American Elsewhere

Ex-cop Mona Bright has been living a hard couple of years on the road, but when her estranged father dies, she finds she's had a home all along: a little house her deceased mother once owned in Wink, New Mexico.

And though every map denies Wink exists, Mona finds they're wrong: not only is Wink real, it is the perfect American small town, somehow retaining all the Atomic Age optimism the rest of world has abandoned.

But the closer Mona gets to her mother's past, the more she understands that the people in Wink are very, very different - and what's more, Mona begins to recognize her own bond to this strange place, which feels more like home every day.

“"This wonderful offering is perfect for fans of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman."-- Library Journal”

The Troupe is true magic: a gripping tale that reminds the audience why we fell in love with reading. This book enchants, leaving the audience on their feet, yelling for an encore - Mat Johnson

...Bennett's finely crafted novel rises on a wave of suspense to a place of beauty and hope - Publishers Weekly on The Troupe

Like a collaboration between Stephen King and John Steinbeck - Publishers Weekly on Mr. Shivers

Compelling and truly horrifying, this debut novel is highly recommended for all fiction and horror collections - Library Journal (Starred Review) on Mr. Shivers

Mr. Shivers is a startling debut, a deft amalgam of thriller, cerebral horror and American gothic, written with a stark and artful simplicity that complements the examination of struggling humanity pushed to its limits - The Guardian

Robert Jackson Bennett was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the Sydney J. Bounds Award, and an Edgar Award, he is the author of the novels MR. SHIVERS, THE COMPANY MAN, THE TROUPE, and AMERICAN ELSEWHERE. Find out more about the author at

Ex-cop Mona Bright has been living a hard couple of years on the road, but when her estranged father dies, she finds she's had a home all along: a little house her deceased mother once owned in Wink, New Mexico.And though every map denies Wink exists, Mona finds they're wrong: not only is Wink real, it is the perfect American small town, somehow retaining all the Atomic Age optimism the rest of world has abandoned.But the closer Mona gets to her mother's past, the more she understands that the people in Wink are very, very different - and what's more, Mona begins to recognize her own bond to this strange place, which feels more like home every day.

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