Books like Driftless by David Rhodes

David Rhodes’s *Driftless* paints a vivid portrait of Words, Wisconsin, where a handful of residents embody the idiosyncrasies of small‑town life. The story follows a middle‑aged couple who protect their farm from a conspiratorial milk cooperative, a lifelong invalid wrestling with conflicted feelings about her sister, a cantankerous retiree haunted by childhood recollections after discovering a cougar in his haymow, and a former drifter whose presence reshapes the community’s bonds. In his first novel in thirty years, Rhodes offers a compelling look at the complex relationships and quiet dramas that define life in rural America. The novel blends elements of romance and suspense, reflecting the intertwined personal and communal tensions that surface in a setting uniquely shaped by Wisconsin’s landscapes and cultural backdrop.

First publish date: 2008