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A review by jennysligh
Decent People by De'Shawn Charles Winslow
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Decent People has all the makings of a great book. There’s a small town murder, a driven woman bent on uncovering the truth, characters grappling with racism in the Deep South, homophobia, classism, all the earmarks of a compelling story.
It is a compelling story, but more so it’s a thought exercise, and somehow that takes away from it, as the thought exercise lacks depth. While the novel is well written, it feels somehow manufactured and filled tropes that kinda miss the mark. I spent my time reading the book, curious about what happened, but never invested in the plot or the characters. The whole novel felt like it was written of a checklist, and I was completing the list by reading it.
It is a compelling story, but more so it’s a thought exercise, and somehow that takes away from it, as the thought exercise lacks depth. While the novel is well written, it feels somehow manufactured and filled tropes that kinda miss the mark. I spent my time reading the book, curious about what happened, but never invested in the plot or the characters. The whole novel felt like it was written of a checklist, and I was completing the list by reading it.