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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
medium-paced
This was one of the best crime novels I've read, maybe ever--but it was also about the hardest to read.
Boggs and Smith, two of the first black cops on the Atlanta police force, experience racism in about every form, from an institution designed to make them fail to personal degradations and slurs to horrific violence. This isn't a reason not to read the book--it's probably what makes it necessary. Just be warned that you might need to take it in small doses.
Boggs and Smith, two of the first black cops on the Atlanta police force, experience racism in about every form, from an institution designed to make them fail to personal degradations and slurs to horrific violence. This isn't a reason not to read the book--it's probably what makes it necessary. Just be warned that you might need to take it in small doses.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Incest, Rape
Reminds me a bit of Dennis Lehane's historical novels. Really excellent.
I personally do not like the way this is written. Quite a few sections from each chapter could be eliminated and the book would be better for it.
I just feel like this could be so much better than what it is.
I just feel like this could be so much better than what it is.
Actually, this novel deserves at least 4.5 stars. It was well paced, the main characters were well drawn. I learned a lot about a piece of twentieth century history - the very beginning of desegregation - that was new to me. Thomas Mullen helps the reader gain a feel for being in the shoes of the young policemen; handling themselves in situations where prejudice was an irresistible force, never-endingly having to navigate through hostility, trying to pursue worthwhile goals in the face of constant discouragement and misunderstanding. There's a lot to learn about character in this story. Recommended, definitely!
Well written story of 2 black police officers in Atlanta in 1948 and their interactions with white police officers, black and white suspects, institutional and personal racism,trying to solve a murder of a black woman. Very messy, with all the people involved, and there was a lot of violence, but sadly, it was quite believable, that people treated others so disrespectfully (and many still do)