Ree Dolly's father has skipped bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and the Dollys will lose their house if he doesn't show up for his next court date. With two young brothers depending on her, 16-year-old Ree knows she has to bring her father back, dead or alive. Living in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks, Ree learns quickly that asking questions of the rough Dolly clan can be a fatal mistake. But, as an unsettling revelation lurks, Ree discovers unforeseen depths in herself and in a family network that protects its own at any cost.

"Winter's Bone" is a suspenseful story that lingers long after the book is finished and put away. Woodrell's ability to describe scenes and settings and the anxiety of the human soul is exceptional. The writing is as thrilling as the story and that's an unbeatable combination.