American Trash

by Andy Rausch

"Rausch's writing is like a serpent. It's lean. It's clever. It coils around you. . .and then it strikes. It's glorious, but be warned-there is no anti-venom." - Chris Miller, author of Dust Reminiscent of Goodfellas, American Trash is a gritty tale of organized crime. Only in this story, it is not the Italian mafia; it is the largest crime organization in the state of Missouri. Running their operation out of Funland - a stationary carnival outside Branson - these violent criminals are carnies by day, killers by night. They are led by a hardened old criminal known as Reverend Sammy, who doubles as a minister, and there seems to be no stopping them. But when things go awry and bodies start piling up, who will be the last man standing? "Reading Andy Rausch is like waking up with a stranger in your bed - it'll shock the hell out of you, but it's always one hell of a story." - Clark Roberts, author of Led By Beasts This book contains graphic violence and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published December 21, 2021

About the author

Andy Rausch is the author or editor of more than fifty books. His nonfiction (as Andrew J. Rausch) includes My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood (w/ Charles E, Pratt Jr.), and Perspectives on Stephen King.

His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.

He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.

Reviews

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

So there’s a review on this book that warns you that the book is vulgar. After reading it, I’m happy to assure you that…it sure is!

Look…it’s not your happy pretty read full of happy pretty people and happy pretty language. The book is called American Trash and the characters are…wait for it…trashy Americans! Yes, the book has foul language and even fouler situations. We have a bunch of poorly educated gangsters, their girlfriends nieces wives whatevers (yes, unfortunately I said nieces), dirty cops and dirtier killers. They curse, kill and do some mighty degenerate things.

But…the book is fun. It’s a well written crime romp with characters who are absolutely horrible, yet you still love them. Are they perfect? Nope. In fact, some are pretty one-dimensional, but they slot into their respective roles nicely and make for a very entertaining read.

I got a kick out of this one and would definitely read the author again – vulgarities and all!

[John Dizon · Rating 5 out of 5]

American Trash by Andy Rausch is a hard-edged, high octane crime novel that brings pulp fiction to a frightening new level. Billy Hanson is a self-professed white trash criminal at Funland, a rundown carnival on the outskirts of Branson MO. Ruled by a rural crime boss called Reverend Sammy, his underboss Cracker Jack acts as a paternal figure to Billy and his partner Cutter. Bill White, a crooked politician, relies on the support of the gang in his upcoming Presidential campaign. Only the murder of associate Kirby Carnahan puts FBI agent Douglas Warner on their trail. Sammy decides to burn his bridges, and the threesome find themselves questioning their allegiances if any of them wind up on the hit list.

Rausch weaves a colorful tapestry in depicting the backwater culture along the Ozarks. Told in a first-person narrative, Billy gives us a stark description of his own world view as well as his perception of the soulless underworld in which he thrives. The theme of betrayal resonates throughout the storyline as the antagonists struggle violently for every score, knowing every day might be their last. Their only hope is that their fate may not come at the hands of a friend, or even a loved one.

For crime fans and rural thriller buffs, American Trash by Andy Rausch is a worthy addition to your library.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carnie crime beginning to end

Started reading this in the morning and finished it in one day. Enjoyable crime read about carnies and their ups and downs. Highly recommended

[timj26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic mafia style novel that isn’t afraid to get dirty
Excellent narration really brings the characters to life
This author is definitely gained a new fan 5 stars

[B.H. Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun lean and mean read that made me laugh more than once at the absurd shock thrown in. I particularly loved the style of the ending, the short ethereal chapters made me wish more of the book was written that way. Recommended if you like the underbelly of what literature can be.

[Linda Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would like to read more books by this author.

[Chris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific, depraved crime story. This is not a plot driven novel, but more one just about who the characters are in this grimy world. Their conversations, their hopes, desires. There’s plenty of messiness and crime going on, and it all builds to a satisfying conclusion full of ruthless payback and backstabbing, and it manages to yank on the old heartstrings as well. Sort of like how Scorsese says he likes “story” over “plot”, Andy Rausch utilizes this same approach to his novel, telling us the story of these people’s lives over the course of several years. One of the better crime novels I’ve read in a long time, come at this one with the understanding that you’re not in for a heist thriller, or some mobster climbing the ladder stuff, but rather the day to day of those who happen to be in this life and you’ll find it fascinating. At least I did. Highly recommended to fans of gritty crime, but those who are looking to get offended will certainly be so, so perhaps if that’s you, try something else. For everyone else, this is as good a time as it gets.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of vulgar talk and lots of descriptive ways people were murdered. It would be hard to believe this could be true in real life. Sammy was a preacher and thought he was a mafia king. He also run a carnival . He had men named Cutter and Billy and so on. What Sammy told them to do they did it. Eventually Billy the youngest got married and had a kid. Later his wife said thats it I aint dealing with this kind of life anymore. He tried to get out of it but it didnt work for him

[Beau Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunshine and rainbows American Trash is not. It is bad ideas on top of self-serving characters home to the underbelly of a different kind of mafia but a mafia all the same. Add in short, punchy chapters and you guessed it, Fun was had! Go forth, seek out, purchase and enjoy. Tell ‘em another lover of unsavoury characters sent you.

[Lyle Boylen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A no apologies tale of crime fiction. Entertaining, quick read.

[Colin A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowlife Goodfellas in Missouri. I enjoyed it!

[Chris Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid grit lit read, had all the fun stuff violence more violence, fucked in the head people, lol gross shit, drug abuse and some great dialog.