The Keepers of Truth

Set in the US in the 1970s, Michael Collins’ noirish mystery explores the obsessions that a brutal murder awakens in a small Midwestern town.

The last of a manufacturing dynasty in a dying industrial town, Bill lives alone in the family mansion and works for the Truth, the moribund local paper. Then old man Lawton goes missing and suspicion fixes on his son, Ronny, the local bad boy. The violent death breathes new life into the town, with network TV attention and national scoops for the Truth. But for Bill, a deeper, more disturbing involvement with the Lawsons ensues.

Shortlisted: The Booker Prize 2000
Published by: Phoenix House
Publication date: 1 January 2000

Michael Collins

About the Author

Michael Collins was born in Limerick, Ireland. He is the author of six novels, and two collections of short stories.

More about Michael Collins

Percival Everett interview: 'How long did it take to write The Trees? Sixty-three years'

With The Trees shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2022, we spoke to Percival Everett about what ranching taught him about writing, why oppressive regimes want an under-educated populace and why he tries to get people laughing

Graeme Macrae Burnet interview: 'I like to surround my characters with real people'

With Case Study longlisted for the Booker Prize 2022, we spoke to Graeme Macrae Burnet about his nomination and what winning the prize would mean to him

Crime fiction books nominated for the Booker Prize

Find out more about the books and authors in the Booker Library that explore the criminal world and the often colourful characters that inhabit it

Criminally good: How crime fiction crept up on the Booker longlist

For decades, Booker-nominated authors have been tangled up in criminal activity. But why has a traditional crime novel never won the prize?