Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Cutting Season

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke

8 reviews

katewhite77's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious sad 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

5.0

This book will be one of my books of the year.

(My edition was read by Lachel Carl)

It reminded me of an American Ann Cleeves novel. A crime set around a small community with humanity at the heart of the plot.

In this case, the small community is a small museum set up on an ex slave village in Louisana. However, this museum is situated next to a working sugar farm run a corporate company. A body is found right on the boundary.

I couldn't put this book down, it was gripping whilst also having a beating heart of warmth.

I will definitely be reading more by Attica Locke. She is brilliant.

Content Warnings

emcheym's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.75

Caren is a Black woman who works as a manager at a privately owned Louisiana plantation on which her ancestors were enslaved. One day a body is discovered on the grounds. Apart from investigating who killed the migrant worker and why, the novel involves a mystery from the past - exactly what happened to Caren’s ancestor Jason? This novel explores themes like racism, family, political corruption, labour relations, law and the justice system which seem to be mainstays in all Locke’s books. This one also looked at the impact of capitalism, industrial agriculture, and the treatment of migrant workers. This is not a bad book and I didn’t dislike it. But I enjoyed it less than I expected, and less than Locke’s other four books, all of which I’ve read. And I’ve no real idea why. Possibly because the lead character was a layperson, rather than a lawyer or law enforcement officer? Maybe because there was more of a focus on the lead character’s personal life? Although I’m not sure if that is actually objectively true. Perhaps it was a case of a sophomore slump? Maybe it was the atmosphere, which felt a little spookier and more eerie than in her other books? Maybe the problem was actually my mood? I truly don’t know. Whatever the reason I’ll still eagerly read whatever Attica Locke writes next. She writes excellent mysteries/thrillers which lean in hard to race and contemporary social issues. This just wasn’t my favourite book of hers.

Content Warnings