Empire Falls by Richard Russo

Richard Russo was already a well know and well loved author by the time Empire Falls hit the book shelves, but this is the first of his novels that I had read. It is a very well written page turner, how often can you say that? It gives us a glimpse into the tough, working class life of a Maine town where the main industry is gone and one man controls almost everything that happens. Miles Roby, the owner of the town diner is fighting to keep his head above water. He is divorced, his teen-aged daughter has issues and she is the stable one in the family. What really makes this book so rich is the range of characters Russo brings to life. The dialog is excellent and the plot is well constructed to keep you engaged to the end.

Russo is one of America's best living authors and this is finest work to date.