Boyle's most well-known novel, The Road to Wellville, published in 1993, has been praised for its innovative structure and wit.

Boyle's "Greasy Lake," which appears with "Stones in My Passway, Hellhound on My Trail" in the collection Greasy Lake and Other Stories (1985), presents a different view of self-destructive young men and the consequences of their actions.

Searching for Robert Johnson (1998), by Peter Guralnick, offers a comprehensive biography of the blues artist.

Stomping the Blues (1989), by Albert Murray, presents an excellent analysis and history of the blues.