Darktown (Darktown, Bk 1)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
"Some books educate, some books entertain, Thomas Mullen's Darktown is the rare book that does both." Huffington Post
The Atlanta Police Department is forced to hire its first black officers, including war veterans Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith. They are met with deep hostility by their white peers; they aren't allowed to arrest white suspects, drive squad cars, or set foot in the police headquarters. A woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up dead, Boggs and Smith suspect white cops are behind it. Their investigation sets them up against a brutal cop, Dunlow, who has long run the neighborhood as his own, and his partner, Rakestraw, a young progressive who may or may not be willing to make allies across color lines. This book is a crime saga that explores the timely issues of race, law enforcement, and the uneven scales of justice.
Darktown is an appropriate name for this novel as the story is a dark reminder of the prejudices that existed in the postwar, pre-civil rights South. I was going to give up on this book as it evoked feelings in me that were uncomfortable but I decided to stick with it and I'm glad I did. I found the author's writing to be exceptional and you can't help but be emotionally involved in the story. It was very atmospheric and you could feel that you were sampling a piece of the history. The characters are ones that you are not likely to forget as they will certainly leave an impression on your mind. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series and I would highly recommend this book to those who like to read about historical events that leave an impression whether good or bad.
The Atlanta Police Department is forced to hire its first black officers, including war veterans Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith. They are met with deep hostility by their white peers; they aren't allowed to arrest white suspects, drive squad cars, or set foot in the police headquarters. A woman who was last seen in a car driven by a white man turns up dead, Boggs and Smith suspect white cops are behind it. Their investigation sets them up against a brutal cop, Dunlow, who has long run the neighborhood as his own, and his partner, Rakestraw, a young progressive who may or may not be willing to make allies across color lines. This book is a crime saga that explores the timely issues of race, law enforcement, and the uneven scales of justice.
Darktown is an appropriate name for this novel as the story is a dark reminder of the prejudices that existed in the postwar, pre-civil rights South. I was going to give up on this book as it evoked feelings in me that were uncomfortable but I decided to stick with it and I'm glad I did. I found the author's writing to be exceptional and you can't help but be emotionally involved in the story. It was very atmospheric and you could feel that you were sampling a piece of the history. The characters are ones that you are not likely to forget as they will certainly leave an impression on your mind. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series and I would highly recommend this book to those who like to read about historical events that leave an impression whether good or bad.
