“The Gulf by Rachel Cochran is an exquisite and gripping novel that plumbs the depths of both thrilling and devastating secrets that keep people rooted in place as well as the rot that can infect the heart of a community. Cochran approaches trauma as a living, breathing aura rather than a static wound, and grapples with the stormy nature of childhood memories. The novel is also a moving testament to families of choice so commonly necessary for those deemed outsiders. The Gulf is a page turner to be savored; Cochran is a master of both prose and plot.” — Ilana Masad, author of All My Mother’s Lovers

“Haunting, transfixing, beware to anyone who interrupts you while you’re reading it. The Gulf is a rare jewel of a novel that works as an intricate murder mystery and a harrowing plunge into the racial and sexual politics of a struggling Gulf Coast town. Rachel Cochran creates such vivid atmosphere, you swear you’re breathing the secrets trapped in the Parson, Texas air. A thriller with a beating heart.” — Christopher Bollen, author of The Lost Americans

“[T]riumphant debut. . . Cochran perfectly paces her reveals, keeping readers guessing about who’s hiding secrets and why. Bolstered by true-to-life characterizations and superior prose, this character-driven Southern gothic will enthrall fans of Lou Berney’s The Long and Faraway Gone.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The Gulf is haunting and beautiful, with language that carves a deep love story filled with secrets and betrayal. Cochran’s elegant prose transports the reader to 1970s Texas, filling her novel with love and regret, mysteries and dreams—a story not to be missed.” — Rachel Barenbaum, author of Atomic Anna

"Such a moody and atmospheric novel, full of plot twists, confrontations, untold truths. All the ghosts in The Gulf, real and imagined, become a sign of life in this dying town. Lou, irascible but honest, is an utterly unique character, her reality shaped by the mysteries of the past. I loved this gothic place and its duplicitous people—tensions are stirring from the start, and they never let up." — Timothy Schaffert, author of The Perfume Thief

“A thoughtful novel with a hint of mystery. Its still waters run deep.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Cochran’s novel is rich in story and setting . . . an auspicious debut.” — Washington Post

“A refreshing read and a strong debut from a powerful new voice.”
— Crime Reads

Rachel Cochran was raised in Texas and received her PhD in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She currently teaches literature and creative writing at UNL and is also an assistant editor of Machete, an imprint of Ohio State University Press. Her short stories and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in The Rumpus, The Masters Review, and have won the New Ohio Review's nonfiction contest.