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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
I felt really invested in the story. The ending, though, kinda ruined it for me. It felt too pat, and reinforced my dislike of Rake.
Really good tension. Well-written. I have tried to get into African-American thrillers before. And while they have been enjoyable, the quality of the writing has been a let down. That wasn't the case with Mullen's book, which surprised me. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This is the perfect crime novel, and André Holland is the perfect audiobook narrator for me. I loved every minute of it. Apparently there will be a second book, as well as a tv series. Thank you, benevolent rulers of the universe.
I really enjoyed reading about historic Atlanta and look forward to subsequent books. The racist language and racism made me very uncomfortable though.
Absolutely superb! Can't wait to read the second one!
Great read. An historical novel based on the first eight black police officers employed by the city of Atlanta. The stories of racism and police brutality are all too familiar, even if this takes place in the late 1940s. This turned out to be a real page-turner, and I ended up googling more about the real black cops who began the integration process for the APD. The pace was excellent, and I was on the edge of my seat by the end. Recommended!
After the Second World War, Atlanta Police Department was augmented by a small number of Negro officers. Suffering abuse and discrimination from both the white citizens and the white police, these officers try to police the areas of the city that are lived in by the black community. When Officers Boggs and Smith try to arrest a white driver their report is doctored but when the driver's black female companion is found murdered they realise that there is a cover-up. Meanwhile white officer Rake is not comfortable with the bigotry and corruption of his colleagues.
This is a powerful book in the fact that it tackles huge issues around bigotry and discrimination in the South of the 1940s as well as being a top notch police procedural. Lynchings, beatings and prejudice are not sensationalised, they are just treated as a matter of course because in that time and place, they were.
This is a powerful book in the fact that it tackles huge issues around bigotry and discrimination in the South of the 1940s as well as being a top notch police procedural. Lynchings, beatings and prejudice are not sensationalised, they are just treated as a matter of course because in that time and place, they were.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
This was my second time reading Darktown, and it’s just as good as the first time. I’d forgotten how horrific the story was - I *knew* it was horrific but it’s different when the words and images are right there. In fact, I found it so upsetting that I almost quit reading it because it was too much for me. The book is excellent and I can’t recommend it enough but it’s so painful.
Darktown is a fictionalization of the first Black cops in Atlanta and the racism and hatred they experienced. The humiliations are endless; they’re powerless but are lauded by the Black community as being the first of a new era. The Blacks in Atlanta keep expecting more and more from the rookie cops, not realizing the indignity they endure on a regular basis.
The novel is well-written with lots of detail that’s clearly based on in-depth research. The characters are fleshed out with nuance and self-doubt, aware that someday - maybe - things will get better for Black people but doubtful all the same.
This is the first of a series - the next two are equally good.
Darktown is a fictionalization of the first Black cops in Atlanta and the racism and hatred they experienced. The humiliations are endless; they’re powerless but are lauded by the Black community as being the first of a new era. The Blacks in Atlanta keep expecting more and more from the rookie cops, not realizing the indignity they endure on a regular basis.
The novel is well-written with lots of detail that’s clearly based on in-depth research. The characters are fleshed out with nuance and self-doubt, aware that someday - maybe - things will get better for Black people but doubtful all the same.
This is the first of a series - the next two are equally good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
dark
sad
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:
Yes