The Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library continues this month’s Table Talk series Wednesday, April 22 with a talk by Starkville native and Mississippi State graduate Joe Lee, who will introduce his latest novel, “Director’s Cut.”
The fifth volume of his critically acclaimed Oakdale suspense series, “Director’s Cut” is Lee’s seventh novel. “This book introduces a new protagonist, Tripp Kelly, a well-liked and admired professor of film study at the local university,” said Lee. “There’s just one big problem: he’s a serial killer.”
“One of the things you realize after reading this novel,” added Friends member Jo Shumake, “is that sometimes people aren’t as rational and stable as they appear on the surface.”
Set in Oakdale, a fictional small town in north Mississippi, the series explores hidden secrets beneath the serene surface. “The town has more than its share of crime, old money, crazy people and folks way up in each other’s business,” said Lee. “I tell people that Oakdale is half an hour from real-life Tupelo and resembles towns like Ripley, Pontotoc and New Albany in terms of size,” he continued.
Writing in The Clarion Ledger, J.C. Patterson said of “Director’s Cut,” “It employs Hitchcock-style treachery … a fast and fun read.” Mississippi journalist Sid Salter has compared Lee’s work to that of best-selling novelist Carl Hiassen.
Lee was a journalist, radio disc jockey and television weatherman before becoming a full-time writer. He has over 500 nonfiction news and feature articles to his credit and contributes to several Mississippi newspapers and magazines, in addition to working on new suspense novels and running the Dogwood Press, a small but traditional publishing company headquartered in Brandon.
“I truly love visiting with folks in our state’s libraries and book clubs,” said Lee. “That’s where you meet some really voracious readers — and I always look forward to visiting the Golden Triangle.”
Join the Friends at the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library, 314 Seventh St. N. for what promises to be an interesting discussion. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for those wishing to bring their lunch and socialize before the program begins at noon. The Friends will serve iced tea.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.