Before Louisa can make a final decision, however, her old schoolmate (and first love), Joanna Kerrigan, returns to Parson and dredges up a mystery from the recent past. Joanna hires Louisa to help repair the decrepit mansion owned by her recently deceased mother, Kate, with whom Louisa had formed a close bond in the years since the girls graduated from high school. Eight months earlier, Louisa found Kate’s body in the mansion’s garden, her head bashed in from what the police deemed an accidental fall during a rainstorm. Louisa doubted that conclusion at the time, and now decides to throw herself into investigating Kate’s death wholesale. Slowly, a thicket of small-town secrets come to light and make it crystal clear that the woman’s demise was no accident. Cochran perfectly paces her reveals, keeping readers guessing about who’s hiding secrets and why. Bolstered by true-to-life characterizations and superior prose, this character-driven Southern gothic will enthrall fans of Lou Berney’s The Long and Faraway Gone. (June)
The Gulf by Rachel Cochran is an exquisite and gripping novel that plumbs the depths of both thrilling and devastating secrets that keep people rooted in place as well as the rot that can infect the heart of a community. Cochran approaches trauma as a living, breathing aura rather than a static wound, and grapples with the stormy nature of childhood memories. The novel is also a moving testament to families of choice so commonly necessary for those deemed outsiders. The Gulf is a page turner to be savored; Cochran is a master of both prose and plot.” — Ilana Masad, author of All My Mother’s Lovers
“Haunting, transfixing, beware to anyone who interrupts you while you’re reading it. The Gulf is a rare jewel of a novel that works as an intricate murder mystery and a harrowing plunge into the racial and sexual politics of a struggling Gulf Coast town. Rachel Cochran creates such vivid atmosphere, you swear you’re breathing the secrets trapped in the Parson, Texas air. A thriller with a beating heart.” — Christopher Bollen, author of The Lost Americans
“[T]riumphant debut. . . Cochran perfectly paces her reveals, keeping readers guessing about who’s hiding secrets and why. Bolstered by true-to-life characterizations and superior prose, this character-driven Southern gothic will enthrall fans of Lou Berney’s The Long and Faraway Gone.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Gulf is haunting and beautiful, with language that carves a deep love story filled with secrets and betrayal. Cochran’s elegant prose transports the reader to 1970s Texas, filling her novel with love and regret, mysteries and dreams—a story not to be missed.” — Rachel Barenbaum, author of Atomic Anna
"Such a moody and atmospheric novel, full of plot twists, confrontations, untold truths. All the ghosts in The Gulf, real and imagined, become a sign of life in this dying town. Lou, irascible but honest, is an utterly unique character, her reality shaped by the mysteries of the past. I loved this gothic place and its duplicitous people—tensions are stirring from the start, and they never let up." — Timothy Schaffert, author of The Perfume Thief
“A thoughtful novel with a hint of mystery. Its still waters run deep.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Cochran’s novel is rich in story and setting . . . an auspicious debut.” — Washington Post
“A refreshing read and a strong debut from a powerful new voice.” — Crime Reads
★ 2023-04-24
When a hurricane hits Parson, Texas, in 1970, bartender Louisa Ward’s past and present collide as she seeks to build a future.
Lou doesn’t want to leave the town where she grew up, but her aunt and niece have already relocated to San Antonio, and her partner, Heather—who’s also her brother's widow—is getting ready to pull up stakes and join them. Lou’s also still reeling from the sudden, violent death of Miss Kate, the owner of an old plantation just outside of town. When Miss Kate’s daughter, Joanna, returns, planning to sell the plantation, Lou agrees to help clean up the house. They had been childhood friends but had a falling-out in high school and haven’t been in touch since. Joanna’s presence draws Lou back into memories of the past—of their complicated friendship; of her brother, Robby, who died in Vietnam; of Joanna’s sister, Cass, who died in a mysterious accident. But slowly she begins to realize that the memories she’s held as “true” are actually missing vital pieces, most notably Miss Kate’s involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. There’s also a mysterious group of women, led by the charismatic Peg, who live outside of town and have their money bound up in Miss Kate’s house. Despite the inherent drama, this novel is a slow burn. The pacing works wonderfully, though, because just when we think we know something—about Lou’s past, about Peg’s group, about Joanna’s motives—Cochran spins in a new perspective or memory or piece of information that completely alters our understanding of plot, characters, even genre. The constant reversal of certainty is masterfully executed and adds tension in unexpected ways. Cochran also uses the time period to draw a deeper reflection on belonging—and to emphasize the danger for those who will always be “outsiders.”
A thoughtful novel with a hint of mystery. Its still waters run deep.
Stacy Gonzalez deftly crafts the characters in this novel, set in the 1970s. The story is told through the eyes of Lou, a young woman whose brother was killed in Vietnam. She takes on the task of restoring the old home of Miss Kate, a mother figure to her when she was growing up. Her work on the house parallels a backdrop of serious issues: the mores of the day, her relationship with her girlfriend, her small-town's mindset, extremist religion, and racism. Gonzalez captures the various characters, creating an accent here, deepening her voice there, and paying attention to their personalities and emotions. She shines with minor characters and those in supporting roles, such as a kind aunt and a gossipy accomplice. M.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Stacy Gonzalez deftly crafts the characters in this novel, set in the 1970s. The story is told through the eyes of Lou, a young woman whose brother was killed in Vietnam. She takes on the task of restoring the old home of Miss Kate, a mother figure to her when she was growing up. Her work on the house parallels a backdrop of serious issues: the mores of the day, her relationship with her girlfriend, her small-town's mindset, extremist religion, and racism. Gonzalez captures the various characters, creating an accent here, deepening her voice there, and paying attention to their personalities and emotions. She shines with minor characters and those in supporting roles, such as a kind aunt and a gossipy accomplice. M.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
