Far From Uncertain
by: Teddy Jones
Amarillo, Texas, 2000. Margaret Kenyon, the oldest practicing nurse in the Panhandle, has lived long enough to know the difference between rumor and truth. When a young reporter comes to interview her, Margaret has one condition: Before he writes a single word about her, he must hear the story of Frankie—a woman whose life of crime, survival, and quiet acts of courage changed everything. East Texas, 1925. At fifteen, Frankie has only ever known poverty, abuse, and silence. Then, on a sweltering Fourth of July, she seizes her one chance to escape her hometown of Uncertain—fleeing with Theophile “Dix” Bergeron, a charismatic gambler who opens the door to a dangerous new world of speakeasies, bootlegging, and backroom deals. But in a country where desperation blurs the line between sin and survival, Frankie will have to become more than a runaway. She will have to become fearless. From Prohibition-era Texas to a quiet hospital laundry room where Frankie finds unexpected hope, her story is one of grit, transformation, and the power of a woman determined to write her own fate—even if the world calls her an outlaw. Teddy Jones reveals the full story of a Frankie Jones, which was only hinted at during her tragic appearance in A Family of Good Women. Jones weaves a compelling dual timeline that connects Frankie’s past to Margaret’s present. Far From Uncertain: One Woman’s Life of Crime and Other Righteous Deeds is a sweeping, unflinching novel about hidden histories, second chances, and the courage it takes to decide which stories deserve to be told. For fans of fierce heroines, gritty historical settings, and stories of hope forged in hardship—Frankie’s unforgettable journey begins here.
Reviews
“Teddy Jones is a force of nature. I mean who writes seven critically acclaimed and award-winning books of fiction in thirteen years? And now she gives us her eighth, Far from Uncertain, arguably her most compelling and absorbing novel. You’re not going to read many novels as powerful, as honest, and as vivid and irresistible as this one.”
—John Dufresne, author of My Darling Boy
“A propulsive novel about a girl from Uncertain, Texas (yes, it’s a real place) who’s certain that she never wants to return there, and the 90-year-old woman who believes in the importance of not being too certain. With Far from Uncertain: One Woman’s Life of Crime and Other Righteous Deeds, Teddy Jones has written another bewitching page-turner.” —Robin Lippincott, Blue Territory: A Meditation on the Life and Art of Joan Mitchell
"“What I know for certain is Far From Uncertain by Teddy Jones is a page-turner of a novel, suspenseful and gripping. At turns, a thriller, a romance, a mystery, it gives me what I want most from historical fiction—riveting stories about women with chaotic and difficult, joyous and memorable lives that still resonate today. Told from dual timelines—one in the lawless boomtowns of Texas in the 1920s and the other in twenty-first century aughts—the two main characters, Frankie and Margaret contend with unloving families and abusive men while striving to live true meaningful lives. But Far From Uncertain isn’t a narrative from a time gone by that is no longer relevant. It is the story of us in the present and ongoing: How do we live a good life? What happens when the strong prey on the weak? Who is the hero of our story? Jones answers these questions with profound compassion and wisdom in her masterfully crafted novel.”
—Helena Rho, author of Stone Angels
Far From Uncertain will certainly keep you up reading until the early hours. Teddy Jones forges an unforgettable story about the courage to start over and the strength to tell the truth at last. A moving, brilliantly rendered tale of survival, love, and the long road to forgiveness.
— David Norman, The Watershed Project
- ISBN (Paper): 978-1-965766-42-2
- ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-965766-43-9
- Trim size: $22.95
- Category: Historical Women's Fiction
- Pages: 312
- Trim size: 5.5 x 8.5
- Publication date: March 24, 2026
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