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pambo's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Murder and Violence
mcmontgomery's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I bought this on a whim at a used book store. It's different from what I've been reading in terms of genre (a murder mystery!), but similar in the focus on interpersonal relationships and identity. This book was also something of a punch to the gut with its depiction of anti-Black racism and violence in the present-day US south. I loved Locke's writing, and this is definitely a page-turner, BUT things got a little overly complicated at the end, and the conclusion was unsatisfying to me.
Having said that, I may go back and read the rest of this series when I feel like something a little more suspenseful.
Having said that, I may go back and read the rest of this series when I feel like something a little more suspenseful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
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
novelsistah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Racial slurs
cleches's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, and Murder
chelseakasten's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall, I did enjoy this book, although that enjoyment was really limited to the main narrative of the murders in Lark. I felt like it really could have used some more editing to refine the core of the story and to streamline some of the distractions. There were also just weird mistakes throughout. Like, in one scene it says that Darren and another character leave the bathroom, and then literally the next paragraph is about them talking to each other while “looking in the mirror over the sink.” I thought they left the bathroom?! There were a number of instances like this that made me have to go back a few pages and reread because I was confused.
The Lark narrative is book-ended by a separate narrative that is meant to set the stage for Darren’s current predicament - a suspended Black Texas Ranger who has historically been tasked with investigating the Aryan Brotherhood’s drug trade while being asked to ignore their racial hate crimes. I didn’t dislike this entirely, as it sets a good background, but it introduced a lot of unnecessary characters and ultimately created some confusion for me. I also did not like how it was used to wrap up the book. There was a better ending (not necessarily nice, just more appropriate) in there somewhere.
The third narrative of the book was Darren’s complicated relationships with family members. There were way too many peripheral characters here that really muddied the waters. (Naomi, for example, was distracting. Even the mother really didn’t add much.)
The Lark narrative is book-ended by a separate narrative that is meant to set the stage for Darren’s current predicament - a suspended Black Texas Ranger who has historically been tasked with investigating the Aryan Brotherhood’s drug trade while being asked to ignore their racial hate crimes. I didn’t dislike this entirely, as it sets a good background, but it introduced a lot of unnecessary characters and ultimately created some confusion for me. I also did not like how it was used to wrap up the book. There was a better ending (not necessarily nice, just more appropriate) in there somewhere.
The third narrative of the book was Darren’s complicated relationships with family members. There were way too many peripheral characters here that really muddied the waters. (Naomi, for example, was distracting. Even the mother really didn’t add much.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
rae_bookmarkchronicles's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I definitely don't like the main character but I enjoyed the ride. I will definitely try to continue the series. I'm interested to see where it goes from here
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Murder, and Racism
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
hazelgirl21's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent