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The Wiregrass: A Tale of Murder and Retribution in the Deep South
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Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free print copy of this book!
15 days and 04:21:38
20 copies available
U.S. only
A reporter’s dogged quest to solve the murder of two teens uncovers a forgotten corner of the Deep South and the chilling web of police corruption, violence, and miscarried justice beneath its surface.
In 1999, in the rural Alabama town of Ozark, the bodies of two white teenage girls, J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, were found shot in the trunk of Beasley’s car. The girl were out past curfew and celebrating Beasley's birthday―but from there the story grew tangled, then went dark.
As months, then years, passed without answers, an eccentric cast of townspeople took it upon themselves to chase down leads. In this hardscrabble, farming region at the southern tip of the Bible Belt―a place cut off from freeways and wary of outsiders―everyone knew you couldn't trust the cops. Their investigation was shoddy at best; at worst, it looked a lot like a cover-up.
Twenty years later, the chief of police called his childhood friend, a devout Black man and long-haul trucker named Coley McCraney, into the station. To the shock of the community, and most of all McCraney, he was arrested for the long-ago murder of two girls he didn’t seem to recognize. DNA evidence tied McCraney to the crime scene. But in a region rife with corruption, and haunted by a legacy of racist violence, was there any chance of finding the truth?
The Wiregrass is a twisting, deeply reported true-crime narrative, populated by Bible kids, white supremacists, and amateur sleuths. Unraveling the notorious Beasley-Hawlett cold case, it reveals the stunning, Southern gothic story of a region―and a nation―that cannot outrun the traumas of its past.
In 1999, in the rural Alabama town of Ozark, the bodies of two white teenage girls, J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, were found shot in the trunk of Beasley’s car. The girl were out past curfew and celebrating Beasley's birthday―but from there the story grew tangled, then went dark.
As months, then years, passed without answers, an eccentric cast of townspeople took it upon themselves to chase down leads. In this hardscrabble, farming region at the southern tip of the Bible Belt―a place cut off from freeways and wary of outsiders―everyone knew you couldn't trust the cops. Their investigation was shoddy at best; at worst, it looked a lot like a cover-up.
Twenty years later, the chief of police called his childhood friend, a devout Black man and long-haul trucker named Coley McCraney, into the station. To the shock of the community, and most of all McCraney, he was arrested for the long-ago murder of two girls he didn’t seem to recognize. DNA evidence tied McCraney to the crime scene. But in a region rife with corruption, and haunted by a legacy of racist violence, was there any chance of finding the truth?
The Wiregrass is a twisting, deeply reported true-crime narrative, populated by Bible kids, white supremacists, and amateur sleuths. Unraveling the notorious Beasley-Hawlett cold case, it reveals the stunning, Southern gothic story of a region―and a nation―that cannot outrun the traumas of its past.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Matt Kessler
1 book28 followersMatt Kessler is a writer from Alabama. He has reported justice, race, and equity stories in Mississippi for The Guardian, and environmental stories for The Atlantic. His radio work has been broadcast on Mississippi Public Broadcasting and Illinois Public Media. A fellow in the University of Southern California’s PhD in Creative Writing and Literature Program, he lives with his family in Birmingham.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Wiregrass tells of the investigative work done by a reporter, originally from nearby Mobile, Alabama, to discover the truth behind the 1999 murders of two Dothan, Alabama high school girls, J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, whose bodies were found in the trunk of car near the town of Ozark. Despite national publicity from shows like America’s Most Wanted, the case went unsolved for years. And while a man was convicted following identification from DNA evidence, doubt remained that the jury got it right.
Much of the book is told from the perspectives of Patti Simpson, J.B.’s legal guardian, and Jeanette McCraney, wife of the accused. I liked the way that their thoughts and actions were presented as both women were very relatable. I did, however, think that there was far more discussed about Beasley to the detriment of Hawlett. While that somewhat made sense given that Beasley may have been raped, I wished that we could have learned a little more about Hawlett.
I’ve been to Dothan (once) and know people from that area. No, I don’t think that makes me any sort of expert on the area, but I was shocked at the stories of police ineptitude and corruption included. We’ve all been exposed to stories of southern racism, from books like Just Mercy and movies like Mississippi Burning. While there are elements of racism in The Wiregrass, the book goes beyond that to highlight other disgusting things that were going on within the Ozark Police Department at the time. I can only hope that things are better down there now.
The author promised to give his opinions at the end of the book as to what the truth might be. He does so in the Epilogue and it brings the book to a good conclusion. This book has inspired me to look online for other reporting of the case.
I would recommend this book to readers already familiar with the case or interested in true crime. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read The Wiregrass. The above opinions are my own.
Much of the book is told from the perspectives of Patti Simpson, J.B.’s legal guardian, and Jeanette McCraney, wife of the accused. I liked the way that their thoughts and actions were presented as both women were very relatable. I did, however, think that there was far more discussed about Beasley to the detriment of Hawlett. While that somewhat made sense given that Beasley may have been raped, I wished that we could have learned a little more about Hawlett.
I’ve been to Dothan (once) and know people from that area. No, I don’t think that makes me any sort of expert on the area, but I was shocked at the stories of police ineptitude and corruption included. We’ve all been exposed to stories of southern racism, from books like Just Mercy and movies like Mississippi Burning. While there are elements of racism in The Wiregrass, the book goes beyond that to highlight other disgusting things that were going on within the Ozark Police Department at the time. I can only hope that things are better down there now.
The author promised to give his opinions at the end of the book as to what the truth might be. He does so in the Epilogue and it brings the book to a good conclusion. This book has inspired me to look online for other reporting of the case.
I would recommend this book to readers already familiar with the case or interested in true crime. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read The Wiregrass. The above opinions are my own.
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August 17, 2026I received The Wiregrass: A Tale of Murder and Retribution in the Deep South through a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by the author and publisher.
I wasn't familiar with this case before picking up the book, and I found myself completely pulled into what happened to J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett. It's a disturbing case on its own, but the questions surrounding the investigation, the evidence, and the possibility of corruption made it even more unsettling.
What I appreciated most was that this book goes beyond simply retelling a murder case. It looks at the community where the crime happened and the complicated history surrounding law enforcement, race, and justice in this part of Alabama. There were several moments that made me question whether finding evidence necessarily means we've found the whole truth.
At times there was a lot of information and quite a few people to keep track of, so I had to slow down in certain sections. I also found myself wishing I had learned a little more about J.B. and Tracie themselves. With true crime, I think it's important that the victims don't become lost behind the investigation.
Still, this was a compelling and thought-provoking read. What stayed with me most wasn't just the question of who committed the crime, but how difficult it can be to know what justice really looks like when trust in the system itself has been damaged.
Final thought: The Wiregrass is a difficult but fascinating true-crime read about murder, justice, corruption, race, and a community living with unanswered questions for decades. If you enjoy deeply reported true crime that leaves you thinking after you've finished, this is worth reading.
I wasn't familiar with this case before picking up the book, and I found myself completely pulled into what happened to J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett. It's a disturbing case on its own, but the questions surrounding the investigation, the evidence, and the possibility of corruption made it even more unsettling.
What I appreciated most was that this book goes beyond simply retelling a murder case. It looks at the community where the crime happened and the complicated history surrounding law enforcement, race, and justice in this part of Alabama. There were several moments that made me question whether finding evidence necessarily means we've found the whole truth.
At times there was a lot of information and quite a few people to keep track of, so I had to slow down in certain sections. I also found myself wishing I had learned a little more about J.B. and Tracie themselves. With true crime, I think it's important that the victims don't become lost behind the investigation.
Still, this was a compelling and thought-provoking read. What stayed with me most wasn't just the question of who committed the crime, but how difficult it can be to know what justice really looks like when trust in the system itself has been damaged.
Final thought: The Wiregrass is a difficult but fascinating true-crime read about murder, justice, corruption, race, and a community living with unanswered questions for decades. If you enjoy deeply reported true crime that leaves you thinking after you've finished, this is worth reading.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. This gripping true crime title is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.
Set against the haunting backdrop of Alabama’s Wiregrass region, the story begins in 1999 when two young girls are discovered shot to death in the trunk of a car. Years later, advances in forensic science appear to identify the killer — but as this book skillfully explores, the truth may not be nearly as certain as it seems.
Told through a compelling back-and-forth narrative structure, the author carefully unravels the evidence, contradictions, and lingering doubts surrounding the case. I intentionally avoided researching the crime beforehand, and I highly recommend going in just as blind. The slow reveal makes the reading experience far more chilling and suspenseful.
If you are a true crime fan who enjoys layered investigations, unanswered questions, and stories that stay with you long after the final page, this is absolutely one to pick up. Highly recommended.
Set against the haunting backdrop of Alabama’s Wiregrass region, the story begins in 1999 when two young girls are discovered shot to death in the trunk of a car. Years later, advances in forensic science appear to identify the killer — but as this book skillfully explores, the truth may not be nearly as certain as it seems.
Told through a compelling back-and-forth narrative structure, the author carefully unravels the evidence, contradictions, and lingering doubts surrounding the case. I intentionally avoided researching the crime beforehand, and I highly recommend going in just as blind. The slow reveal makes the reading experience far more chilling and suspenseful.
If you are a true crime fan who enjoys layered investigations, unanswered questions, and stories that stay with you long after the final page, this is absolutely one to pick up. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As another reviewer said, this book is kind of a hot mess. It makes a good case that there was a miscarriage of justice in this case, just based on the defense attorney's poor performance during the trial (not to mention the police's wildly inept/corrupt actions). I would have liked a deeper look at why this allegedly renowned lawyer biffed this trial so badly. Why on earth would he not have the DNA evidence retested? I also would have liked more information about Tracie Hawlett - for some reason JB Beasley gets the vast majority of attention paid to the victims - and less about JB's "foster mother" no matter how invested she was in the investigation.
It feels like the story ping-pongs all over the place and could have been presented more coherently and in more depth. In a case like this, there are sure to be unanswered questions, but you're left with more questions than you should be because the author doesn't seem to have followed up on a number of points. Not the worst true crime book I've read, but certainly far from the best.
It feels like the story ping-pongs all over the place and could have been presented more coherently and in more depth. In a case like this, there are sure to be unanswered questions, but you're left with more questions than you should be because the author doesn't seem to have followed up on a number of points. Not the worst true crime book I've read, but certainly far from the best.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was kind of a hot mess. The author seemed to only care about 2 people who were involved in the murders. Patty, JB's guardian at the time of her murder and Coley's wife, Jeannette.
I don't know who the 2 murdered girls were. I know JB was a dancer. I don't know the other girl at all. We never hear from the families of the murdered girls.
I felt that the author really did the murders an injustice with just focusing on 2 main people.
This was a half finished book in my opinion, he needed to interview more people.
Overall, not a good book to learn about the murders of 2 girls in Alabama.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
I don't know who the 2 murdered girls were. I know JB was a dancer. I don't know the other girl at all. We never hear from the families of the murdered girls.
I felt that the author really did the murders an injustice with just focusing on 2 main people.
This was a half finished book in my opinion, he needed to interview more people.
Overall, not a good book to learn about the murders of 2 girls in Alabama.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The author is an excellent and compelling writer but I just don't think there was a book's length of material here. So much of it is the daily minutiae and granular details of one of the victim's guardians and the wife of the guy who was seemingly wrongfully convicted. There's this huge discrepancy in that guy's story too that's never fully explained, like it really doesn't seem that she was the girl he knew despite the DNA evidence. Why this potential DNA contamination wasn't explored more is mysterious.
The story at the center is sad and odd and very tangled and potentially very corrupt but a long-form article would've covered most of it. I did really appreciate that the author laid out exactly what he thought happened though, that was very brave.
The story at the center is sad and odd and very tangled and potentially very corrupt but a long-form article would've covered most of it. I did really appreciate that the author laid out exactly what he thought happened though, that was very brave.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Somehow I had never heard of this case before so I went into this without any knowledge and by the end I had a complete understanding of everything. The reporting was excellent and there was great detail without being overwhelming and hard to follow. I felt the author stuck to the facts while still giving a personal glimpse into everyone’s lives involved in the case. I was shocked at the corruption I read about but glad it’s being reported on. Definitely a great true crime book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book tells a reporter’s dogged quest to solve the murder of two teens uncovers a forgotten corner of the Deep South and the chilling web of police corruption, violence, and miscarried justice beneath its surface.
If you like true crime you’ll like this book .
I went in not knowing about this case however The author did a great job giving the history and details surrounding this case. This is one of those books that will have you thinking about it a few days after reading it.
If you like true crime you’ll like this book .
I went in not knowing about this case however The author did a great job giving the history and details surrounding this case. This is one of those books that will have you thinking about it a few days after reading it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really wish this one gave more information on the actual crime that sparked all of this, but it was a very interesting account nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews