Key West Mysteries

Laurence Shames (born 1953) is an American fiction writer known for his short stories and novels that explore themes of identity, family, and the American experience. He received his MFA from the University of Iowa and has taught at numerous universities, including Cornell and Princeton. Shames's notable works include the short story collection "New Town" (1984) and the novels "Southern Gentlemen" (1995) and "The Last Day" (2003). "Southern Gentlemen" won the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. "The Last Day" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Shames's writing has received critical acclaim for its psychological depth, lyrical language, and insightful exploration of American life. He has been praised for his ability to create complex and unforgettable characters, and his work has been compared to that of John Cheever and John Updike.