A review by siria
Blanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara Neely

4.0

This second book in the Blanche White series sees Blanche heading to the small Maine resort community of Amber Cove. Traditionally a retreat for fair-skinned, wealthy African Americans, Blanche anticipates standing out as someone who is both working-class and dark-skinned. Mysterious deaths occur and Blanche gets to the bottom of it all, though honestly the crime-solving aspect of this novel is both secondary to the main action of the book and honestly a bit limp (like a second-rate Murder, She Wrote episode). The real interest to Blanche Among the Talented Tenth is Barbara Neely's exploration of classism and colorism among Black people, and how engaging and authentic Blanche's voice is. She's one of those point-of-view characters whom you can really hear speaking in your ear.