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megelizabeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
"The place didn’t call to her, not the way Texas felt ever at hand for Michael - the way the land, or the memory of it, pulled at him. It was as if some part of him had never left the red dirt of East Texas, which Randie didn’t understand."
For me, the strengths of this book are its vivid depictions of Texan social, cultural, and natural life, its layered, messy characters, and its necessary commentary. Darren's perspective is certainly an interesting one, and I largely found his personal story and the wider events happening to be compelling in an understated way.
As a mystery, this was for me a bit mediocre, and I wasn't a fan of the way some of the 'relationships' (i.e. grooming of underage or at best barely legal girls) are talked about. I also didn't love the ending, though that's more of a personal gripe; it's very much an ending that's setting up the next book rather than giving closure to this one, and I don't tend to enjoy that in series'.
Attica Locke can certainly write, and I'm glad I picked this up even if overall it ended up being just okay. I'd recommend if you're looking for a thriller that's dark but in a quiet way, with a plot that's decent enough but where there's much more emphasis on atmosphere and commentary.
For me, the strengths of this book are its vivid depictions of Texan social, cultural, and natural life, its layered, messy characters, and its necessary commentary. Darren's perspective is certainly an interesting one, and I largely found his personal story and the wider events happening to be compelling in an understated way.
As a mystery, this was for me a bit mediocre, and I wasn't a fan of the way some of the 'relationships' (i.e. grooming of underage or at best barely legal girls) are talked about. I also didn't love the ending, though that's more of a personal gripe; it's very much an ending that's setting up the next book rather than giving closure to this one, and I don't tend to enjoy that in series'.
Attica Locke can certainly write, and I'm glad I picked this up even if overall it ended up being just okay. I'd recommend if you're looking for a thriller that's dark but in a quiet way, with a plot that's decent enough but where there's much more emphasis on atmosphere and commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Blood, Violence, Death, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
readerette's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Keep with this one all the way to the end! Well written, engaging story about something of an anti-hero dealing with the kind of racist, backward behavior that feels wrong in a story set in the modern day (but sadly, isn't out of place). Eye-opening from a race perspective and also just a good story. While I like the surprise of the ending, it also felt slightly off-key given all the moralism associated to the badge of the Ranger throughout the story.
The n-word appears a number of times and a couple of other slurs come up once or twice--all contextually appropriate for the setting and characters. Just worth calling out to prepare yourself.
The n-word appears a number of times and a couple of other slurs come up once or twice--all contextually appropriate for the setting and characters. Just worth calling out to prepare yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Cursing, Infidelity, Murder, Violence, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Vomit, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, and Rape
emilineopines's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Gun violence, Murder, Animal death, and Death
shaney_swift's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Murder, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Blood
bibliozabs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Murder
linesiunderline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This thriller earns a place on the shelf alongside a select few others. I’m talking about thrillers that possess more of a literary quality than is typical in the genre - Tana French and Jane Harper’s books come to mind.
Attica Locke gives us a host of characters who linger in your mind after the final pages, characters who feel complex and provoke curiosity rather than seeming like cut outs, mostly there to move the plot along.
Also, if your favourite kind of thriller is as much about atmosphere as action, look no further. Locke brings the desolate small town to life so completely, and the slow burn feeling is hard to beat.
This is a tale of simmering secrets, racism, the search for justice, and how through it all, we hang onto love.
Attica Locke gives us a host of characters who linger in your mind after the final pages, characters who feel complex and provoke curiosity rather than seeming like cut outs, mostly there to move the plot along.
Also, if your favourite kind of thriller is as much about atmosphere as action, look no further. Locke brings the desolate small town to life so completely, and the slow burn feeling is hard to beat.
This is a tale of simmering secrets, racism, the search for justice, and how through it all, we hang onto love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Racial slurs, Murder, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Animal death
sarahaf712's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Racism, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Murder, Gun violence, Hate crime, Death, Cursing, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Police brutality
Content warning: police interrogation; Aryan Brotherhood; gang violence; murder crime scenes; autopsyquestingnotcoasting's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found this really compelling. I liked the writing and found myself immediately immersed in the small town setting. The atmosphere is bleak and gritty and there's a lot more to the murder investigations than it first seems - past secrets, white supremacists and racial hatred all play a part. I liked that the story focused on the characters as much as the plot. The web of relationships between the people in the town was so interesting to untangle. Darren is a complicated character, with personal baggage to deal with as well as his cases but I was rooting for him and I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I don't read much crime which isn't Agatha Christie and this has reminded me that I'd enjoy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
s_melly's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Attica Locke is a superb storyteller.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Cursing and Alcoholism
abbie_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I was feeling slumpy towards the end of October, and I have this book to thank for pulling me out of that dreaded state! I spent 3 days reading it, which is a long time for me to take over a 300-page book, but it was good for me. I enjoyed diving headfirst into the mystery alongside Texas Ranger Darren Matthews - Locke paints such a vivid picture of Eastern Texas, I felt transported into the story.
.
These days when I read a crime or thriller novel, I prefer it when the author tackles something other than just the crime, such as gender violence or motherhood or what have you. With Bluebird, Bluebird, Locke seamlessly weaves in the racial tensions that run rampant in Eastern Texas alongside the double murder Matthews is investigating. The presence of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas in the small town and their grip on it is terrifying. If that weren't enough, she also includes some tantalising family secrets and drama in the story too. It sounds like a lot, but I think she wields all of the strands of the story deftly.
.
At no point did I have any idea where the story was headed or how it might be resolved. Every guess I had at a murderer or motive was quickly ground to dust under Locke's heel. I'm never particularly good at guessing the culprit anyway, but Locke was always at least two steps ahead of me - I had no chance. I was happy just to be along for the ride! Locke surprised and shocked me many times over.
.
I found Matthews such a compelling character. As a Black Texas Ranger, he faces challenges at work to put it mildly. His superiors actively warn him against getting involved in race crimes, yet don't hesitate to trundle him out at press conferences to prove they're taking matters of race seriously. Locke depicts his many battles of conscious and allegiances so convincingly that I forgave her for giving him a drinking problem. (I do realise it's a genuine issue for many, but I find it a tired crime fiction trope.)
.
That's my only gripe, this book kept me hooked at a time when my motivation to read was at a yearly low! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Heaven, My Home!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
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