American Rust by Philipp Meyer

Philipp Meyer's debut novel could easily be a regular tale of life on the other side of the tracks. Set in Buell, Pennsylvania, it features a familiar cast: Isaac England, a bright boy who should have gone to college but stayed to look after his disabled father; his best friend Billy Poe, a high-school football star who has become a violent no-hoper; and Bud, a cop with a good heart. The story starts with Isaac setting off for California, only to become embroiled in an accidental murder. The ensuing narrative is a tour of white America's underbelly: a trailer park, a factory and a maximum security prison. But for all these near-clichés, it's anything but predictable.