Plumbs the pulpy depths of artistry and the artistry of cockfighting. Slips into the consciousness like a mickey.

Willeford's writing is American and then seem. These earlier novels of his are nicely collected into a set here. "Cockfighter" will appeal to lovers of gritty realism, and was turned into a fascinating, and grim, film. Far off the big highways and before the mega-mall towns of America is another world, one that Willeford explores with a steady hand and observant eye.

What a discovery! the three novels are so well-worth your time. I particularly love Cockfighter and found it an insider's view to a by-gone world. The Burnt Orange Heresy is one of my favorite suspense novels...

Pick-Up is a cheerful novel of two alcoholics that turns into a nihilist’s fever dream. A 20 minute hard-boiled egg.

Burnt Orange Heresy is one of the finest novels about art a person could read.

Cockfighter is a fucking triumph about, uh, cockfighting. It’s meandering, convincing, and excellent.

Willeford remains a completely idiosyncratic writer, and it is a delight to read this stuff.