STACKER: Books set in Michigan

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Books set in Michigan

Every state has its hallmark writers. Mississippi has William Faulkner and his incomparable (fictional) Yoknapatawpha County and Missouri can lay claim to Mark Twain. The state of Maine is gifted with Pulitzer winner Richard Russo and horror icon Stephen King. Rural Pennsylvania is the playground of the much-heralded (and occasionally maligned) John Updike, and when many bibliophiles think of New Jersey, they also think of Richard Ford's series of novels featuring recurring Everyman character Frank Bascombe. Illinois can lay claim to William Maxwell, Sandra Cisneros, and Adam Langer, among numerous others. And what reader can think of Washington State without contending with the sparkle-vampire yarns of Stephanie Meyer?

What makes authors like these inextricably associated with a particular state is not simply the matter of their having been born there or choosing to live there. The connection, from a writerly standpoint, is deeper than that—their work, nearly all of it, is set in "their" state.

Of course, there are certainly exceptions. Whether a writer sets a tale in the town where they went to college or spent part of their childhood—like Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" and its New England arts school setting and the almost-factual small town of Jo Ann Beard's "In Zanesville," respectively—or crafts a story that follows a social or political theme to a location they know little about but lay narrative claim to anyway, the world is rife with books known, loved, and respected that also capture the essence of place—books where setting itself is one of the strongest characters.

Stacker compiled a list of books set in Michigan from Goodreads. Whether you're looking for a good read set in the state you call home, or you're looking to expand your curiosity with a writer you're already familiar with, we've got you covered.

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Middlesex

- Rating: 4.02 (616,845 ratings)
- Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
- Published: September 4, 2002
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, LGBT
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This I Know

- Rating: 4.27 (3,288 ratings)
- Author: Eldonna Edwards
- Published: April 24, 2018
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Fantasy
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A Cold Day in Paradise (Alex McKnight, #1)

- Rating: 3.77 (9,556 ratings)
- Author: Steve Hamilton
- Published: August 15, 1998
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller
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Station Eleven

- Rating: 4.07 (427,549 ratings)
- Author: Emily St. John Mandel
- Published: September 9, 2014
- Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic
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A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon, #2)

- Rating: 3.91 (10,404 ratings)
- Author: Nevada Barr
- Published: January 1, 1994
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime
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South of Superior

- Rating: 3.57 (3,723 ratings)
- Author: Ellen Airgood
- Published: January 1, 2011
- Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary
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Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye (Psychic Eye Mystery, #1)

- Rating: 3.94 (13,778 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: December 7, 2004
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Fiction
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The Virgin Suicides

- Rating: 3.83 (272,837 ratings)
- Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
- Published: January 1, 1993
- Genres: Fiction, Classics, Contemporary, Young Adult
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Better Read Than Dead (Psychic Eye Mystery, #2)

- Rating: 4.00 (7,900 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: June 7, 2005
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Fiction
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The Dollmaker

- Rating: 4.17 (3,478 ratings)
- Author: Harriette Simpson Arnow
- Published: January 1, 1954
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Literary Fiction
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The Time Traveler's Wife

- Rating: 3.99 (1.7 million ratings)
- Author: Audrey Niffenegger
- Published: January 1, 2004
- Genres: Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Time Travel
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My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring

- Rating: 4.08 (318 ratings)
- Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
- Published: July 1, 2017
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Christian Fiction
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Ice Hunter (Woods Cop, #1)

- Rating: 3.85 (1,336 ratings)
- Author: Joseph Heywood
- Published: January 1, 2001
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller
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Winter Study (Anna Pigeon, #14)

- Rating: 3.86 (8,470 ratings)
- Author: Nevada Barr
- Published: January 1, 2008
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller
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Lilacs for Juliana (The Christy Lumber Camp, #3)

- Rating: 4.43 (72 ratings)
- Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
- Published: January 1, 2015
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Historical
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Song of Solomon

- Rating: 4.12 (100,722 ratings)
- Author: Toni Morrison
- Published: January 1, 1977
- Genres: Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, African American
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The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection

- Rating: 4.25 (141 ratings)
- Author: Cynthia Hickey
- Published: January 1, 2016
- Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical
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The Lumberjacks' Ball (Christy Lumber Camp, #2)

- Rating: 4.30 (120 ratings)
- Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
- Published: April 4, 2015
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance
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The Marsh King's Daughter

- Rating: 3.87 (30,284 ratings)
- Author: Karen Dionne
- Published: June 13, 2017
- Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
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Tea Shop Folly

- Rating: 4.35 (81 ratings)
- Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
- Published: July 1, 2016
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction
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The Substitute Bride

- Rating: 4.37 (121 ratings)
- Author: Carrie Fancett Pagels
- Published: October 11, 2015
- Genres: Christmas, Novella, Historical Fiction, Christian
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The Road to Wellville

- Rating: 3.68 (6,294 ratings)
- Author: T. Coraghessan Boyle
- Published: January 1, 1993
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor, Historical
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A Vision of Murder (Psychic Eye Mystery, #3)

- Rating: 3.96 (6,764 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: December 6, 2005
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Fiction
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Made in Detroit: A Memoir

- Rating: 3.22 (440 ratings)
- Author: Paul Clemens
- Published: September 13, 2005
- Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, History
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Winter of the Wolf Moon (Alex McKnight, #2)

- Rating: 3.92 (4,145 ratings)
- Author: Steve Hamilton
- Published: January 1, 2000
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller
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Killer Insight (Psychic Eye Mystery, #4)

- Rating: 4.06 (6,306 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: September 5, 2006
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Fiction
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The Chocolate Cat Caper (A Chocoholic Mystery, #1)

- Rating: 3.72 (4,063 ratings)
- Author: JoAnna Carl
- Published: January 1, 2002
- Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary
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True North

- Rating: 3.92 (2,511 ratings)
- Author: Jim Harrison
- Published: January 1, 2004
- Genres: Fiction, Novels, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

- Rating: 3.99 (64,910 ratings)
- Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
- Published: January 1, 1995
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction
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A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach: One Woman's Trek of the Perimeter of Lake Michigan (A 1,000 MILE ADVENTURE #1)

- Rating: 3.66 (214 ratings)
- Author: Loreen Niewenhuis
- Published: December 20, 2010
- Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Nature, Memoir
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Anatomy of a Murder

- Rating: 4.04 (2,635 ratings)
- Author: Robert Traver
- Published: December 1, 1958
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Classics
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The Loon Feather

- Rating: 4.33 (351 ratings)
- Author: Iola Fuller
- Published: February 1, 1940
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Historical
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Once Upon a River

- Rating: 3.70 (8,032 ratings)
- Author: Bonnie Jo Campbell
- Published: July 5, 2011
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Coming Of Age, Adult Fiction
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Once on This Island (Mackinac Island Trilogy, #1)

- Rating: 3.81 (586 ratings)
- Author: Gloria Whelan
- Published: September 30, 1995
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Young Adult
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Bud, Not Buddy

- Rating: 3.95 (105,623 ratings)
- Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
- Published: January 1, 1999
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade
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The Feast of Love

- Rating: 3.69 (9,185 ratings)
- Author: Charles Baxter
- Published: April 25, 2000
- Genres: Fiction, Novels, Contemporary, Romance
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Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mystery, #6)

- Rating: 4.11 (5,164 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: September 2, 2008
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal Mystery
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Doom with a View (Psychic Eye Mystery, #7)

- Rating: 4.11 (4,864 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: September 1, 2009
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Romance
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Misery Bay (Alex McKnight, #8)

- Rating: 4.16 (3,926 ratings)
- Author: Steve Hamilton
- Published: June 7, 2011
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller
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A Glimpse of Evil (Psychic Eye Mystery, #8)

- Rating: 4.14 (4,759 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: July 6, 2010
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal Mystery
- Read more on Goodreads

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Vision Impossible (Psychic Eye Mystery, #9)

- Rating: 4.07 (3,975 ratings)
- Author: Victoria Laurie
- Published: July 1, 2011
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal Mystery
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The Chocolate Bear Burglary (A Chocoholic Mystery, #2)

- Rating: 3.87 (2,180 ratings)
- Author: JoAnna Carl
- Published: November 5, 2002
- Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Adult
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A Cup of Christmas Cheer, Volumes 1-2

- Rating: 4.03 (33 ratings)
- Author: Susan Page Davis
- Published: October 1, 2013
- Genres: Christmas
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Motor City Blue (Amos Walker, #1)

- Rating: 3.61 (640 ratings)
- Author: Loren D. Estleman
- Published: January 1, 1980
- Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Noir, Crime
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Evening in the Yellow Wood

- Rating: 4.46 (360 ratings)
- Author: Laura Kemp
- Published: December 12, 2018
- Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Romance
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Killshot

- Rating: 3.74 (6,170 ratings)
- Author: Elmore Leonard
- Published: January 1, 1989
- Genres: Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
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Gifts and Consequences

- Rating: 3.84 (264 ratings)
- Author: Daniel Coleman
- Published: July 2, 2011
- Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense, Drama
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The Women of the Copper Country

- Rating: 4.11 (6,013 ratings)
- Author: Mary Doria Russell
- Published: August 6, 2019
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult
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Ursula, Under

- Rating: 3.71 (1,560 ratings)
- Author: Ingrid Hill
- Published: January 1, 2004
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Contemporary
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Michigan Murders

- Rating: 3.85 (3,115 ratings)
- Author: Edward Keyes
- Published: January 1, 1976
- Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, History
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