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Smoke Kings
"A fresh and fierce new voice to crime fiction. .. a stunning book that takes the reader on an intense and harrowing journey that is truly unforgettable. Consider me a big fan." — Don Winslow , New York Times bestselling author of The Cartel, The Force and City on Fire
In the vein of Get Out and Razorblade Tears , a feast of noir fiction and probing social commentary that asks us to consider what would happen if reparations were finally charged and exacted.
Nate Evers, a young black political activist, struggles with rage as his people are still being killed in the streets 62 years after Emmett Till. When his little cousin is murdered, Nate shuns the graffiti murals, candlelight vigils, and Twitter hashtags that are commonplace after these senseless deaths. Instead, he leads 3 grief-stricken friends on a mission of retribution, kidnapping the descendants of long-ago perpetrators of hate crimes, confronting the targets with their racist lineages, and forcing them to pay reparations to a community fund. For 3 of the group members, the results mean justice; for Nate – pure revenge.
Not all targets go quietly into the night, though, and Nate and his friends' world spirals out of control when they confront the wrong man. Now the leader of a white supremacist group is hot on their tail as is a jaded lawman with some disturbingly racist views of his own.
As the 4 vigilantes fight to thwart their ruthless pursuers, they’re forced to accept an age-old "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."
Smoke Kings is a powerful and propulsive novel with a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters. Like Steph Cha’s Your House Will Pay it explores decades of racial tensions through a fictional landscape where the goal of the oppressed is no longer equality but rather vengeance.
In the vein of Get Out and Razorblade Tears , a feast of noir fiction and probing social commentary that asks us to consider what would happen if reparations were finally charged and exacted.
Nate Evers, a young black political activist, struggles with rage as his people are still being killed in the streets 62 years after Emmett Till. When his little cousin is murdered, Nate shuns the graffiti murals, candlelight vigils, and Twitter hashtags that are commonplace after these senseless deaths. Instead, he leads 3 grief-stricken friends on a mission of retribution, kidnapping the descendants of long-ago perpetrators of hate crimes, confronting the targets with their racist lineages, and forcing them to pay reparations to a community fund. For 3 of the group members, the results mean justice; for Nate – pure revenge.
Not all targets go quietly into the night, though, and Nate and his friends' world spirals out of control when they confront the wrong man. Now the leader of a white supremacist group is hot on their tail as is a jaded lawman with some disturbingly racist views of his own.
As the 4 vigilantes fight to thwart their ruthless pursuers, they’re forced to accept an age-old "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."
Smoke Kings is a powerful and propulsive novel with a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters. Like Steph Cha’s Your House Will Pay it explores decades of racial tensions through a fictional landscape where the goal of the oppressed is no longer equality but rather vengeance.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2024
198 people are currently reading
5870 people want to read
About the author
Jahmal Mayfield
1 book62 followersJahmal Mayfield writes gritty crime novels that touch on large social issues. He was born in Virginia but currently resides in New Jersey. In addition to writing, he serves as the director of a nonprofit program that provides employment support to people with disabilities. Mayfield is a husband and father of two young adults who are both embarrassed by his frequent forays down the rabbit holes of YouTube to view old 90s hip hop videos. SMOKE KINGS was inspired by Kimberly Jones’ passionate viral video, “How can we win?”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 24, 2024
If you prefer your crime fiction with a hard edge and which encourages you to take a good, long look at the most marginalised and persecuted members of society, then Smoke Kings is definitely the book for you. Taking its inspiration from the writings of African American sociologist W. E. B. Dubois,
I am the Smoke King,
I am black!
I am darkening with song,
I am hearkening to wrong!
I will be black as blackness can—
The blacker the mantle, the mightier the man!
and Kimberley Jones’ video How Can We Win? , this is an extremely powerful novel of rage and compassion, good and evil, trust and betrayal, centred on the vigilante actions of four friends, after experiencing the gut wrenching loss of a young brother, cousin and friend. As they seek to avenge the sins of the past perpetrated on people of colour by (predominantly) white aggressors as recompense for their loss, they find themselves caught up in a maelstrom of violence and revenge. The book brutally exposes the malignant and endemic hold that racism still has on society at large, and posits the question of how should the sins of the past be paid for now. With 4743 lynchings documented from 1882-1968, it seems like there is much recompense to be made. As one character comments the lynchings are
“just one ugly part of it. Slavery, wage inequality, inferior educational opportunities, inadequate health care, mass incarceration. And on and on. Most of it systemic and purposefully carried out by white people.”
and this is what Mayfield so astutely and powerfully explores, through Nate, Joshua, Isiah and Rachel’s actions, through the racism inherent in the man who pursues them, and by those who seek to wreak revenge on them.
I thought the dynamics of the relationships between the four main characters was beautifully done, as doubt, mistrust, and guilt begins to muddy the waters of their initially shared belief in their course of revenge and reparation. As Isiah begins to question their methods and motivation, after a harrowing assignment in Alabama, Mayfield depicts beautifully the spiralling descent into an increasingly fractured group, with Rachel bearing the brunt of the animosity that builds between Nate, Joshua and Isiah. I thought her character embodied all the doubt and frustrations many women encounter, not only as a woman of colour but seeking to protect those she loves the most in the differing relationships she has with the three men. I liked the forthright and focused motivations of Nate and Joshua and the way that their hard-headed, noble and purposeful, but sometimes foolhardy, actions came for a place of extreme grief and sorrow, giving them a justifiable reason, in their view, for revenge. Isiah represents a different position within the group, the still small voice that gains in volume, as he begins to question the group’s motivations, and could ultimately be their undoing.
Isiah leads us to question, along with the characters, how much good is served by revenge, and what are the repercussions for all these characters’ lives having started from a position of justifiable nobility. Is the motivation for revenge, a violent catalyst for increasingly brutal actions, or is all violence justifiable when looked at in the context of the original crimes they are avenging now? Then the character of Mason, the white ex-law enforcement officer, contracted to track down the group, represents the casual, unacceptable racism exhibited by many white people, where he believes what he believes because he is rarely challenged to think differently, despite his daughter’s relationship with a man of colour and mixed race grandchild. His lack of self awareness, and self questioning of his backward views is sadly, and disturbingly, normal, and only when confronted by those with even more extreme racist views later in the book, and some salient facts brought home to him through the character of Elizabeth (who among other things charts the history of lynchings in America) does his tentative journey to greater awareness and empathy begin.
I loved the thorny issues Smoke Kings presented, couched within the parameters of an incredibly readable thriller, and how it made you step back and look at your own perception of racism and marginalisation, and how much can the sins of the past can be justifiably avenged in the present. I thought that the opposing views, beliefs and experiences of the characters added much to the overall theme of racism, reparation, loyalty and atonement. Too often books are labelled as thought-provoking, but in this case, this description is thoroughly deserved as it is an extremely multi-faceted novel. With the U.S. as racially divided, and having become even more so in the era of the ‘orange one’, Smoke Kings is a powerful, intelligent and necessary read, encapsulating perfectly an examination of modern society along with the grit and thrust of a highly readable thriller.
The book has shades of both the writing style of S A Cosby and the themes of Percival Everett’s The Trees, so if these are your jam you’re going to love this. I was seriously impressed with Mayfield’s raw and uncompromising style and his sublime control of the narrative, and think he can definitely count on me reading whatever he publishes next.
Highly recommended.
I am the Smoke King,
I am black!
I am darkening with song,
I am hearkening to wrong!
I will be black as blackness can—
The blacker the mantle, the mightier the man!
and Kimberley Jones’ video How Can We Win? , this is an extremely powerful novel of rage and compassion, good and evil, trust and betrayal, centred on the vigilante actions of four friends, after experiencing the gut wrenching loss of a young brother, cousin and friend. As they seek to avenge the sins of the past perpetrated on people of colour by (predominantly) white aggressors as recompense for their loss, they find themselves caught up in a maelstrom of violence and revenge. The book brutally exposes the malignant and endemic hold that racism still has on society at large, and posits the question of how should the sins of the past be paid for now. With 4743 lynchings documented from 1882-1968, it seems like there is much recompense to be made. As one character comments the lynchings are
“just one ugly part of it. Slavery, wage inequality, inferior educational opportunities, inadequate health care, mass incarceration. And on and on. Most of it systemic and purposefully carried out by white people.”
and this is what Mayfield so astutely and powerfully explores, through Nate, Joshua, Isiah and Rachel’s actions, through the racism inherent in the man who pursues them, and by those who seek to wreak revenge on them.
I thought the dynamics of the relationships between the four main characters was beautifully done, as doubt, mistrust, and guilt begins to muddy the waters of their initially shared belief in their course of revenge and reparation. As Isiah begins to question their methods and motivation, after a harrowing assignment in Alabama, Mayfield depicts beautifully the spiralling descent into an increasingly fractured group, with Rachel bearing the brunt of the animosity that builds between Nate, Joshua and Isiah. I thought her character embodied all the doubt and frustrations many women encounter, not only as a woman of colour but seeking to protect those she loves the most in the differing relationships she has with the three men. I liked the forthright and focused motivations of Nate and Joshua and the way that their hard-headed, noble and purposeful, but sometimes foolhardy, actions came for a place of extreme grief and sorrow, giving them a justifiable reason, in their view, for revenge. Isiah represents a different position within the group, the still small voice that gains in volume, as he begins to question the group’s motivations, and could ultimately be their undoing.
Isiah leads us to question, along with the characters, how much good is served by revenge, and what are the repercussions for all these characters’ lives having started from a position of justifiable nobility. Is the motivation for revenge, a violent catalyst for increasingly brutal actions, or is all violence justifiable when looked at in the context of the original crimes they are avenging now? Then the character of Mason, the white ex-law enforcement officer, contracted to track down the group, represents the casual, unacceptable racism exhibited by many white people, where he believes what he believes because he is rarely challenged to think differently, despite his daughter’s relationship with a man of colour and mixed race grandchild. His lack of self awareness, and self questioning of his backward views is sadly, and disturbingly, normal, and only when confronted by those with even more extreme racist views later in the book, and some salient facts brought home to him through the character of Elizabeth (who among other things charts the history of lynchings in America) does his tentative journey to greater awareness and empathy begin.
I loved the thorny issues Smoke Kings presented, couched within the parameters of an incredibly readable thriller, and how it made you step back and look at your own perception of racism and marginalisation, and how much can the sins of the past can be justifiably avenged in the present. I thought that the opposing views, beliefs and experiences of the characters added much to the overall theme of racism, reparation, loyalty and atonement. Too often books are labelled as thought-provoking, but in this case, this description is thoroughly deserved as it is an extremely multi-faceted novel. With the U.S. as racially divided, and having become even more so in the era of the ‘orange one’, Smoke Kings is a powerful, intelligent and necessary read, encapsulating perfectly an examination of modern society along with the grit and thrust of a highly readable thriller.
The book has shades of both the writing style of S A Cosby and the themes of Percival Everett’s The Trees, so if these are your jam you’re going to love this. I was seriously impressed with Mayfield’s raw and uncompromising style and his sublime control of the narrative, and think he can definitely count on me reading whatever he publishes next.
Highly recommended.
January 29, 2024
I was gifted an ARC of this book a month or so ago. I am always ready to support a fellow author, especially a debut author. So it went on my TBR pile and I felt guilty for not getting to it until I finally made my way to it.
And found that it's really good. The premise is jarring. Ethically compromised. And yet it is impossible not to root for this band of young people. At first, the book seems to be a hunt. Find the horrible racists, or their descendants, and make them pay. But the villains are not all uniformly evil and the choices these folks have to make becomes the story. And things get interesting.
Mr. Mayfield creates and maintains a level of tension and suspense that had me sweating over the lives of all the players. Good guys and bad guys are not so easily recognized, nor are they consistently on one side or the other.
Once I got started I read it straight through. I had to. Not just to find out what happened, but because I was so caught up in the questions raised. The book will stay with me.
And found that it's really good. The premise is jarring. Ethically compromised. And yet it is impossible not to root for this band of young people. At first, the book seems to be a hunt. Find the horrible racists, or their descendants, and make them pay. But the villains are not all uniformly evil and the choices these folks have to make becomes the story. And things get interesting.
Mr. Mayfield creates and maintains a level of tension and suspense that had me sweating over the lives of all the players. Good guys and bad guys are not so easily recognized, nor are they consistently on one side or the other.
Once I got started I read it straight through. I had to. Not just to find out what happened, but because I was so caught up in the questions raised. The book will stay with me.
September 20, 2024
I listened to the audio for this book and it’s like the narrator didn’t even try.
July 1, 2025
I needed to be in the right headspace to read this book. That's why it took me so long to finish it. When I first started this book, I thought it would be a fun action-packed revenge tale, but that's not what this story is. Smoke Kings is a more reflective character study about a diverse group of people dealing with the aftermath of violent acts.
Smoke Kings is a great read. The only thing that stopped it from being a 5 star read is that I thought there were too many povs. You never get to settle in with the characters because every chapter is about another character. But that's a me thing. Too many characters is my personal pet peeve. I still highly recommend this book.
Smoke Kings is a great read. The only thing that stopped it from being a 5 star read is that I thought there were too many povs. You never get to settle in with the characters because every chapter is about another character. But that's a me thing. Too many characters is my personal pet peeve. I still highly recommend this book.
February 17, 2024
I actually finished this in about 5 days. Had a hard time putting it down. Finding the perfect words to review this is impossible as Mayfield is masterful at descriptions and that made it intimidating for me to review.
By the book’s end, the four main characters are well defined, compassionately and rawly. The author deftly dances between brutal honesty and warm understanding of people’s relationships and emotions.
Not many books, and I read and have read thousands, probably, create the urge to want to reread it. So many memorable references and metaphors. The writer is culturally encyclopedic.
I have to use a cliche here. This is a tour de force!
By the book’s end, the four main characters are well defined, compassionately and rawly. The author deftly dances between brutal honesty and warm understanding of people’s relationships and emotions.
Not many books, and I read and have read thousands, probably, create the urge to want to reread it. So many memorable references and metaphors. The writer is culturally encyclopedic.
I have to use a cliche here. This is a tour de force!
February 13, 2024
Holy moley. This was so good. If yesterday hadn’t been Super Bowl Sunday I’m pretty sure I would have finished it in just one day. This is the kind of book you’ll be thinking on for a while. No clear cut good guys or bad guys. Well developed characters that you can really feel for. Plus a storyline that will keep you guessing.
I can’t wait for this author to write a second book!!!!!
I can’t wait for this author to write a second book!!!!!
September 27, 2023
Damn! Jahmal Mayfield can write. He is unafraid. The plot will have people talking (arguing?) late into the night. And the ending? Mmm boy.
February 5, 2024
I had to pause before I got past the quote that kicked this book off - and again several times while devouring it entirely today. I know I will pause many times over the coming weeks to reflect on how this story went down - how hard it is to truly break cycles. Hard to believe this is a debut novel - Mr. Mayfield is a skilled crafter of worlds and words, and I can't wait to read every book of his to come.
July 17, 2024
Two stories that parallel each other. One is about a group of young African American trying to exact reparation for wrongs that took place in the past. The second one involves a white ex Alabama police officer investigating on behalf of one of the victim’s of the first group. A fascinating introspective story in the world of slavery, segregation and the application of “Jim Crow” laws in southern states. In addition a pretty good mystery.
January 18, 2024
#SmokeKings #NetGalley
SMOKE KINGS: a blistering thriller in which the issue of racism is not so black-and-white.
One of the ills of society nowadays is undoubtedly racism, and countless books have been written to speak staunchly against it.
SMOKE KINGS, a fine effort by Jahmal Mayfield, is one such book that has gripped me from start to end. You know why? Because while it condemns racism very overtly, it also has the common sense to suggest that things are not as black-and-white, or rather, black-or-white, as they seem, in this regard.
The protagonist, Joshua, lost his brother, Darius, to a senseless act of violence, and decided to focus his anger and pain upon getting reparations for the evil perpetuated by racists, together with a tight-knit unit of vigilantes who kidnap those they know to be involved with hate crimes and force them to donate money to a fund dedicated to helping the victims of racism. Of course, though, things go south, as they are bound to, and it all leads to this increasingly intense and intricate path that the characters walk, blurring the lines between justice and vengeance, revenge and reparation, black and white. I would love to see this as a movie or series with an ensemble African-American cast, and I think the author would to, because this is the kind of pedal-to-the-metal thriller that just refuses to let up. Solid five outta five! I will be watching Mr. Mayfield very closely!
SMOKE KINGS: a blistering thriller in which the issue of racism is not so black-and-white.
One of the ills of society nowadays is undoubtedly racism, and countless books have been written to speak staunchly against it.
SMOKE KINGS, a fine effort by Jahmal Mayfield, is one such book that has gripped me from start to end. You know why? Because while it condemns racism very overtly, it also has the common sense to suggest that things are not as black-and-white, or rather, black-or-white, as they seem, in this regard.
The protagonist, Joshua, lost his brother, Darius, to a senseless act of violence, and decided to focus his anger and pain upon getting reparations for the evil perpetuated by racists, together with a tight-knit unit of vigilantes who kidnap those they know to be involved with hate crimes and force them to donate money to a fund dedicated to helping the victims of racism. Of course, though, things go south, as they are bound to, and it all leads to this increasingly intense and intricate path that the characters walk, blurring the lines between justice and vengeance, revenge and reparation, black and white. I would love to see this as a movie or series with an ensemble African-American cast, and I think the author would to, because this is the kind of pedal-to-the-metal thriller that just refuses to let up. Solid five outta five! I will be watching Mr. Mayfield very closely!
May 3, 2024
I was invested from page one. Like chapter 1?!? That's how we’re starting?!?
The story is broken into 3 parts and told in multiple distinct voices. The chapters were a bit on the longer side when reading on your kindle, but the pacing moved quickly.
I'm warning you now that this a heavy read. You're going to laugh, curse, learn new words, be heartbroken, and find yourself flipping back a few pages because there's no way you read what you just read (if you know you know 🫠)
Everything was all well and good until the end. WHAT.
WAS. THAT. I'm genuinely upset. I wish I could word vomit on this review and tell you why, but I don't want to ruin the experience for any of you. Luckily I had my buddy read girlies to commiserate with (shoutout to y'all, cuties (🫶🏽💕)
Do I recommend it? Yes. Will you be upset? Yes. Do you promise to come back and tell me how you felt about it? I hope your answer is yes.
The story is broken into 3 parts and told in multiple distinct voices. The chapters were a bit on the longer side when reading on your kindle, but the pacing moved quickly.
I'm warning you now that this a heavy read. You're going to laugh, curse, learn new words, be heartbroken, and find yourself flipping back a few pages because there's no way you read what you just read (if you know you know 🫠)
Everything was all well and good until the end. WHAT.
WAS. THAT. I'm genuinely upset. I wish I could word vomit on this review and tell you why, but I don't want to ruin the experience for any of you. Luckily I had my buddy read girlies to commiserate with (shoutout to y'all, cuties (🫶🏽💕)
Do I recommend it? Yes. Will you be upset? Yes. Do you promise to come back and tell me how you felt about it? I hope your answer is yes.
March 6, 2024
Intense and gripping, this page turning will keep you up at night. Four friends, after a senseless racially motivated, murder of one of their own, turn vigilante and seek reparations for victims of hate crimes. They target the descendants, who continue the cycle of violence. But soon, the group fractures with differences of target and there are a few groups of people after them. This is tension filled and slightly stressful to read, bc the characters are so well developed. Readers of S.A. Cosby, Attica Locke, Dennis Lehan and Jordan Harper will soon have a new favorite.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick: 3/24
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Staff Pick: 3/24
February 6, 2024
Ok! I’m definitely adding Jahmal Mayfield to my list of new authors to watch!
What an intense ride. This was an emotional and at sometimes an even stressful read, but it was well worth it.
Race and racism isn’t as cut and dried as we all want it to be and this novel does a great job of exploring that. You’ll definitely be thinking about story long after you’ve finished the book.
What an intense ride. This was an emotional and at sometimes an even stressful read, but it was well worth it.
Race and racism isn’t as cut and dried as we all want it to be and this novel does a great job of exploring that. You’ll definitely be thinking about story long after you’ve finished the book.
January 15, 2025
Hmm 3.5⭐ was really excited to read this because the premise is so interesting, but it let me down a little. The first half was very slow, and it picked up very suddenly in part 3, which felt a little too late. There were a lot of topics touched on -- reparations, active white supremacist groups, interracial adoption, the complexities of being of mixed race, ACAB, hate crimes and other injustices, stigmas against sex workers -- and I think it's hard to really address all of those in one book. Since both groups were violent, Mayfield was ambiguous about who the "good guys" were, and I understand that decision but it felt a little too neutral at times. He did Isaiah dirty, and it was a little cliche. I didn't love the ending, although it could be the set-up for a sequel, which I'd be interested in.
January 4, 2025
Not sure why I waited so long to read this one, but it had good characters, good story and good action. Looking forward to whatever they write next 4+ stars.
March 17, 2024
Literally could not put this book down. So many plot twists that force you to confront the uncomfortable fabric our country is weaved from. The ending was tragic and I don’t know if I’ll ever recover but I will be recommending this book to everyone. This isn’t your average crime fiction novel. It is intense and confronts abuse and relationship dynamics, racism, white supremacy, and what revenge really means. Normally I’m not a fan when books switch POVs from chapter to chapter but Mayfield did it so seamlessly. The characters were all so well developed and I found it easy to keep up with the plot despite the three (four? five?) intersecting storylines.
March 24, 2024
What a gripping read. After a slower start, I read more than 3/4 in a sitting. It has multiple POVs, which probably can attribute to why I couldn’t get into it at first but then the prose and plot hooked me anyhow and I flew through it. There have been a lot of comparisons to The Trees, and while I can see it, I liked this more and this is definitely its own book. It was a lot grittier and I felt more connected to all the characters and their motivations, even the ‘villains’. However, like many other reviews, the ending fell a bit short for me and I wished for a bit more closure all around.
November 29, 2023
This is a well written, powerful novel about social justice, reparations, and taking the law into your own hands. These fully developed characters are rife with internal and external conflict, while their unique approach to social justice comes woefully unraveled. Well paced, with emotionally taut scenes, kept me reading almost straight through. Highly recommended
Thanks to NetGalley and Melville House for an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Melville House for an advanced reader copy.
May 19, 2024
3.5 I loved the concept and pacing. I did feel like some characters were pretty stereotypical from the cop to the big bad main racist, He was almost unbelievable at the same time knowing there are crazy hateful white men like that really out there.
Also, I’m not sure what to make of how it all ended. Unsettling I suppose, so I don’t feel like I LIKED this book, but it was a thriller concept I hadn’t read or heard of before. And that was exciting.
Also, I’m not sure what to make of how it all ended. Unsettling I suppose, so I don’t feel like I LIKED this book, but it was a thriller concept I hadn’t read or heard of before. And that was exciting.
October 2, 2024
2.5 rounded up.
There were slightly too many characters in this book for me to enjoy tracking it. That's the main complaint.
There were slightly too many characters in this book for me to enjoy tracking it. That's the main complaint.
January 11, 2025
It was an intriguing premise at first but I got uninterested at some point.
November 27, 2024
3 chapters in and we have:
2 cousins vowing to avenge a third cousin’s death
A team of 4 black people (including the aforementioned cousins) threatening to kill a white man in the name of justice
And a racist white guy in some form of law enforcement trying to solve figure out who these vigilantes ( team of 4 black people) are
And the flashback of how the cousin died
Reactions
The boy’s name is Joshua and they call him Shoe…Josh-shoe-uh…now that’s a new one, we are a creative people
So Scott York is really Lenny “Nails” Dykstra and goes to Mason (racist white guy) for help with the team of 4…now things are coming together.
Isiah one of the 4 is not bought into their avenging only for black people.
Mason’s wife attacked by men of color and now has developed a serious fear and distaste for black people and men and refuses to leave her home…further fuels their racism
Mason’s daughter is estranged because she has a black son…you not accepting/loving your grandchild is literally insane.
These fools trying to be the black avengers and have killed someone…what the hell are they going to do now!
Part 2 and we have a new crop of characters…baby we were barely following the other 6…who the hell is Ronald and Samuel? Oh ok now we are learning the backstory of their last bad guy…Chipper.
Chile Chipper’s girlfriend had a tracker on him, thinking he is out here cheating and this fool has been kidnapped. She had called Chipper’s brother Samuel, who sounds like a racist nut to go check the address when the avengers have him! Lord this is building up to a terrible ending…and I need them to wrap it up!
Two of the avengers are engaged, Isiah and Rachel, but Rachel had relationship with the defacto leader Nate, which apparently Isiah doesn’t know about. But he and Nate hate each other anyway.
I feel like I’m in a pinball machine, reading all these chapters and trying to figure how they add up.
Well Samuel just bit Mason’s ear, like huh? The man is actually there to help you and is also a racist, but clearly Sam is void of any logic.
Isiah is bad for business and keeps leading the avengers into horrible situations.
I can’t with this book!
But he ends up saving the day and outsmarting the racists, which wasn’t exactly hard, but deadly.
The book ends with Sam still attempting to avenge old Chipper.
In one word, horrible! 95 different characters multiple storylines, that come together haphazardly and amount to nothing. I wanted this to be a good thrilling and redemption-filled ride, but it all fell flat.
2 cousins vowing to avenge a third cousin’s death
A team of 4 black people (including the aforementioned cousins) threatening to kill a white man in the name of justice
And a racist white guy in some form of law enforcement trying to solve figure out who these vigilantes ( team of 4 black people) are
And the flashback of how the cousin died
Reactions
The boy’s name is Joshua and they call him Shoe…Josh-shoe-uh…now that’s a new one, we are a creative people
So Scott York is really Lenny “Nails” Dykstra and goes to Mason (racist white guy) for help with the team of 4…now things are coming together.
Isiah one of the 4 is not bought into their avenging only for black people.
Mason’s wife attacked by men of color and now has developed a serious fear and distaste for black people and men and refuses to leave her home…further fuels their racism
Mason’s daughter is estranged because she has a black son…you not accepting/loving your grandchild is literally insane.
These fools trying to be the black avengers and have killed someone…what the hell are they going to do now!
Part 2 and we have a new crop of characters…baby we were barely following the other 6…who the hell is Ronald and Samuel? Oh ok now we are learning the backstory of their last bad guy…Chipper.
Chile Chipper’s girlfriend had a tracker on him, thinking he is out here cheating and this fool has been kidnapped. She had called Chipper’s brother Samuel, who sounds like a racist nut to go check the address when the avengers have him! Lord this is building up to a terrible ending…and I need them to wrap it up!
Two of the avengers are engaged, Isiah and Rachel, but Rachel had relationship with the defacto leader Nate, which apparently Isiah doesn’t know about. But he and Nate hate each other anyway.
I feel like I’m in a pinball machine, reading all these chapters and trying to figure how they add up.
Well Samuel just bit Mason’s ear, like huh? The man is actually there to help you and is also a racist, but clearly Sam is void of any logic.
Isiah is bad for business and keeps leading the avengers into horrible situations.
I can’t with this book!
But he ends up saving the day and outsmarting the racists, which wasn’t exactly hard, but deadly.
The book ends with Sam still attempting to avenge old Chipper.
In one word, horrible! 95 different characters multiple storylines, that come together haphazardly and amount to nothing. I wanted this to be a good thrilling and redemption-filled ride, but it all fell flat.
May 5, 2024
Jahmal Mayfield is an author to watch. Smoke Kings reads like Jordan Harper wrote an Ocean's Eleven movie after reading Blood Meridian. A constantly unraveling yarn that is equal parts dynamic and thoughtful. Mayfield gives us flawed characters with imperfect motivations, holding a mirror up to multiple elements of modern society. An exciting and powerful debut novel, and red-hot start to a promising career.
June 3, 2024
A blistering dive into race, revenge and consequences. Brilliant.
March 17, 2024
What a book, what a book…
When I first started this book I thought ugh too many characters, too many POVs. Boy was I wrong. Like a brilliant movie unfolding in your mind, in the end you realize how much you need it all.
This book is about the complexity of the human character. And it is masterfully done. Bad to good, good to bad and all that creeps in between. Phew-eee.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut, it’s a perfect crime thriller with heated topics and that ‘looking under a rock and not liking what you find’ complexity.
I found this book thanks to S A Cosby, and I have to say this one is going to stay with me for awhile. I screamed so much during the last chapter that my dogs fought. Seems appropriate somehow.
When I first started this book I thought ugh too many characters, too many POVs. Boy was I wrong. Like a brilliant movie unfolding in your mind, in the end you realize how much you need it all.
This book is about the complexity of the human character. And it is masterfully done. Bad to good, good to bad and all that creeps in between. Phew-eee.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut, it’s a perfect crime thriller with heated topics and that ‘looking under a rock and not liking what you find’ complexity.
I found this book thanks to S A Cosby, and I have to say this one is going to stay with me for awhile. I screamed so much during the last chapter that my dogs fought. Seems appropriate somehow.
March 21, 2024
For a debut, this was one dark story, brilliantly executed and realised. 4 friends unite following the death of a loved one to exercise their revenge in a fairly unique but compelling way. But as the book blurb explains, if planning revenge, dig two graves - never more apt than here. This was great southern style noir, with the usual trope of characters - but in the hands of Mayfield, he crafted it well. 4.5 rounded to 5!
September 16, 2024
I can see the appeal for adrenaline readers. Just not for me.
April 27, 2025
The story has a promising premise and its heart is certainly in the right place…but it ends up being an awkward and ultimately unsatisfying combination of a crime thriller and a social issues novel that tries to take on too much, with too little finesse or skill (flat, stereotypical characters; unrealistic dialogue; extraneous plot lines; narrative inconsistencies). Three stars for effort and good intentions…but that’s being generous.
February 22, 2024
"Smoke Kings" by Jahmal Mayfield is a tour de force in crime fiction, blending noir elements with probing social commentary that cuts to the core of our collective consciousness. With echoes of "Get Out" and "Razorblade Tears," Mayfield delivers a narrative that grips the reader from the first page and refuses to let go.
At its heart, "Smoke Kings" is a story of righteous fury and the quest for justice in a world riddled with racial injustice. Through the eyes of Nate Evers, a young black activist driven by rage over the unending cycle of violence against his community, we are thrust into a harrowing journey of retribution and redemption. When Nate and his companions take matters into their own hands, seeking reparations for the sins of the past, they embark on a dangerous path where the line between justice and revenge becomes increasingly blurred.
Mayfield's narrative is propelled by a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters, each grappling with their own demons and motivations. As the story unfolds, we are confronted with themes of love, loyalty, trust, and the ugly realities of racism that continue to plague society. The tension builds with every page, fueled by the characters' inner conflicts and the looming threat of violent reprisal.
What sets "Smoke Kings" apart is its unflinching exploration of complex moral dilemmas and the consequences of taking justice into one's own hands. As the characters' carefully laid plans unravel in the face of unforeseen challenges, we are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of power, privilege, and the enduring legacy of systemic oppression.
Mayfield's prose is sharp and evocative, drawing the reader into a world where the stakes are high and the cost of failure is steep. From the poignant moments of introspection to the pulse-pounding action sequences, "Smoke Kings" is a masterclass in storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.
In conclusion, "Smoke Kings" is a powerful and thought-provoking debut novel that demands to be read. Jahmal Mayfield has announced himself as a formidable new voice in crime fiction, and I eagerly await his next literary offering.
At its heart, "Smoke Kings" is a story of righteous fury and the quest for justice in a world riddled with racial injustice. Through the eyes of Nate Evers, a young black activist driven by rage over the unending cycle of violence against his community, we are thrust into a harrowing journey of retribution and redemption. When Nate and his companions take matters into their own hands, seeking reparations for the sins of the past, they embark on a dangerous path where the line between justice and revenge becomes increasingly blurred.
Mayfield's narrative is propelled by a diverse and unforgettable cast of characters, each grappling with their own demons and motivations. As the story unfolds, we are confronted with themes of love, loyalty, trust, and the ugly realities of racism that continue to plague society. The tension builds with every page, fueled by the characters' inner conflicts and the looming threat of violent reprisal.
What sets "Smoke Kings" apart is its unflinching exploration of complex moral dilemmas and the consequences of taking justice into one's own hands. As the characters' carefully laid plans unravel in the face of unforeseen challenges, we are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of power, privilege, and the enduring legacy of systemic oppression.
Mayfield's prose is sharp and evocative, drawing the reader into a world where the stakes are high and the cost of failure is steep. From the poignant moments of introspection to the pulse-pounding action sequences, "Smoke Kings" is a masterclass in storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.
In conclusion, "Smoke Kings" is a powerful and thought-provoking debut novel that demands to be read. Jahmal Mayfield has announced himself as a formidable new voice in crime fiction, and I eagerly await his next literary offering.
April 14, 2024
-1000000
I’ll write a longer review tomorrow but tldr? - what is i needed a 13th reason??
Proper Review:
I was immediately drawn to the premise of this novel: a revenge story rooted in personal trauma and a legacy of white supremacist violence. The problem with this book is it is a wonderful premise written by someone with neither talent nor skill to achieve all the things this book wants to achieve.
Mayfield wants Smoke Kings to be an social issues thriller centered around race and white supremacist violence but it does not appear that really knows what he wants to say. He wants to discuss anti-black violence, white supremacy, anti-asian racism in the Black community, anti-Black racism in the Asian community, interracial adoption, Blackness as a moving category, historical legacy, and the social responsibility of all white people and the all the complications that come from this issues in our intimate relationships but Mayfield clearly does not what he actually wants to say about these things and he is not a skilled enough writer to effectively convey whatever story he was trying to tell. The weird white saviorism in this book + a cop being a good guy + the unchallenged "but Black people are bad too" narrative that Mayfield is painfully ill-equipped to deal with = a clumsy plot and poorly developed characters.
The characters are like mouthpieces for the above mentioned issues and not real people. Mayfield heavily relies on stereotypes and tropes to build his characters. We have gotten a racially confused Asian guy adopted by white parents, a tragic quadroon, and a wannabe Black panther . The fourth member of this team ends up playing such a minor role that it is hard to believe that his story was so central in the group engaging in this venture in the first place. And there stereotypes places on the Black female characters pained me to read.
While I will say the first 1/3 was very strong, as the book progresses Mayfield's lack of skill slowly then becomes glaringly obvious. I could overlook lazy characterization if the plot was worthwhile but plot in the last 2/3 is completely bonkers. Read few airport bookstore thrillers and watch less Tarantino and Lee Mr. Mayfield. The plot is like a trainwreck you can't look away from. The plot is convoluted jumbled mess that makes you go "wait what?" because they genuinely make no sense, especially the side characters. It was like he was writing and thought "oh shoot, how do I incorportate these people into this part of the book?". Mayfield wants us to believe character motivations that he just makes no effort to develop so things are happening in the book that are just hard to believe. I don't mind suspending my belief a bit but come on, respect your audience's intelligence. Part II and III are extremely rush and the epilogue is ridiculous. Why should I believe that happened??
I can believe a reputable house picked this up but I canNOT believe Smoke Kings was allowed to published in this final form from a reputable house. I hate when goodreads users are like "this book needed more editing" but literally where was the editor???
This could have been a great book in more capable hands.
I’ll write a longer review tomorrow but tldr? - what is i needed a 13th reason??
Proper Review:
I was immediately drawn to the premise of this novel: a revenge story rooted in personal trauma and a legacy of white supremacist violence. The problem with this book is it is a wonderful premise written by someone with neither talent nor skill to achieve all the things this book wants to achieve.
Mayfield wants Smoke Kings to be an social issues thriller centered around race and white supremacist violence but it does not appear that really knows what he wants to say. He wants to discuss anti-black violence, white supremacy, anti-asian racism in the Black community, anti-Black racism in the Asian community, interracial adoption, Blackness as a moving category, historical legacy, and the social responsibility of all white people and the all the complications that come from this issues in our intimate relationships but Mayfield clearly does not what he actually wants to say about these things and he is not a skilled enough writer to effectively convey whatever story he was trying to tell. The weird white saviorism in this book + a cop being a good guy + the unchallenged "but Black people are bad too" narrative that Mayfield is painfully ill-equipped to deal with = a clumsy plot and poorly developed characters.
The characters are like mouthpieces for the above mentioned issues and not real people. Mayfield heavily relies on stereotypes and tropes to build his characters. We have gotten a racially confused Asian guy adopted by white parents, a tragic quadroon, and a wannabe Black panther . The fourth member of this team ends up playing such a minor role that it is hard to believe that his story was so central in the group engaging in this venture in the first place. And there stereotypes places on the Black female characters pained me to read.
While I will say the first 1/3 was very strong, as the book progresses Mayfield's lack of skill slowly then becomes glaringly obvious. I could overlook lazy characterization if the plot was worthwhile but plot in the last 2/3 is completely bonkers. Read few airport bookstore thrillers and watch less Tarantino and Lee Mr. Mayfield. The plot is like a trainwreck you can't look away from. The plot is convoluted jumbled mess that makes you go "wait what?" because they genuinely make no sense, especially the side characters. It was like he was writing and thought "oh shoot, how do I incorportate these people into this part of the book?". Mayfield wants us to believe character motivations that he just makes no effort to develop so things are happening in the book that are just hard to believe. I don't mind suspending my belief a bit but come on, respect your audience's intelligence. Part II and III are extremely rush and the epilogue is ridiculous. Why should I believe that happened??
I can believe a reputable house picked this up but I canNOT believe Smoke Kings was allowed to published in this final form from a reputable house. I hate when goodreads users are like "this book needed more editing" but literally where was the editor???
This could have been a great book in more capable hands.
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