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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Fascinating and terrifying history. This is fiction mystery of the first African American cops in Atlanta - 1948. The new beat cops contend with overt racism along subpar working conditions. Interesting characters and well-written. I'll definitely read the next in the series whenever it's written.
Before reading this book I didn’t realize how insulting and degrading a word ‘boy’ can be. I’m so glad that I finished this book, because this is not an easy read. It is very much worth reading, but it is quite exhausting for a reader. Why? Mainly because the amount of racism and hypocrisy in this book is through the roof, and I was constantly angry at the characters, and I wanted to strangle them, which will lower me to their ways.
Darktown tells a story of four police officers – two white and two black working on the streets of ’48 Atlanta. The city just appointed its first African-American officers, just eight of them to work as a beat policeman in so-called Darktown, part of the city where only African-American live, not exactly by choice because they just couldn’t live anywhere else in the city, because white people will not tolerate that. There is one family in the story that crossed this invisible border between Darktown and the other site, and built their home in a predominantly white neighborhood and it is not ending so well for them. Those eight black policemen are near-powerless, they don’t have a squad car, they cannot arrest any white person, they cannot access the official police building and have to operate from some basement that someone is letting them use. They cannot carry out an investigation, and if they want to arrest someone (someone black of course, no power over white people…) they have to go to the phone box, and ask for a squad car to come and let the white policemen, the ‘proper’ police officers handle the suspects.
When a black woman who was last seen in a white man’s car is found dead in Darktown, and it looks like no white cop is interested in solving the crime, two black officers take it upon themselves to find out what happened. Boggs and Smith risk their jobs, and even their lives to find out who is the girl, and who is the guy that she was last seen with. They don’t have any help from the white officers, and it seems that the white cops are actively trying to cover up this crime. One white cop, in particular, is against the efforts of black officers – Dunlow.
That name brings me to the perfect example of the worst kind of people. I don’t think it is possible for me to express how much I hate Dunlow. He is the old-school white cop that cannot stand black people wearing the same uniform he is wearing. He is partnered with a younger, more progressive officer Rakestraw that is the only hope in this book that white people are not the worst. He is the single semi-positive white character in the story.
I had one problem while reading this book. All the characters are very diverse, each of them representing something completely different and quite frankly something stereotypical. Dunlow is old-school cop, so he has his typical archetypes of big belly and alcohol – too bad he is missing a Dunkin’ Donuts box (brand founded in 1950, so this must by why he is missing this symbol of old-school cop). Rakestraw is progressive, willing to think that African-Americans deserve much better than what they get and he maybe even willing to act against the current situation, so he is young and slim. All four main police officer characters don’t feel like real people, and more like the stereotypes that work just right in this type of the story.
Darktown tells a story of four police officers – two white and two black working on the streets of ’48 Atlanta. The city just appointed its first African-American officers, just eight of them to work as a beat policeman in so-called Darktown, part of the city where only African-American live, not exactly by choice because they just couldn’t live anywhere else in the city, because white people will not tolerate that. There is one family in the story that crossed this invisible border between Darktown and the other site, and built their home in a predominantly white neighborhood and it is not ending so well for them. Those eight black policemen are near-powerless, they don’t have a squad car, they cannot arrest any white person, they cannot access the official police building and have to operate from some basement that someone is letting them use. They cannot carry out an investigation, and if they want to arrest someone (someone black of course, no power over white people…) they have to go to the phone box, and ask for a squad car to come and let the white policemen, the ‘proper’ police officers handle the suspects.
When a black woman who was last seen in a white man’s car is found dead in Darktown, and it looks like no white cop is interested in solving the crime, two black officers take it upon themselves to find out what happened. Boggs and Smith risk their jobs, and even their lives to find out who is the girl, and who is the guy that she was last seen with. They don’t have any help from the white officers, and it seems that the white cops are actively trying to cover up this crime. One white cop, in particular, is against the efforts of black officers – Dunlow.
That name brings me to the perfect example of the worst kind of people. I don’t think it is possible for me to express how much I hate Dunlow. He is the old-school white cop that cannot stand black people wearing the same uniform he is wearing. He is partnered with a younger, more progressive officer Rakestraw that is the only hope in this book that white people are not the worst. He is the single semi-positive white character in the story.
I had one problem while reading this book. All the characters are very diverse, each of them representing something completely different and quite frankly something stereotypical. Dunlow is old-school cop, so he has his typical archetypes of big belly and alcohol – too bad he is missing a Dunkin’ Donuts box (brand founded in 1950, so this must by why he is missing this symbol of old-school cop). Rakestraw is progressive, willing to think that African-Americans deserve much better than what they get and he maybe even willing to act against the current situation, so he is young and slim. All four main police officer characters don’t feel like real people, and more like the stereotypes that work just right in this type of the story.
Darktown is the book that was selected this month for the MomAdvice Book Club because I had heard such great things about it. Mullen's book builds upon the true story of the first eight African American police officers that served in the late 1940's in Atlanta. I was completely oblivious to their stories and trials that they faced in these roles and Mullen's tells an unflinching portrait of the daily challenges that these men faced, racially and in their roles at work.
When a black woman is murdered in their town, the white officers start covering up their involvement while the black officers are limited in how they are able to investigate the case. The book is told from alternating perspectives from the officers on each racial side as the book builds a story of corruption and racism that will leave the reader guessing until the final pages.
Thomas Mullen happens to be a white male author and, apparently, submitted this manuscript without his name or picture attached. When it crossed the desk of one of the top black editors in publishing history, it was selected for publication. The acclaim has been so great that it has now been optioned for a television series. Fans of True Detective, are sure to love this one AND learn a lot about this time in history.
Join our free book club OVER HERE!!
When a black woman is murdered in their town, the white officers start covering up their involvement while the black officers are limited in how they are able to investigate the case. The book is told from alternating perspectives from the officers on each racial side as the book builds a story of corruption and racism that will leave the reader guessing until the final pages.
Thomas Mullen happens to be a white male author and, apparently, submitted this manuscript without his name or picture attached. When it crossed the desk of one of the top black editors in publishing history, it was selected for publication. The acclaim has been so great that it has now been optioned for a television series. Fans of True Detective, are sure to love this one AND learn a lot about this time in history.
Join our free book club OVER HERE!!
I expected more of this novel. Maybe the hype that surrounded it for a little over than two years is to blame but in all honesty, I expected more.
I expected the racial tension between policemen to be a bigger part of the story. That's how that novel was sold to me and it fell a little flat.
This is also an uneven paced novel, where the reader feels like the story is unraveling at 100 mph in chapter two but then hits a brick wall in chapter three where it drags on and on for one too many pages.
Not a big fan of novels that feels like they have been written with the sole intention of turning them into a movie or TV show. This one sure feels like it.
Nonetheless, it is a good crime-mystery novel. But it is just that.
I expected more.
I expected the racial tension between policemen to be a bigger part of the story. That's how that novel was sold to me and it fell a little flat.
This is also an uneven paced novel, where the reader feels like the story is unraveling at 100 mph in chapter two but then hits a brick wall in chapter three where it drags on and on for one too many pages.
Not a big fan of novels that feels like they have been written with the sole intention of turning them into a movie or TV show. This one sure feels like it.
Nonetheless, it is a good crime-mystery novel. But it is just that.
I expected more.
Darktown by Thomas Mullen is a 2016 Atria publication.
This book came highly recommended to me due to my love of crime fiction. I had no idea, until I had finished the book, that a television program was made based on this story that starred Jamie Foxx. I’ll have to check that out sometime.
But, as for the novel, this is an outstanding historical crime novel that depicts the atmosphere in Atlanta just after the second world war and before the civil rights movement. Atlanta has just hired eight black men as police officers to work the ‘Darktown’ area of Atlanta, a groundbreaking move, but a political one, which was made under pressure.
Boggs and Smith are two of those black men hired as beat cops for Darktown. They only have so much power, though. If anything serious happens, they have to call in the ‘real’ cops. They work out of the YMCA, not the police station. They are resented by the white officers, of course, especially Dunlow, a rogue, racist cop that once patrolled the area.
But, when a white man plows into a pole on their beat, Boggs and Smith see a young, black woman in the passenger side with a black eye. Later, the woman is found dead, discarded like garbage. Dunlow, is not interested in solving the crime, but his new partner Rakestraw, is not as apathetic. Still, Boggs and Smith will have to risk their jobs and maybe their lives to solve the murder, on their own.
Wow, this was such an authentic depiction of this era and the attitudes about race at that time. The crime story is a real stunner, with several mind blowing twists along the way. The suspense, at times, is nearly unbearable, and I admit I had to wipe the sweat off my palms a few times.
The characters were well drawn, some clearly bad, corrupt, and evil, while others struggled with the complexities of race and prejudice and with doing the right thing, no matter what. Smith and Boggs were also complex in their own way, and of course I loved their partnership and their commitment to truth, despite the obvious danger they faced, but they did encounter some support from an unlikely source.
The pacing is quick, the dialogue is sharp, but very, very raw, so be prepared. This story is very gritty, very real, and not always easy to digest. But, the book is extremely well written, is riveting and maybe one of the best crime stories I’ve read this year. It’s definitely deserving of the attention and high praise it’s received!!
I highly recommend this to those who enjoy gritty crime thrillers, or historical mysteries.
4.5 stars
This book came highly recommended to me due to my love of crime fiction. I had no idea, until I had finished the book, that a television program was made based on this story that starred Jamie Foxx. I’ll have to check that out sometime.
But, as for the novel, this is an outstanding historical crime novel that depicts the atmosphere in Atlanta just after the second world war and before the civil rights movement. Atlanta has just hired eight black men as police officers to work the ‘Darktown’ area of Atlanta, a groundbreaking move, but a political one, which was made under pressure.
Boggs and Smith are two of those black men hired as beat cops for Darktown. They only have so much power, though. If anything serious happens, they have to call in the ‘real’ cops. They work out of the YMCA, not the police station. They are resented by the white officers, of course, especially Dunlow, a rogue, racist cop that once patrolled the area.
But, when a white man plows into a pole on their beat, Boggs and Smith see a young, black woman in the passenger side with a black eye. Later, the woman is found dead, discarded like garbage. Dunlow, is not interested in solving the crime, but his new partner Rakestraw, is not as apathetic. Still, Boggs and Smith will have to risk their jobs and maybe their lives to solve the murder, on their own.
Wow, this was such an authentic depiction of this era and the attitudes about race at that time. The crime story is a real stunner, with several mind blowing twists along the way. The suspense, at times, is nearly unbearable, and I admit I had to wipe the sweat off my palms a few times.
The characters were well drawn, some clearly bad, corrupt, and evil, while others struggled with the complexities of race and prejudice and with doing the right thing, no matter what. Smith and Boggs were also complex in their own way, and of course I loved their partnership and their commitment to truth, despite the obvious danger they faced, but they did encounter some support from an unlikely source.
The pacing is quick, the dialogue is sharp, but very, very raw, so be prepared. This story is very gritty, very real, and not always easy to digest. But, the book is extremely well written, is riveting and maybe one of the best crime stories I’ve read this year. It’s definitely deserving of the attention and high praise it’s received!!
I highly recommend this to those who enjoy gritty crime thrillers, or historical mysteries.
4.5 stars
Original Review Here
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I started reading Darktown by Thomas Mullen, I was unsure. I felt uncomfortable at how racists the book was and wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I kept going though; the writing was strong and the characterisations were superb. I ended up loving it! Talk about delivering a powerful punch! With the current issues occurring, especially in America, this novel shows precisely how bad things were.
The plot is based around two coloured cops wishing to solve a murder but not having the authority to do so. They encounter constant opposition from the white cops, especially a particularly vile character called Dunlow, who will go as far as murder to shut down the new police department.
Darktown 3Boggs and Smith are an entertaining duo with their different approaches to getting the job done. Their personalities had the potential to clash the entire time and that made for enjoyable reading, especially when they attempted to “blackmail” each other only to find the other was already willing to help. Combing a sheltered reverend’s son with a more rough-tough character is always a good combination.
Rake was my favourite character. He was easier to warm to than Boggs and not as rash as Smith. Rake’s character also stopped the novel from being divided clearly between the coloured cops and the white ones. This was needed or it would have been too heavy. I have to admit to yelping at one point when Rake’s character was in danger – a good sign of how invested in the novel I was.
In terms of dealing with issues, this book does not do subtlety. It works though. The writing is strong, one of the best I’ve read. Mullen inserts a soft dry humour the whole way through that prevents the book from being overwhelming. It is also the first book in a while where the tension and pacing has worked seamlessly together and left me unable to put the book down.
I would thoroughly recommend Darktown! It addresses the racist issues of the past that have a habit of emerging again. Entertaining and powerful, this is one to add to the TBR pile.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I started reading Darktown by Thomas Mullen, I was unsure. I felt uncomfortable at how racists the book was and wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. I kept going though; the writing was strong and the characterisations were superb. I ended up loving it! Talk about delivering a powerful punch! With the current issues occurring, especially in America, this novel shows precisely how bad things were.
The plot is based around two coloured cops wishing to solve a murder but not having the authority to do so. They encounter constant opposition from the white cops, especially a particularly vile character called Dunlow, who will go as far as murder to shut down the new police department.
Darktown 3Boggs and Smith are an entertaining duo with their different approaches to getting the job done. Their personalities had the potential to clash the entire time and that made for enjoyable reading, especially when they attempted to “blackmail” each other only to find the other was already willing to help. Combing a sheltered reverend’s son with a more rough-tough character is always a good combination.
Rake was my favourite character. He was easier to warm to than Boggs and not as rash as Smith. Rake’s character also stopped the novel from being divided clearly between the coloured cops and the white ones. This was needed or it would have been too heavy. I have to admit to yelping at one point when Rake’s character was in danger – a good sign of how invested in the novel I was.
In terms of dealing with issues, this book does not do subtlety. It works though. The writing is strong, one of the best I’ve read. Mullen inserts a soft dry humour the whole way through that prevents the book from being overwhelming. It is also the first book in a while where the tension and pacing has worked seamlessly together and left me unable to put the book down.
I would thoroughly recommend Darktown! It addresses the racist issues of the past that have a habit of emerging again. Entertaining and powerful, this is one to add to the TBR pile.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
This story had a lot of potential. The story centers around the first black police officers in Atlanta in 1948- I did a bit of research after I finished the book, and the information presented in the book was accurate. They did have to use the Y as their base; they coudln't arrest whites; they patroled black neighborhoods; etc. That part of the book was very interesting. However, the mystery itself left a bit to be desired. Some of the scenes seemed to be needlessly violent and graphic. But my main problem was the way the author would do things like say, "And then she told him two things, and the second thing made all the difference", and then switch to another set of characters. The reader wouldn't learn what that second bit of information was until much later in the book, making it very difficult to try to solve the mystery. This is the same sort of thing that makes me unable to read Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
The only reason I happened upon this author and novel is because he will be a speaker at the TYCA-SE conference this month in Decatur, GA. I figured I should go ahead and read one of his books before hearing him speak. Am I ever glad I made that decision! Darktown is a powerhouse of a novel that I simply couldn't put down. Mullen has deftly crafted a book that contains my personal trifecta of perfection: historical fiction that draws parallels to today and is thoroughly entertaining. The basic premise here is the integration of the Atlanta police department in 1948 with the appointment of eight Black officers. The novel highlights the racial tensions of the South pre-Civil Rights movement but also forces the reader to take notice of today's police state (quite timely with the debate over "stop and frisk" that's currently on every news channel). It's almost impossible to believe that the violence and overt racism that runs rampant during the novel's setting is only around two generations ago. I also appreciate Mullen's research and accuracy in the novel. I constantly found myself looking up names and events during my reading. For example, I had never known about the 1906 Atlanta race riots. While some of characters may come across as basically caricatures of certain ideas and archetypes, I found the main characters to be fully fleshed-out and compelling. I am certainly going to read the follow-up novel, Lightning Men, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a taut crime novel, historical fiction, or race relations.
Thomas Mullen's DARKTOWN is a book set in the deeply racist American South of the late 1940s. The Atlanta Police Department has taken on a small team of black police officers as part of an experiment that is expected to fail. Hated by their white colleagues and divested of most of the authoritative powers that come with a police badge, this small band of officers struggle to gain respect in their own community. And when the murder of a young black girl appears to be covered up by unknown higher powers, racial tensions are set to hit breaking point.
Although an entertaining work of fiction - the thriller elements were engaging but fairly predictable - the most interesting and powerful aspects of this novel are the historical details. Initially the barrage of racist language feels jarring and excessive, but you soon become uncomfortably desensitised to its usage. Indeed, more uncomfortable is the casualness of much of the racism that was held at this time. This is a world where even the more liberally minded of white people bristle at the idea of black neighbours bringing down their house prices.
But perhaps most affecting of all are the true and horrific descriptions of what happened to many black soldiers when they returned home after the second world war. The Ku Klux Klan was powerful and had links with some of the upper echelons of society; lynchings were common and went unpunished. By juxtaposing these real life events with his fictional narrative of injustice, Mullen makes the reader confront the ugliness of human nature head-on.
There are no heroes in DARKTOWN. In a clever play on the novel's 'black and white' premise, the two protagonists, Boggs and Rakestraw, embody every shade under the sun. Whilst a sense of morality drives these characters, society prevents easy alliances, and it is to Mullen's credit that he doesn't force the companionship between these men beyond the realms of what would have been believable in this environment. Throughout the novel our perceptions of what is wrong and what is right are tested, and there are rarely conclusive answers to be found.
I thought this was a fantastic and thought provoking exploration of racism that, despite its period setting, feels timely and relevant. Indeed, recent news reports suggest that there is still deep-seated institutional racism in many parts of the US, and that although we may have come a long way from Mullen's DARKTOWN, there is still much more work to be done.
8/10
Although an entertaining work of fiction - the thriller elements were engaging but fairly predictable - the most interesting and powerful aspects of this novel are the historical details. Initially the barrage of racist language feels jarring and excessive, but you soon become uncomfortably desensitised to its usage. Indeed, more uncomfortable is the casualness of much of the racism that was held at this time. This is a world where even the more liberally minded of white people bristle at the idea of black neighbours bringing down their house prices.
But perhaps most affecting of all are the true and horrific descriptions of what happened to many black soldiers when they returned home after the second world war. The Ku Klux Klan was powerful and had links with some of the upper echelons of society; lynchings were common and went unpunished. By juxtaposing these real life events with his fictional narrative of injustice, Mullen makes the reader confront the ugliness of human nature head-on.
There are no heroes in DARKTOWN. In a clever play on the novel's 'black and white' premise, the two protagonists, Boggs and Rakestraw, embody every shade under the sun. Whilst a sense of morality drives these characters, society prevents easy alliances, and it is to Mullen's credit that he doesn't force the companionship between these men beyond the realms of what would have been believable in this environment. Throughout the novel our perceptions of what is wrong and what is right are tested, and there are rarely conclusive answers to be found.
I thought this was a fantastic and thought provoking exploration of racism that, despite its period setting, feels timely and relevant. Indeed, recent news reports suggest that there is still deep-seated institutional racism in many parts of the US, and that although we may have come a long way from Mullen's DARKTOWN, there is still much more work to be done.
8/10