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flowersisbritish 's review for:
Bluebird, Bluebird
by Attica Locke
Bluebird Bluebird is a very straight forward detective novel from the perspective of a black Texas Ranger, but the simple shift to a non-white perspective adds a refreshing coat of paint over a lot of the usual detective tropes. Yes the MC is a drunk, yes he is about to call it quits from the rangers but something about this case drags him back in, yes the murder is ultimately about racism because it is a predominant theme and again set in Texas. But ya know what? It's still a really good book.
Truthfully, I actually have always really liked all these dumb detective tropes and while Bluebird Bluebird never reinvents the genre, a change in perspective is definitely welcomed. Helps the MC is definitely a less hateable version of these cop characters with a genuine earnestness in trying to solve the murder of a black man and white woman in small-town Texas.
Race is obviously a big theme in this novel, and while the truth of the matter doesn't veer too far from what you'd expect, it does offer a lot of very thought-provoking questions and insights about what it means to be black in a state everyone attributes to racist white people. This isn't to say there are no really great twists. There are tons of very fun surprises that will take you off guard and make you reevaluate what you think about the case. That said, I did find the solution about who dun it a little unsatisfying, but the journey definitely made up for the destination in my book. This is not to say that the answer to the case is the ending. Actually, this book has one hell of a cliffhanger ending that is so god damn good it'll make you look for the next book.
Outside of the actual case, I thought it was very well written with a lot of amazing character descriptions and prose that captures a certain heart to Texas.
If you want a strong first book to a fun detective series that's just different enough from its contemporaries, Bluebird Bluebird will definitely scratch the itch.
Truthfully, I actually have always really liked all these dumb detective tropes and while Bluebird Bluebird never reinvents the genre, a change in perspective is definitely welcomed. Helps the MC is definitely a less hateable version of these cop characters with a genuine earnestness in trying to solve the murder of a black man and white woman in small-town Texas.
Race is obviously a big theme in this novel, and while the truth of the matter doesn't veer too far from what you'd expect, it does offer a lot of very thought-provoking questions and insights about what it means to be black in a state everyone attributes to racist white people. This isn't to say there are no really great twists. There are tons of very fun surprises that will take you off guard and make you reevaluate what you think about the case. That said, I did find the solution about who dun it a little unsatisfying, but the journey definitely made up for the destination in my book. This is not to say that the answer to the case is the ending. Actually, this book has one hell of a cliffhanger ending that is so god damn good it'll make you look for the next book.
Outside of the actual case, I thought it was very well written with a lot of amazing character descriptions and prose that captures a certain heart to Texas.
If you want a strong first book to a fun detective series that's just different enough from its contemporaries, Bluebird Bluebird will definitely scratch the itch.