Empire Falls by Richard Russo

Set in the rapidly decaying town of Empire Falls, Maine, the book follows the lives of multiple citizens, focusing primarily around a level-headed, kind-spirited Miles Roby, his relationship with his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Janine; his estranged daughter, Tick; his wild father, Max; his delinquent brother, David; and his uphill battle with Mrs. Whiting. Mrs. Whiting, owning a majority of the town, has Miles like a puppet on a string, keeping him captive at the Empire Grill, a restaurant that hardly makes a profit. As the story develops, the reader learns of the deeply intertwined lives of Miles Roby and Mrs. Whiting, stemming back to Miles Roby’s mother, Grace and Mrs. Whiting’s husband, Charlie. In Empire Falls, Richard Russo reveals all of the skeletons of a small town in a heart-breaking and comedic way.