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The Gulf
In this electrifying debut literary thriller, set on the gulf coast of Texas in the 1970s at the height of the women’s liberation movement, a closeted young woman attempts to solve her surrogate mother’s murder in a tight-knit, religious small town.
In Parson, Texas, a small town ravaged by a devastating hurricane and the Vietnam War, twenty-nine-year-old Lou is diligently renovating a decaying old mansion for Miss Kate, the elderly neighbor who has always been like a mother to her. Mourning her brother’s death in Vietnam, Lou dreams of enjoying a more peaceful future in Parson.
But those hopes are crushed when Miss Kate is murdered, and no one but Lou seems to care about finding the killer. The situation becomes complicated when Joanna, Miss Kate’s long-estranged daughter and Lou’s first love, arrives in Parson—not to learn more about her mother’s death but for the house. Her arrival unearths sinister secrets involving the history of the town and its residents... revelations that may be the key to helping Lou discover the truth about Miss Kate’s death and her killer.
A gorgeously written, gripping story of forbidden love and devastating secrets that is a surprising twist on the traditional small-town story, The Gulf is a riveting and unsettling mystery that holds up a mirror to the values—and failures—of America.
In Parson, Texas, a small town ravaged by a devastating hurricane and the Vietnam War, twenty-nine-year-old Lou is diligently renovating a decaying old mansion for Miss Kate, the elderly neighbor who has always been like a mother to her. Mourning her brother’s death in Vietnam, Lou dreams of enjoying a more peaceful future in Parson.
But those hopes are crushed when Miss Kate is murdered, and no one but Lou seems to care about finding the killer. The situation becomes complicated when Joanna, Miss Kate’s long-estranged daughter and Lou’s first love, arrives in Parson—not to learn more about her mother’s death but for the house. Her arrival unearths sinister secrets involving the history of the town and its residents... revelations that may be the key to helping Lou discover the truth about Miss Kate’s death and her killer.
A gorgeously written, gripping story of forbidden love and devastating secrets that is a surprising twist on the traditional small-town story, The Gulf is a riveting and unsettling mystery that holds up a mirror to the values—and failures—of America.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
81 people are currently reading
6710 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 3, 2023
3.5 "That's another thing about this town. The past dies slow."
"But there's some secrets you keep for yourself and some you keep for others. That you carry, like a cross, for the people you love."
I keep.thinking of lines I read in other books, that seem so apropos in describing this one. We believe what we see, or think we see. Not sure what book I read that this is from, but it describes Lou perfectly. Lou is a queer woman living in a religious, small Texas town on the gulf coast. Needless to.say, this is not widely accepted.
The way we believe what we need to in order to survive. The town has not recovered from the last hurricane, it is a dying town and people are leaving in droves. But, there are secrets here, secrets that Lou has hidden, even from herself.
The first half is very slow moving, through is serves the purpose of the reader learning much about Lou. The last half is quicker, with secrets that spill out. Sometimes what we believe is not true.
.
"But there's some secrets you keep for yourself and some you keep for others. That you carry, like a cross, for the people you love."
I keep.thinking of lines I read in other books, that seem so apropos in describing this one. We believe what we see, or think we see. Not sure what book I read that this is from, but it describes Lou perfectly. Lou is a queer woman living in a religious, small Texas town on the gulf coast. Needless to.say, this is not widely accepted.
The way we believe what we need to in order to survive. The town has not recovered from the last hurricane, it is a dying town and people are leaving in droves. But, there are secrets here, secrets that Lou has hidden, even from herself.
The first half is very slow moving, through is serves the purpose of the reader learning much about Lou. The last half is quicker, with secrets that spill out. Sometimes what we believe is not true.
.
June 24, 2023
3.5/5 rounded up
If you are looking for small-town drama and a (very) slow-burning character-driven literary mystery, look no further than The Gulf by Rachel Cochran. I know they are marketing it as a literary thriller, but for me, there weren't any of the elements of a thriller that I usually expect, so I am going to call this a mystery instead. We go back and forth between the past and present, with Lou figuring out a lot about herself and the people around her along the way. Some people are not quite what they seem to be, and there are definitely secrets that come to the surface as Lou tries to figure out who killed her beloved Miss Kate. I was really impressed that this is a debut novel, and the queer rep was great as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook which is narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, and it was my saving grace due to the super slow pace of the story. It took a while for things to pick up, but thanks to Gonzalez's impeccable narration, I was content to wait it out to see where things would lead. There was a random cultish vibe to the story as well, which was unexpected for me but an interesting addition that I liked. There are quite a few things going on, and sometimes I did have a hard time paying attention and staying engaged in the story. I feel like Cochran tried to fit so much into the story that faster pacing might have helped keep me invested. Be that as it may, if you love a good character-driven storyline, you could love The Gulf! I will be keeping an eye out for future novels from this author, and I can't wait to see what she does next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If you are looking for small-town drama and a (very) slow-burning character-driven literary mystery, look no further than The Gulf by Rachel Cochran. I know they are marketing it as a literary thriller, but for me, there weren't any of the elements of a thriller that I usually expect, so I am going to call this a mystery instead. We go back and forth between the past and present, with Lou figuring out a lot about herself and the people around her along the way. Some people are not quite what they seem to be, and there are definitely secrets that come to the surface as Lou tries to figure out who killed her beloved Miss Kate. I was really impressed that this is a debut novel, and the queer rep was great as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook which is narrated by Stacy Gonzalez, and it was my saving grace due to the super slow pace of the story. It took a while for things to pick up, but thanks to Gonzalez's impeccable narration, I was content to wait it out to see where things would lead. There was a random cultish vibe to the story as well, which was unexpected for me but an interesting addition that I liked. There are quite a few things going on, and sometimes I did have a hard time paying attention and staying engaged in the story. I feel like Cochran tried to fit so much into the story that faster pacing might have helped keep me invested. Be that as it may, if you love a good character-driven storyline, you could love The Gulf! I will be keeping an eye out for future novels from this author, and I can't wait to see what she does next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 22, 2023
Queers and Jehovah’s Witnesses? Southern Gothic noir? A badass but flawed heroine? Another (and another) twist after you think you have the plot figured out? What more can you ask for in a Summer mystery/thriller novel? I loved everything about this book!
March 14, 2023
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.
May 14, 2023
An interesting story of a small town full of secrets that start to slowly emerge after one of the town’s matriarchs passes away. Notice the “slowly.” For me, this book picked up about halfway through, when I felt we finally discovered some more characters and how they related to each other and why. Yet even at the end, I felt it was one secret after another. It answered questions but didn’t affect how these characters related to each other necessarily. My thanks to the publisher for the early copy.
July 13, 2023
Didn't really love this one, sorry to say, as the premise looked so good. Set in TX in late 60s/early 70s, a young woman, Lou, grieving her brother's loss is facing leaving her hometown after Hurricane Cecelia has ravaged her town. She lives with her brother's widow, who she now has a relationship with. A girl she used to love, Joanna, comes back to town and asks her to help finish a home renovation job Lou started with Joanna's mother Miss Kate, a renovation that came to a halt upon Miss Kate's mysterious death 6 mos. prior. As I was reading, I felt like the protagonist flip flopped back and forth on her view of people, events that had happenedin her life..one chapter they were wonderful, next they were wicked and so forth..very confusing as it was written in first person, so I was reading I kept feeling like the protagonist couldn't make up her mind. Just didn't feel like it flowed well at all.
May 1, 2024
Rachel Cochran's debut novel is a slow burning and profoundly complex portrayal of smalltown secrets, desires, and violence in Gulf Coast Texas. Lou's narration is circuitous, often lyrical, saturated with the past in a way that mimics the murkiness of traumatic memory. When the truth starts seeping out, drop by drop, I found it hard to put the book down, eager as I was to unravel the disturbing mystery at the story's heart. No character is pure here. Everyone is flawed, though their hearts ring with deeply human longing.
I would say that the real star of the novel, however, is Parson itself, along with Cochran's astute and compassionate portrayal of Southern politics and culture (and the simultaneous wonder and danger to be found in remote places). It's the kind of portrayal that you can only achieve by being there, quietly observing and seeking to meaningfully understand what you see.
I would say that the real star of the novel, however, is Parson itself, along with Cochran's astute and compassionate portrayal of Southern politics and culture (and the simultaneous wonder and danger to be found in remote places). It's the kind of portrayal that you can only achieve by being there, quietly observing and seeking to meaningfully understand what you see.
February 11, 2024
I’d never realized how being protective made you wear two faces: a kind face for the people you protected, a vicious face for the people you protected them against. Maybe all mothers were like this, two-faced at their core, equal parts vicious and kind.
3.5 stars. I don't know whether or not I'll round up or down; I guess I'll know by the time I'm finished writing this review. This was good! It's a historical mystery about secrets and family in a small town. There are a lot of things about how the mystery was crafted that I didn't really enjoy, made it feel not quite satisfying as a mystery, but there was also a lot of messy character stuff and relationship dynamics, some of which I really, really liked. It's a pretty slow burning mystery, so if you're not in the mood for that, this might not work for you.
The main character is Louisa, a closeted lesbian in a small dying town. A few months ago, her surrogate mother-figure died in an accident that she's suspicious about. The town is reeling after a bad hurricane, and Louisa's family wants to move out of town, but the past is keeping her rooted in place. And then her first love comes back, and old secrets start coming to light. I enjoyed the set up and all the characters, the slow build with all these questions, while we peel back the layers of the past bit by bit. Lou is a little frustrating as a main character, and it's not fun seeing her make mistakes, or when she neglects to ask the right questions, or when she just sorta blunders around. I felt especially frustrated when it came to her relationship with her girlfriend, aunt and niece; it really wasn't fun, how her fixation with this mystery drew her further away, kept her from doing the right thing. But it was also realistic, that she would allow herself to get obsessed to this degree.
However, there was one thing I especially didn't like about how the mystery was crafted, and that was
But I'm still coming away from this with mostly positive feelings? I really liked the characters, flawed and frustrating as they were. I liked the examination of queerness in a small town in the 70s. The way things wrapped up was just a little too neat, but I still mostly liked how we got there. Early in the book, I was pretty sure I had clocked what would be the plot twist, and I was a little frustrated at how obvious it was. I also didn't WANT that to be the twist, so I was kinda mad in advance. But it turns out that I was totally wrong (well, it ended up being my third guess, not my first guess) and I do enjoy it when a book proves me wrong. There were so many things about the plot that seemed extraneous, or like side issues that weren't connected to the meat of the plot, but it all came together in the end. It's more of a small town family drama than anything else, about violence and religion and women taking their lives back, and that's not what I wanted when I started the book. But the end result was still really compelling. I do wish
Listened to the audiobook as read by Stacy Gonzales, which was really good. Very moody and atmospheric and expressive for each character. I'd definitely read from this author again. And I think I've settled on more of a 4! Even though the plotting and how everything fit together wasn't my fave, this still ended up working for me.
Content warnings:
July 30, 2023
3.75⭐️
Very slow burn and took me a while to get into. The ending was worth the read and was interested in how the drama unfolded between the characters
Very slow burn and took me a while to get into. The ending was worth the read and was interested in how the drama unfolded between the characters
January 23, 2024
This was a solid 4.5 stars for most of the book, but by the end, I felt like knocking it down to 3.5.
The writing in this was lovely. The prose flowed well without feeling either too simplistic or too flowery. The description of setting made the tone of the book mostly consistent.
For the most part, I felt connected to the characters. At times, however, it felt like too much telling. We are told a lot about Lou's infatuation with Joanna, but I could never understand why. Additionally, when Joanna returns to town, I couldn't find the tension I would have expected between two women who once had an intense, slightly romantic friendship. Near the 75% mark of the book, there is an event that occurs between them that I simply had no feelings about. Because I didn't understand why were supposed to have such conflicting feelings about Joanna.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the relationship between Lou and another female character (not sure if it's a spoiler, so I'll refrain from saying exactly who). Their scenes were tender, the conflict between them real and frustrating, and it made a lot of sense for them to be together.
I would say the strongest parts of this novel were that relationship, and the twist and turns of the plot. I had to keep reading so I could figure out what everything meant and how things were connected. It was more than just a murder mystery—I felt that it was more about the secrets of the people of the town.
I did take a while to get through this book. Around the 60% mark, I stopped reading, mostly because I was getting too anxious about what would happen, but also because I felt it was taking too long to get some answers. There were a lot of questions raised, but nothing was answered till almost the end of the book.
The main reason I had to give this a 3/3.5 is because of the end. I started to skim around 90% of the way through, because I became frustrated with how things were turning out. I didn't feel like any characters got what they deserved. There was not enough closure for me, and a conversation very near the end felt rushed, and like something we should have known earlier. However, I was satisfied with how Lou's romantic relationship ended up.
All in all, I recommend this as an atmospheric read and for those who like small-town drama and complex character relationships. I didn't LOVE this, but I would definitely like to read more from Rachel Cochran.
ARC received from NetGalley, thank you!
The writing in this was lovely. The prose flowed well without feeling either too simplistic or too flowery. The description of setting made the tone of the book mostly consistent.
For the most part, I felt connected to the characters. At times, however, it felt like too much telling. We are told a lot about Lou's infatuation with Joanna, but I could never understand why. Additionally, when Joanna returns to town, I couldn't find the tension I would have expected between two women who once had an intense, slightly romantic friendship. Near the 75% mark of the book, there is an event that occurs between them that I simply had no feelings about. Because I didn't understand why were supposed to have such conflicting feelings about Joanna.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the relationship between Lou and another female character (not sure if it's a spoiler, so I'll refrain from saying exactly who). Their scenes were tender, the conflict between them real and frustrating, and it made a lot of sense for them to be together.
I would say the strongest parts of this novel were that relationship, and the twist and turns of the plot. I had to keep reading so I could figure out what everything meant and how things were connected. It was more than just a murder mystery—I felt that it was more about the secrets of the people of the town.
I did take a while to get through this book. Around the 60% mark, I stopped reading, mostly because I was getting too anxious about what would happen, but also because I felt it was taking too long to get some answers. There were a lot of questions raised, but nothing was answered till almost the end of the book.
The main reason I had to give this a 3/3.5 is because of the end. I started to skim around 90% of the way through, because I became frustrated with how things were turning out. I didn't feel like any characters got what they deserved. There was not enough closure for me, and a conversation very near the end felt rushed, and like something we should have known earlier. However, I was satisfied with how Lou's romantic relationship ended up.
All in all, I recommend this as an atmospheric read and for those who like small-town drama and complex character relationships. I didn't LOVE this, but I would definitely like to read more from Rachel Cochran.
ARC received from NetGalley, thank you!
March 3, 2025
I really struggled through this book. It didn’t hold my attention and seemed to drag on and on forever. Especially since I wasn’t a fan of the main character, Louisa. The storyline wasn’t great either.
Two Stars.
Two Stars.
July 14, 2023
What a wonderful read ❤️ a gothic mystery from my favorite ever Gothic & Mystery Literature professor.
I am so proud and inspired to have been the student of someone paving the way for inclusive, complicated new iterations on old, loved genres. I can feel how tenderly and lovingly this book was put together, pairing the complex plot of a mystery with the complex characters of a gothic novel.
Ultimately, this novel did what I think a master of gothicism can do - highlight the villains in all the characters (in all of us), bringing out the darkness in us all, until we come to realize that maybe all of this (people) is too profound and human to really be dark or villainous at all. Maybe we all have our reasons, and maybe all those reasons aren’t enough to justify our actions, but maybe explaining them is a start to better, deeper, more life-changing (even if it’s just our own lives) empathy.
I’ll definitely be buying Rachel’s next novel.
I am so proud and inspired to have been the student of someone paving the way for inclusive, complicated new iterations on old, loved genres. I can feel how tenderly and lovingly this book was put together, pairing the complex plot of a mystery with the complex characters of a gothic novel.
Ultimately, this novel did what I think a master of gothicism can do - highlight the villains in all the characters (in all of us), bringing out the darkness in us all, until we come to realize that maybe all of this (people) is too profound and human to really be dark or villainous at all. Maybe we all have our reasons, and maybe all those reasons aren’t enough to justify our actions, but maybe explaining them is a start to better, deeper, more life-changing (even if it’s just our own lives) empathy.
I’ll definitely be buying Rachel’s next novel.
July 29, 2023
This one caught my eye, since it was set in a Texas coastal town,and I've lived in Houston all my life. (Not on the coast,but close enough that hurricanes have impacted me and my family)
It's the very early 1970s. Parson,Texas is trying to recover from a devastating hurricane.
Lou, a 29 year old woman is living with her sister in law, helping raise her niece, since the death of Lou's brother in Vietnam.
Suddenly, a former childhood friend pops again,years after a betrayal, that in Lou's eyes, changed her life and led her brother to his fate in Vietnam.
Lou starts to revisit the past, and look for answers.....
This is a very good read. As others have said, it is a slow burn. But it is never boring.
I was a small child in the early 70s,and I feel the writer did a good job in capturing the time.
(Though it is mentioned that a tv is muted...we didn't use that term then. )
I have been vague on some aspects of this story. I want you to discover it yourself.
It's the very early 1970s. Parson,Texas is trying to recover from a devastating hurricane.
Lou, a 29 year old woman is living with her sister in law, helping raise her niece, since the death of Lou's brother in Vietnam.
Suddenly, a former childhood friend pops again,years after a betrayal, that in Lou's eyes, changed her life and led her brother to his fate in Vietnam.
Lou starts to revisit the past, and look for answers.....
This is a very good read. As others have said, it is a slow burn. But it is never boring.
I was a small child in the early 70s,and I feel the writer did a good job in capturing the time.
(Though it is mentioned that a tv is muted...we didn't use that term then. )
I have been vague on some aspects of this story. I want you to discover it yourself.
December 10, 2023
A historic house renovation project is the center of a mysterious death, a town full of secrets and Louisa’s buried memories from childhood. Louisa will have to dig for the truth as everyone in town seems to hold a piece of the puzzle. But as this mystery and town keep Louisa rooted in Parsons it is also driving a wedge between her and her family. Will she be able to get to the truth and let go of this town before her family lets go of her? This debut novel is intricately woven with twists you don’t see coming. It gives voice to a cast of characters that society often overlooks or disregards. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
March 11, 2022"set in post-Vietnam Texas, about a young queer woman exploring a friend’s death at the mysterious, decaying mansion in her hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast hometown, and in the process excavating a tragic and shadowy history that might hold the key not only to a killer’s identity, but also to the secrets of a society that refuses to accept her"
June 10, 2023
There are many shifting dynamics in the story. I didn’t care for Louisa. This book just was not for me.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper for the early copy.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Harper for the early copy.
June 30, 2023
Just too slow at the beginning. Could have used a good edit.
July 10, 2023
So gripping and lovely, I kept thinking about this book and didn’t want it to end.
July 16, 2023
This is a queer small town mystery. Get into it! The writing is great. The characters are well developed. I loved it!
July 27, 2023
Yes I cried at the last page of this book… that doesn’t take away from the fact that these characters are nasty individuals. Danny, Heather, Joanna… I will avenge you!
August 5, 2023
I thought this book was winding down to an ending but turns out I was at 38%.
I think if it had been half as long it would have been twice as good.
I think if it had been half as long it would have been twice as good.
August 7, 2023
Good book
December 14, 2024
Very readable and interesting setting. I found it irritating and lazy plotting when the main character conveniently remembered something from her childhood to propel the action. Although, I think the story was realistic because the point of view and/or memories of each character varied so much. It was also very interesting to read about characters whose actions and beliefs changed over the years. Maybe 3.5 stars?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
Good Sapphic Southern Gothic. Had some annoying "...since that thing we all know happened but we won't go into detail about it for at least 40% of the book to make it more dramatic" nonsense. But it avoided alternating timelines, so I'll give it a pass this once.
March 4, 2024
3.75 rounded up. Plot development was so incredibly slow and I found it hard to find myself invested in the story. HOWEVER, this set the “twist” up to be a genuine aha! instead of being aggressively foreshadowed — which is always appreciated.
also, the author teaches at UNL, which endears me to her. Nebraska isn’t for the weak.
also, the author teaches at UNL, which endears me to her. Nebraska isn’t for the weak.
April 22, 2024
“I never want to be like that, you know? Choosing something just because it’s familiar. I want every mistake I make to be bigger and more beautiful than the last one.”
June 21, 2025
Yawn. Slow and boring. Not a fan. The premise sounds great but I just couldn’t get into it.
January 23, 2025
a hundred and one things going on and none of them interesting
August 19, 2023
A drama/mystery set by the Gulf in TX. A woman named Lou is main character who becomes very annoying by end of book. The story starts with a murder and everyone is a suspect in the town. It has heavy LGBTQ language. It has a good flow until ending then drags a LOT hence 3 star rating. Also more realistic characters would have made this mystery more enjoyable. Lou manages to repair a hurricane ravaged mansion alone in a couple weeks. Superwoman skills. She also hooks up with her dead brother’s widow. And sleeps with her childhood girlfriend. I wanted to slap her victim status by end of story. Her Aunt is a Saint who never puts her foot down to reign in the kids but just loves them. She plays the pushover role. Peg is the criminal who somehow manages to do anything she wants. And she’s an evil Jehovah Witness. There are themes of racial injustice. Overall it was too drawn out.
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