The Bottoms (novel)

The Bottoms is an Edgar Award -winning suspense novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale.

Plot summary
This story takes place during the Great Depression in East Texas. Young Harry Crane discovers the mutilated body of a black woman that sets off a mystery involving rising violence and racism. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the killing continues. Harry and his younger sister, Thomasina, fix their suspicions on a local horror legend, The Goat Man, who lives deep in the Big Thicket. Together they set out to solve the mystery of who the real killer is.

Awards

 * The 2001 Edgar Award for best novel.
 * A New York Times Notable Book of the Year (2000)
 * The 2000 Herodotus Award for The First US Historical Novel
 * A 2000 Dashiell Hammett Award for "Best Novel" (nominated)
 * The 2001 Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards for best mystery novel. (nominated)

Editions
This book was published as lettered edition and a limited edition by Subterranean Press and as a trade hardcover by Mysterious Press. It was re-issued as a trade paperback by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Publications on 7 December 2010. As of August 2012, all hardcover editions are out of print.

Film adaptation
As of 2014 the book was being co-produced for a film by Joe R. Lansdale, Bill Paxton, and Brad Wyman. Paxton died in 2017, making any further plans uncertain.