LIT

by Tim Sandlin

Tim Sandlin is back with a deliciously subversive take on a “cozy” mystery that deftly, shrewdly and humorously reflects our turbulent times.

In a small town in the woods of northwest Wyoming, Kasey Cobb lives alone in a cabin, runs a drive-through coffee kiosk, and hangs out at the library, reading the classics. He’s the least-likely guy to become the center of a culture clash… and death. Yet that’s what happens when he strays past a book-bonfire, ignited by a pastor and his hapless followers, and inadvertently rescues a self-important (drunk) author from being burned with his obscure novel.

From that moment on, Kasey’s life becomes a whirlwind that sweeps up a laconic lawman, a pissed off grizzly bear, a relentless podcaster, a sensuous librarian obsessed with death, a fierce female rancher and, most troublesome of all, a devious murderer. And yet, amidst the chaos, Kasey chases another shot at a lasting love, even if it might kill him.

Praise for LIT

"In the slightly unhinged LIT...crimes eventually get solved, but spending time with the quirky, unforgettable characters is a lot more important." New York Times

"Wacky fun. Mystery fans with a love of the quirky will find much to enjoy here.Think Kinky Friedman, if he lived in northwestern Wyoming." Kirkus Reviews

"A fun and entertaining bibliophile romp." Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

"Sandlin is a national treasure. If you're looking for the comic heir to Charles Portis, look no further. LIT finds him at the top of his game, as droll, observant, and breezy as ever. I can't tell you how much fun it was being back in the world of GroVont!" Jonathan Evison, author of The Heart of Winter

"What a joy to read. This dude can write." Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author

"Sandlin has always been a unique voice in the literary world and LIT once again treats fans to the beautifully drawn characters, subversive humor, and rich settings we’ve come to expect." Kyle Mills, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

"Sharp, hilarious, and a little unhinged. It skewers small-town quirks, literary pretension, and human frailty in equal measure. I loved it.” Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author

"This is classic Sandlin—funny as ever, tender at the core, and steeped in the wild, quirky soul of the West." Tiffanie DeBartolo, author of Sorrow"Lit wraps you in a story of love, despair, and a gnarly whodunit, a deadly cliffhanger that threatens all the characters who have wrapped themselves around your heart." Deborah Turrell Atkinson, author of the Storm Kayama mysteries


Praise for Tim Sandlin

“Fiction to be savored.” Larry McMurtry

“Sandlin understands that the best black comedy is only a tiny slip away from despair, and he handles this walk without a misstep." Dallas Morning News

"Tim Sandlin writes about falling down, screwing up, and climbing back to grace with more wit and heart than anyone writing today." Wally Lamb

“In a region heretofore dominated by Larry McMurtry, Tom McGuane, and Ed Abbey, Tim Sandlin is emerging as a new and wickedly funny talent.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Books About Books, Contemporary, Humor

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2025

About the author

Tim Sandlin has published ten novels and a book of columns. He wrote eleven screenplays for hire; three have been made into movies. He turned forty with no phone, TV, or flush toilet and now he has all that stuff. Tim and his wife adopted a little girl from China. He is now living happily (indoors) with his family in Jackson, Wyoming.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Anyone who reads a book is better than anyone who doesn't."

Amen!

It must be my year for reading books about egotistical, insufferable authors; this one makes two in a row featuring pompous scribes, and I really enjoyed the heck out of both of them.

Sandlin's wacky novel starts with a book burning outside a public library that goes from bad to even badder. Things spiral in a nutty way in this quirky tale that mixes book-love, homicide, and plenty of coffee.

What's not to love?

I got a kick out of this one. Highly recommended to anyone who likes to see bad things happen to deserving people.


Thanks to NetGalley and Brash Books for sharing.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kasey Cobb is a bookworm who spends a good deal of time at the library in his small town in the Tetons. He is alarmed when he sees books burning in front of it and more alarmed when Judge, the towns most famous author attempting to retrieve his books while fighting off the book banners.

Kasey doesn't realize it but things are about to get more interesting and his quiet life in his cabin with his cat Zelda is about to get turned upside down.

Sandlin has a great sense of humor and his love of literature shines through.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Brash Books for providing me an advance copy of Tim Sandlin's upcoming release, Lit, in exchange for an honest review.

#Lit is an offbeat satire couched in a "cozy" murder mystery of a plot, with a cheeky tone and quirky cast of characters. Set in an affluent town in Wyoming, the story probes a sweeping collection of themes ranging from religion to politics to 20th century literature, and even manages to cram in jabs about penning a novel as well as the differences between the residents of mountain country versus coastal elites.

Don't be fooled by the charming blurb on the cover. Although the novel eventually delivers on murder and a mystery in its own meandering way, the genre is more akin to literary fiction than thriller. Emphasis is on the characters and employed literary devices rather than the predictable plot. Nevertheless, the well-crafted introductions for each character primarily remained superficial and did not extend past the eloquent prose. Omitting a few tangential passages, and replacing said passages with substance to flesh out key secondary characters, would not only strengthen the overall novel, but also the reader experience.

This was my first encounter with the author's work, and certainly, will not be my last. The stylistic choices, unique voice, and observations were intriguing, as was the witty commentary. The author is exceptionally adept at interlacing minutiae and recurring gags throughout the text. Considering I had been duped by the description (never judge a book by its cover), I was pleased to discover a new (at least to me) and refreshing perspective in fiction; especially, given some of the heavy topics mentioned, such as addiction, dementia, mental health conditions, and abortion.

The novel possesses a je ne sais quoi that prompts even the most "elite" readers to continue flipping pages. Saturated with a midwestern vibe, unconventional descriptors, and meta-criticism, this relatively short book packs a strong punch. Based on this draft alone, I would happily read other works written by Mr. Sandlin. With a handful of keener edits and logically refined topics, this could easily be a four-star novel. To conclude, 3.5 stars rounded down until edits are complete and the final draft is published.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

WY's Tim Sandlin had not written a novel in 11 years when this was published in late 2025. A few months later he passed away, at age 75.
A pretty good review, and living in WY, got me to request my local PL to purchase a copy. Which they kindly did, arriving just a week or so before his passing.
This is one of his GroVont novels - a fictional town near Jackson (Hole) in NW WY. Think Wilson, WY, which is near-by Jackson, and mostly populated by families and people who have been there for some time, often some generations - and not millionaires (Wilson is also famous for politicians running for a state office in WY getting a PO Box there, so they can claim they are from small town Wilson, and not the hated throughout the rest of the state, monied, Jackson).
Sandlin is grouped with writers such as Brautigan, Robbins, and Vonnegut - serious subjects, presented with a sense of humor to it all.
Here the main character is 49 year old Kasey, but there is an elderly author named Judge as well. A pretentious alcoholic writer of middlebrow literature, who steals other peopl';s quotes. And who just happens to have written some books with the same titles as Sandlin's!
We get a murder mystery, book burner/banners, bumbling local police, and a throw away comments on anyone and everything. Including "autofiction".
I have not read Sandlin in some time, and I am not a big fan of humorous literature. But I did enjoy this, and all the WY, Jackson, and regional references - and digs.
Thanks to my local PL for acquiring a copy - 4 out of 5.
Maybe it helps to live in the Rockies, and more specificially WY, to really enjoy this.
RIP Mr Sandlin - I hear you were a great guy, and a wonderful, supportive, mentor!

[Don Bott · Rating 1 out of 5]

So … my book club has been reading some pretty dark stuff lately, both featuring excessive gruesome violence depicted in particularly disturbing scenes. We needed a break.

Ironically the novel “Lit,” which revolves around a murder mystery and includes three other violent near-deaths in a sleepy (?) Wyoming town, offered just such a break.

What it did not offer was great writing. Or, sadly, a great story.

The narration is lively and fun — in a way that is confounding. The story starts with the horrors of a book burning at the town library, and immediately we see the town divided culturally and politically. The narrator, the eternally frustrated and aimless Kasey Cobb, sides with those who do not think books should be burned, as we would expect of a narrator. No surprise, I also side with those who oppose burning books, but I can’t help but say that that those who promote the burning and/or censorship are deprived of any humanity, common sense and/or morality in this book. The tension could have been much greater had there been proponents of book burning with double-digit IQs, but then the story wouldn’t have been as “fun.”

My entire book group was struck by this book’s odd tone. Lots of attempts at jokes (some hits, lots of misses); an abundance of quirky characters, all of whom speak in a strange vernacular, offering bizarre allusions one moment and clunky similes the next; and a crime investigation that one might expect to see on a “Scooby Doo” episode.

As a reader, I kept saying to myself, “This doesn’t sound right” and “This doesn’t make sense.” All the way through the final chapter.

I do not believe that any books should be burned. But some should not be read.

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

it took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once the ball got rolling it was a pretty fun ride. We start with a book burning initiated by the local preacher and his son, and no good things ever start from book burnings. However, this fire seems to light the fuse for the rest of the book as we encounter an author who is determined to protect books and the body of the preacher being found in the author's book shed.

Kasey seems to be a pretty normal guy who is just trying to live his life in Wyoming, running a coffee shop and reading books. During the book fire, Kasey finds himself drawn into the fray to help a local author. The author, Judge, isn't incredibly likeable and seems to have more flaws than positive traits, but the community seems fairly small in this area, so book lovers need to stick together,

It's a fairly wild and wacky ride and i found the beginning to be just a bit confusing before I was able to fall into the rhythm of the writer's style. This was my first read by this author and I do think he is fairly unique in his literary voice. I may have to pick up another book and see what else this author has to offer.

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up. The point of these posts is to be pithy, not thorough (as I typically strive for).
---
This is quotable, clever, and filled with interesting characters. It's also a little too convoluted; it's hard to believe some of the interpersonal relationships with the characters, and the solution is a bit of a letdown.

That said, from the first page to the last I was hooked and couldn't stop reading it. Most of it worked in the moment, or was something I could shrug off while reading it. But when I was done and started thinking about it, I the doubts and quibbles kept growing.

Maybe Sandlin couldn't really figure out the book he was trying to write—tone, characters, and/or outcome—he wouldn't be the first author to do that. As much as a lot of the passages sang—the book, in retrospect, was just good enough. Read this one to enjoy the journey, not necessarily the destination.

[Jen K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kasey is an older, not old, gentleman who owns a coffee shack and lives in a remote cabin with his cat near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He loves his cat, good coffee (and yes he has opinions on the what makes coffee good) and books. He regularly visits his local library and for more than just the librarian that caught his eye. When he arrives at the library one day to find a literal book burning and the much more elderly local author with a big ego trying to save his books, Casey feels the need to step in to save the author at least. Little did he know that this would lead to multiple people injured, arson and a death with the need to solve the mystery and clear his own name.

This is a fun and fairly fresh take on the cozy mystery written and staring a man with a cat instead of a cat lady. The community is lovely and quirky and the setting sounds gorgeous, making me want to visit soon. There is good banter but slightly marred by the author breaking the fourth wall to make sure the reader caught the jokes. There was a bit too much effort to point out the effort. The ending was also slightly awkward for me. Overall though I did quite enjoy and would read more by Sandlin.

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lit by Tim Sandlin is a novel of delightful immersion on many levels. The plot, characters, and setting are equally engaging, framed by the central mystery of a conservative church pastor’s murder. Kasey, the protagonist, draws the reader in as he becomes entangled in the killing while also protecting his friend Judge, whose books are being burned at an event organized by the pastor.

What stands out most is Sandlin’s literary talent, which makes the novel a thoroughly engaging read. It has the warmth and charm of a cozy mystery—but with more depth—featuring colorful, memorable characters who feel real and richly drawn. The result is a smooth, immersive story that lingers long after the final page.

I was provided an advanced ebook copy of this novel by the publisher with the suggestion that I leave an honest review, which I endeavor to do so here.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a free digital advance review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

When 49-year-old Kasey Cobb heads off to his small town Wyoming library, a book burning being conducted in the parking lot by the local pastor, deacon, and some of their mouth-breathing followers is just the start of a week that includes murder, multiple false accusations, an evisceration, the antics of the local alcoholic egomaniacal writer, a runaway podcast success, and poignant love.

It’s a wild plot, populated with quirky characters, set near Jackson Hole but in a far, far less glamorous town, and infused with a love of books and an intense disdain for bibliophobes. And, of course, there is a mystery to be solved by Kasey and his friends—because it sure isn’t going to be done by local law enforcement.

This is a rollicking yarn, but with plenty of heart.

[Andreas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining book. Full of irony and astute observations. There's a murder, there are several suspects, and the whole thing is set in a small town — so all the ingredients for a "cozy" are there. And yet...

It was precisely the scenes with the book burning, the stubbornness of some of the people involved, the arrogance of deciding on the content of books they hadn't read, all of this and more contributed to me having feelings other than "cozy" while reading.

So you get the whole package!

Full recommendation from me, even if there's a risk that it might be "literature."

Thanks go to Brash Books for the ARC

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Brash books for a while now. Most of them hit the same "amusing but nothing special" note with me, and this one was no exception.
It's billed as a sort of cozy with twist, which I suppose it is.
The book's protagonist is a forty-nine-year-old who acts like he's decades older and lives in a middle of nowhere Wyoming. One way or another, he becomes tangled with a bunch of colorful locals and falls into a romance. It's all pretty quaint with a sort of gee-haw charm to it that seldom works for me but may prove swoonworthy to others.
Overall, a mildly entertaining read that passed the time and was forgotten soon after. User mileage may vary. Thanks Netgalley.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Brash Books for a review copy.

Lit is unlike any other cosy mystery I have read. There is a murder and a small town where everyone knows everyone, which fits into the cosy vibe very well. However the book doesn't feel cosy. It has a grit to it which I wasn't expecting. Nothing was ever too scary or too tense, yet there was always a sense that anything could happen to any of the characters at any point.
I really enjoyed reading Lit, however. The plot was gripping and the characters believable and engaging, if not always likeable. I would definitely recommend this if you like a mystery and maybe want to try something with a bit of a different feel to it.

[ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery of sorts with plenty of very unusual characters, the main character being Kasey Cobb, an almost-50 guy who lives in a cabin in the woods in northwestern Wyoming. A fairly affluent small town is nearby, however, and Kasey becomes entangled with all sorts of colorful (and quirky) local residents and involved in the mystery of a local book-burning pastor’s murder. The novel has some humorous points which add to the interesting storyline. All in all, this was a good read, and I thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Debumere · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant romp. Set in Gro Vont, Wyoming, where the residents love and hate each other, a chain of events is kicked off by a book burning. Leading to murder, we follow the characters as they try to solve it all the while finding out about each other.

I needed this after reading a series of flops. It was witty, funny, a sort of spoof of a cozy mystery. It was a fresh read and the type of mystery I definitely enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brash Books for this ARC.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Sandlin's book Honey Don't, and Jimi Hendrix Turns 80 is in my all-time top 10. This book was...fine. The premise ticked all my boxes: book burning religious fundamentalists against librarians and proud, independent Western ranchers. It had some funny parts, and great characters, a well-described setting, and a compelling storyline. But I wasn't overly thrilled with the laconic declarative sentence style of the narrator/MC Kasey Cobb, although he was a very appealing character.

[Gwyn Haller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its real characters and believable setting and action.

I listened to this story tv away, I didn't recognize the ending was upon me, and restarted the last few chapters. It was the end. Story world was believable and easy to be absorbed in to. I really only liked one character and pulled for him/her. The reveal of the villain surprised me. Where did that sneak up? Good story. Don't miss this one.

[Stven · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently this guy has fans. They probably think he's funny. I barely managed to read to the end, encouraged by the fact that someone had the book on reserve at the library after me. It did in a sort of sidewise way fulfill the form (murder mystery), but for me there was more impatience with annoying characters than any near approach to amusement.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than the typical whodunit. Funny (yes, even though the pastor is murdered and a local kid is disemboweled by a grizzly), satirical, strong sense of place, quirky characters--though most of those characters--especially the book burning crowd--pretty stereotypical.

Not to be taken too seriously. At least I didn't.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A fun cozy whodunit set in just outside of Jackson, WY. I’m not a big mystery fan and not everything in this book worked for me, but I felt like I knew these people, this place, and there was a lot of fun in that.

[Lauri]

I just don’t like first person narratives. It’s even worse when the narrator is simply not interesting nor is the story being told. The characters were supposed to be quirky, but came off as one dimensional and stereotypical.

[Wendi Flint Rank (WendiReviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.netgalley.com/book/689832...

[JJ Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at www.NerdyNerdyBookBook.com

Arc courtesy of NetGalley

[Janie Prim]

This book is not my thing.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4*

[John Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of fun in mythical Wyoming

Honestly I’ve been all over this fair state. I wish I could find THIS place. Quick and funny, very diverting.

[John Banbury · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like it

Lousy story. Pitiful characters. Waste of time
I am sorry I read the book Nothing good to say about it

[Sharron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t even be bothered to review a review. I liked neither the writing nor the characters.

[Tara Mickela · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lesser version of Fargo in Wyoming.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yea! Good book. Small Mountain Town. Coffee Culture. Grizzly Bear. Who dun it?