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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. It got a little repetitive, and dragged in a few places, but the characterizations, mood, and sense of time and place are strong. It's jarring to read about so much blatant racism, just like it's jarring to see such blatant sexism on display when you first start watching Mad Men, but I'm sure it's true to the times...and recent events have made me fear we are not as far removed from such things as a country as I had hoped we were.
Darktown is actually one of my favorite books. If you are a lover of historical fiction and mystery then this is the book for you! I did stumble on a few chapters that were hard to get through due to the language of the times and the racism that filters through the pages. I also found myself getting angry along with the main characters. But, it’s a read that will definitely prop you in the 1940’s in the south and have you begging for more.
Darktown was fantastic. Seeing a glimpse into what it was like to be an African American in those days -- and especially a police officer -- was eye-opening. The crime that they were helping solve throughout the book was gripping as well. Very, very good read.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Two of Atlanta’s first African American cops decide to investigate the death of a young African American women after they realize that white cops are trying to cover up the crime.
A historical fictional mystery that was difficult to stomach at times because of the all too accurate racial injustices it portrayed.
A solid, noir-ish historical mystery that reveals an interesting period in the history of race and the police in the US: one of the protagonists, Lucius Boggs, is among Atlanta's first eight black officers.
Positives: Mullen doesn't shy away from the nastiness of race relations in the post-WWII south; the white police officers are blatantly racist toward black cops and black citizens alike. Even the relatively enlightened white characters are ambivalent at best about having black men on the police force. He also captures the nuance of the black experience - Boggs is the son of a wealthy reverend who lives in Sweet Auburn, the upper class black neighborhood. His partner comes from a poorer family, and the murder victim who ties the story together is a sharecropper's daughter.
The plot develops steadily, and the solution, when revealed, makes sense. The ending isn't too tidy, which I like.
Cons: the voices of the two main protagonist, one a white cop and the other black one, are too similar. The writing wasn't as moody as I wanted it to be, and as it could've been, especially given the setting.
Bet it's awesome on audio, all those Southern accents...
Positives: Mullen doesn't shy away from the nastiness of race relations in the post-WWII south; the white police officers are blatantly racist toward black cops and black citizens alike. Even the relatively enlightened white characters are ambivalent at best about having black men on the police force. He also captures the nuance of the black experience - Boggs is the son of a wealthy reverend who lives in Sweet Auburn, the upper class black neighborhood. His partner comes from a poorer family, and the murder victim who ties the story together is a sharecropper's daughter.
The plot develops steadily, and the solution, when revealed, makes sense. The ending isn't too tidy, which I like.
Cons: the voices of the two main protagonist, one a white cop and the other black one, are too similar. The writing wasn't as moody as I wanted it to be, and as it could've been, especially given the setting.
Bet it's awesome on audio, all those Southern accents...
After recently seeing 'Detroit' I was able to draw the parallels between the two stories which helped me understand it a little deeper and with a more well-rounded mental image whilst reading this book.
It's horrible to read into the past and discover facets of history that you were aware occurred, but were unaware of the scale and deep resentment that people harbor. It's even more disturbing to know that facets of this mindset and treatment still exist in today's society.
Very well written; the story had a few turns I didn't expect to see coming. When I read a book and I also discover and learn new things along the way (no matter how big or small) I am always left with a contentment - a feeling of reward and return. I highly enjoyed reading this.
It's horrible to read into the past and discover facets of history that you were aware occurred, but were unaware of the scale and deep resentment that people harbor. It's even more disturbing to know that facets of this mindset and treatment still exist in today's society.
Very well written; the story had a few turns I didn't expect to see coming. When I read a book and I also discover and learn new things along the way (no matter how big or small) I am always left with a contentment - a feeling of reward and return. I highly enjoyed reading this.
