Guide Me Home

Highway 59 #3

by Attica Locke

In the final novel in the "timely and evocative" (NPR) Highway 59 trilogy, from Edgar Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author Attica Locke, Darren Matthews is pulled out of an early retirement to investigate the disappearance of a Black college student from an all-white sorority and soon finds nothing is as it seems.

Texas Ranger Darren Mathews isn’t sure he’s been a good cop, but believes he’s got a shot at being a good man—if he manages to dodge the potential indictment hanging over his head and if he, from here on out, pledges allegiance to the truth. It’s a virtue the country appears to have wholly lost its grip on, but one Darren sees as his salvation. He is in the midst of remaking his life with the woman he loves, hoping for the peace of country living at his beloved farmhouse, when he is visited by someone who couldn’t hold the truth on her tongue if it was dipped in sugar, a woman who’s always been bent of tearing his life apart. His mother. Armed with a tall tale about a missing Black college student, Sera (whose white sorority sisters insist she isn’t missing at all). Darren must decide if his can trust his mother is telling the truth—and what her ulterior motive may be, and what if that motive has to do with a grand jury deciding his fate.

Darren gets his hooks into the investigation, along the way discovering things about Sera’s family and her hometown that are odd at best, vaguely sinister at worst. Hamstrung by local law enforcement and the Texas Rangers who likewise doubt the account of a missing girl, if Darren wants answers, he’ll need help from the person whom he swore to never trust again—his mother.

In this emotionally stirring conclusion to the singular Highway 59 series, set three years after the events of Heaven, My Home, Darren reckons with his life’s purpose as he’s forced to choose between his own peace and the higher call to do good.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Race

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Attica Locke is a writer whose first novel, Black Water Rising, was nominated for a 2010 Edgar Award, a 2010 NAACP Image Award, as well as a Los Angeles Times Book Prize and was shortlisted for an Orange Prize in the UK.

Attica is also a screenwriter who has written movie and television scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros, Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, HBO, Dreamworks and Silver Pictures. She was also a fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Feature Filmmakers Lab and is a graduate of Northwestern University.

A native of Houston, Texas, Attica lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another characteristically engrossing novel from Attica Locke. She writes the South with such nuance and care and as with her previous novels, this is a finely woven mystery and a story about family and secrets and the demons we have to overcome in ourselves while living in an unjust and often corrupt world. Well worth your time.

[Kate Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attica Locke's Highway 59 trilogy is just astoundingly good: each one is a master class of biting social commentary skillfully wrapped inside family drama which is in turn wrapped inside a cunningly plotted mystery. Her Texas Ranger hero hits rock bottom in the third installment: newly divorced and turning in his badge under the shadow of a looming indictment for the cover-up in Book 1, his flirtation with alcoholism now flowering into a full-blown affair. What he absolutely does not need is his quixotic, unreliable, and newly-sober mother turning up with a tall tale about a missing Black sorority girl who doesn't actually appear to be missing...or is she? Mother and son plunge into the case together, and unravel some complicated family history even as they unravel unheard-of levels of corruption and chicanery. Locke could easily continue with the Highway 59 series, but if she decides to end it here, it's been a fine and wonderful ride.

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, Attica Locke has taken her pen game to the next level. She has mastered the knack for genuine dialogue and real life relationship dynamics. Her writing is so authentic, it’s so easy to fall into the story and become quickly vested. Writing follow-ups is never easy, especially when there has been years between books, but due to Attica’s skillful storytelling, she quickly gets the reader up to speed, and gets us going right into the present narrative.

Darren Matthews still has trouble hanging over his head, and the reason for that has a little to do with his mother. Their relationship remains contentious, but in this third highway 59 book we find out much more about her teen years which perhaps softens Darren heart some toward his mother.

Well, no spoilers here, but maybe that isn’t entirely accurate. At the heart of this story is a “missing” college student. The question; is she truly missing? Well, only top level writing can keep the reader guessing. And, so at points you’ll think yes, other times you’ll be unsure. Of course, East Texas history and politics are part of the book, an Attica Locke signature. In the final analysis, this is a well told missing person story worthy of five luminous STARS!

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I wish there was more meat on the bone here because the broad strokes are really interesting. Previous Highway 59 books have been dominated by the crime at the center of the story, with Darren's own troubles serving as a very strong B plot that draws us through the longer series. This time Darren's story is front and center when his estranged mother tries to pull him in to investigate a missing college student.

The story of Darren realizing that his mother's story is more complicated than he knew is interesting in theory but it doesn't play out that way. I really enjoyed the internal character study of it, but the way he gets the story is often through long monologues that leave him with more questions he doesn't bother to ask anyone. It feels drawn out simply for the sake of extending the story. I would have liked to see something with more movement, maybe even a whole separate narrative we could follow in parallel following the story of his mother and father. Because as it is, it often drags.

The story of the missing college student starts sketchy but then just... stops. Once we finally get some interesting details, they don't come together in a satisfying way.

Locke is usually so consistently strong, this book from her felt like it didn't have the usual internal engine. I found the emotional plot really great, and Darren's actions mostly understandable (there's a very ridiculous bit at the end) and his character filled out, but as a book it just didn't fully work for me.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what an emotional finale! 🤩 This can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the entire HIGHWAY 59 trilogy to not miss out on Attica Locke’s amazing storytelling. These novels specifically follow Darren Mathews, a Black Texas Ranger from East Texas, and link to previous cases, family and others. I absolutely loved his character and am sad to see him go.. hoping, crossing my fingers for a fourth book. Excellent. ❥ 5 stars — Pub. 9/3/24

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me two tries to get through the first book of this trilogy. I liked the second book a little more. This book was my least favorite, and I had several problems with it (and the trilogy). I don’t really like Texas Ranger Darren Matthews, and I was really tired of his personal life.

If this book had been a regular police procedural I would have been fine with that. But the case of the missing girl was buried under Darren’s mother issues. In addition, although my hatred of all things Trumpian knows no bounds, I thought that this book was too political, and probably won’t age well. This book felt like the author really wanted to write an Op-Ed piece, but since she had a contract for the third book she just dumped all of her opinions into this book. I also couldn’t finish “The Cutting Season”. So this author is obviously not for me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final volume in the Highway 59 trilogy. I've loved each volume. The writing is consistently good and I have been transported to another place and time. The people in the story are well-written and interesting. They all have issues of course, just like the rest of us. I especially enjoyed how Attica Locke writes about relationships.

Favorite quotes:

"She was a shot of light right to the center of his soul. She'd lit a fire in him."

"This life is yours to decide how you want to add your piece to our time here."

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 3, 2024.

Texas Ranger Darren Mathews is facing a potential indictment and he’s desperately holding on to his life when he receives a visit from his estranged mother who feeds him a story about Sera, a possibly missing Black college student whose white sorority sisters claim she isn’t missing at all. Darren has to determine if his mother’s story is true and he begins investigating both Sera and her shady hometown, uncovering troubling information, some of which may impact his own case.

“…the fever dream that had been the years since Donald Trump was elected,” is the time period during which this story is set and Mathews (and Locke) have a clear point of view about it. It’s one I agree with, as I think most right thinking people do, but there will likely be some who pick up the book and take exception to the politics. If you are that someone, then don’t read this, you won’t like it.

I read BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD, but didn’t read the second book in the series, and felt like I was fine and would have been OK with this as a standalone, although I was happy to have the rich backstory of Darren’s relationships with his uncles.

I’m a bit torn about this book. The language and the writing are lovely. For example, the description of the bricks of the sorority houses as different, delicious foods, loved that. Locke makes you feel, smell and taste the Texas heat and dust. But the plotting this time seemed a bit juvenile. Are people that openly racist in Texas? And Thornhill was just so blatantly illegal, most teenagers would have understood it, but tons of adults didn’t? I couldn’t buy that. So, I couldn’t entirely embrace this.

[Rincey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the weakest book by Locke I think I've read, which is honestly saying a lot about how great her other books are because I still consider this a 3 star read. I did have to start it at a few different times, and I think that says something about the fact that something about the way this is written felt more effort-full where as her other books (including the others in this series) I could effortlessly get caught up in them. I'm not mad that this book exists, but it didn't really add anything more for me personally, even if the other books had open threads that this one closes up

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @novelsuspects and @mulhollandbooks for the copies to review.

Whew, what a conclusion to the Highway 59 series. Darren Matthews has become a familiar character to me, and with J.D. Jackson (one of my favorites) doing the fabulous narration, I’m truly sad this is finished. I love Attica Locke’s writing, she covers tough subjects well while creating characters with depth that you are endeared to, flaws and all. I did not know how this was going to end, as we have had a bumpy ride with Darren and his mother, and I won’t spoil it for you but I did not expect this from either of them in here. I also did not expect the ending, and it did not disappoint. This can be read as a standalone, but as you can probably tell from this review, it is best to read this as part of the overall trilogy, and it is well worth your time in doing so.

[Kaitlin Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

YESSSS this was the wrap-up I didn't know I needed! This installment fixed all my issues with book #2. I had some beef with the mom plotline in that book, but it's wrapped up really well in this one. No one--and I mean NO one--writes about Texas like Attica Locke, and I eat it up every time. Her writing has such a strong sense of place and this book is no exception. The mystery in this book was more interesting to me than the mystery in book #2, and I thought the author did a great job of addressing current topics (namely the Trump presidency). And I always appreciate when people call out Greg Abbott for making life worse for Texans :)

Highly recommend this whole series and especially this finale!

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a huge re-reader, but every so often, an occasion calls for it! For years, Attica Locke has been one of my favorite mystery novelists, and so the release of the final book in her Highway 59 series required me to travel down memory lane (pun intended 😊.) To help organize my thoughts on each of the three books in this series, I will be splitting my review into three categories: the great, the mid, and the gripes.

The Great: the women, the family (as always), and the concept
I have to give Attica Locke her props, because her treatment of the female characters has moved steadily up my good-bad-ugly categories in each of the Highway 59 books! Randie gets early points for chipping away at the Matthews family’s elitist narrative of Darren’s upbringing:

“I know it’s this defining story in your family, how, grief-stricken, Clayton nobly saved you from a woman incapable of properly caring for you, but she was also grieving, Darren. She’d lost your father too. And she had her child taken away from her within a day of giving birth.” (36)

Even outside of her truth-telling, I just really enjoyed the growth-oriented nature of their dynamic. Again, this wasn’t the crux of the story, but every time Locke focused on their relationship, I found myself pleasantly enjoying it.

The real shining female star of Guide Me Home is Bell Callis herself! This is another woman that we’ve been on a rollercoaster with as readers of this series. As Darren learns about his mother’s life story, his other parents (his uncles) become real life people, and not just mythic figures that can’t be challenged. It is NUTS that it took until he was 45 and estranged from his uncle to come to any kind of independent opinion of his mom’s side of the family. Like this level of reasoning is not the logic of a grown man:

“He knew little about his mother’s family other than that the Mathews men, his uncles William and Clayton, didn’t think much of the whole tribe, were known to speak ill of that entire line of his heritage. Darren had heard tales of the Callis men in and out of jail, shiftlessness as a chronic condition, always to support the idea that Darren had been saved from being raised by a band of thieves and ne’er-do-wells.” (99)

I laughed out loud at this, because most people I know came to realize their family’s feuds were not black and white by the age of 15 AT THE LATEST. When I thought about it though, most of my parents’ generation is like this! My mom is just now coming to terms with how her uncles’ misogyny, classism, and homophobia has really shaped a lot of family dynamics. She is 55 years old, so by this standard, you could even say Darren is doing better than some of his Gen X peers!!!!!!!!

This is definitely a better late than never evolution though, because Darren’s realizations open up more passion and possibility for his relationship with his mom to be his—not transferred beef from Clayton or William. Locke has some beautiful passages that get to the hear of just how our perception of our parents can evolve with age/time:

“…and maybe, just maybe, he was tired of hating his mom. Especially since the one he knew to hate didn’t appear to be in this room. There was a Bell Callis in his mind for whom he still felt rage. But the quiet older woman before him now elicited only compassion, raw and unexamined, a pure human impulse to care, to have fellow feeling about the person in front of you.” (113)

My final shining star of Guide Me Home is the concept of Thornhill itself! In the regional planning/affordable housing world, conversations about the dangers of country towns always get my attention. They get to these really interesting themes about self-reliance, corporate vs. government vs. communal responsibility, and the failures of social safety nets—all of which Locke is thinking about in this novel. I also loved the growing level of dystopia in the setting, and how the startling information about Thornhill’s inner workings were slowly revealed as Sara began asking more questions. Very Parable of the Sower/Talents-esque!!!

The Mid: the concept…which is to say the geography
While I loved the concept of Thornhill, the execution was not the best. I completely understood her points about how the town could commit so many workers rights’ violations because of the growing scarcity and deprivation in our society. However, I really wished she would “show and not tell” us this. There just has to be a more impactful/conversational way to have characters discuss their motivations than we received in this book.

I also thought the actual depiction of the town could have been done much better, and I’m saying this because of how Attica Locke excelled at this aspect of Heaven, My Home. Caddo Lake is such a richly-drawn setting in Book 2, and I just wanted more of that spookiness and cinematic feeling in Book 3. Locke has some good moments—when she’s describing Nacogdoches and Lufkin as “fraternal twins for whom genetics hadn’t entirely played fair” (73), for instance. Unfortunately, I just don’t think the rest of the geographic piece is that strong here. Locke excels when she is explaining Texans’ investment in their hometowns, and we just don’t get that level of deep emotional introspection about Thornhill as a “homeplace” for its families. Again, she’s playing with a really interesting theme about seeking care from your employer because all other societal structures have failed you. I just thought the theme would have been explored so much better in the hands of a more tactful author. Locke is so blunt and Trump-obsessed that she gets off-topic easily when I want her to focus on the points that actually are unique/interesting, and not just a petty regurgitation of MSNBC soundbites.

The Gripes: the politics and THE GODDAMN BADGE
That leads me to my main things I hate about this book. Attica Locke IS OBSESSED WITH TRUMP and in a very lazy manner. Darren brings him up when it actually doesn’t even make sense, or is a stand-in for something the author is struggling to describe in a more detailed way. Instead of actually leading us to novel conclusions about Sera’s father, Darren just starts fixating on his MAGA hat, and the guy explains that he voted for Obama but hates the “hand-out mentality” of the Democrats within two seconds of conversation. Like this is not the depth with which people usually engage each other, particularly around politics. It just felt brash and honestly tacky as a writer. Like I wanted more thoughtful descriptions of why Darren hated the man! Again, is that not the standard we deserve as readers!!!

Finally, as much as I do love this series, I am GLAD IT’S OVER SO I DON’T HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT THE TEXAS RANGER BADGE EVER AGAIN IN MY LIFE. It’s simply not important to anyone but Darren, and his delusions about how the kids in Thornhill “need to see someone like them” in uniform are just sooooo tired. Like, you’re talking about the importance of Black cops in 2024?!?!?! Are we not past this?!?!?!

I will stop ranting now, because I do actually want people to read all three books in the series! Guide Me Home in particular is mostly enjoyable, just a bit too far off the deep end when it comes to its liberalism. If you loved this series and want to bring it to a close, I’d definitely recommend checking out this book soon!

[Simms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Attica Locke is interested in more than just writing a crime procedural. That's admirable. A big sub-theme of this series is America's relationship with race generally, and Donald Trump specifically (at least the previous book; it's been a long time since I read Bluebird, Bluebird, and I don't remember if it had any mention of Trump's election). For Heaven, My Home, published in 2019 and set in between Trump's election and inauguration, the political bit was timely and effectively incorporated into the plot. In this book, though, it feels a little forced. Part of that is that despite being published in 2024 it's set in 2019, seemingly for no other reason except to still take place during Trump's presidency. It's hard to say that Trump is in the past, when he's a normal polling error away from winning another election a month from now, but the feeling I got was still that Locke was kind of stuck - like she thought, wait, no, I have more to say I forgot to stick in last time, I gotta do some more. And it's not very subtle, this time around, as if a character shows up, and is a Republican, you know they are going to be part of the ultimate cabal of villainous politicians and businesspeople -- which gets particularly weird when a fictional US senator from Maryland is included, and I thought Locke was going with a general "government corruption" theme, but no, he's a Republican too. Never mind that Maryland hasn't elected a Republican senator in more than 40 years.

The mystery part of the book tends to take a back seat to the political part, but the real focus is on the character of Darren Mathews and his family history - to its detriment, unfortunately. I never really cared so much about Darren's relationship with his mother, because she's such a cartoonishly terrible mother in the previous books, so I couldn't get all that invested in that aspect of the plot. In theory this is the final book in the "Highway 59" series, so it's a shame for it to kind of fizzle out. Attica Locke has shown she's got chops elsewhere though, so I'll hold out hope for what she does next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC.

[Wendy Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was awaiting this next instalment of Darren Matthews' story with bated breath and it does not disappoint.

This is such a brilliantly crafted series of books intertwining contemporary US politics, being black (and a Ranger) in Texas, family history that slowly unravels along with crime at its heart. The author's skill at constructing a family story over three volumes is brilliant and the motivations and essence of all the characters are shown through action not words with nothing feeling contrived.

American political polarisation is stark and, for a British reader, layers up understanding rather than news soundbites. I feel I have been to the heart of a black law-keeper in the Deep South.

I recommend Attica Locke to everybody - for narrative, for tension, for great writing and such creative and nuanced stories.

With many thanks to #NetGalley @SerpentsTail @ViperBooks @ProfileBooks for allowing me to read and review

[Thomas DeWolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attica Locke has become one of my favorite authors. Such rich characters and fascinating stories. I've been waiting for this one since I first heard it was coming out. Raced through it in just a few days. Simply couldn't put it down. HIGHLY recommended!!!

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine conclusion to the trilogy Attica Locke began with Bluebird Bluebird. Darren Matthews, flawed protagonist of all three novels, is believable as a former Texas Ranger who discovers the truth about his family and life while investigating the disappearance of a black college student who had been a member of a southern belle sorority. We can only hope that Attica Locke finds another character to build a series around as fine as this one.

[Drw · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 10% of the book that is an actual case to be solved is great.

But 90% of the book is summarized by 5 words on page 93 - "felt his politics taking over."

Since I read fiction to escape the vitriol of politics - the best I can say for the vast majority of the book is that Darren Matthews deserved a better finale.

[Stephen R T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Any mystery or crime novel that takes 3 chapters focused on the protagonist's emotional problems is not worth the readers' time no matter how well-written the first two novels in the series are.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as “tight” as her other books but decent. Bluebird,Bluebird was the best in this series.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love, love, Attica Locke. I’ve been a fan since I first read Bluebird, Bluebird, and if you’ve read all the Jane Harper and Tana French and are looking for your next atmospheric, literary, mystery fix, you can’t do better than picking up an Attica Locke. But not this one! This is the third entry in her Highway 59 trilogy, so starting here will be full of spoilers and you won’t get the full effect.

The Highway 59 trilogy is in my opinion Locke’s magnum opus. It’s been a long time to wait for the third entry, as Locke has been writing for TV. As you might expect, the dialogue snaps, and I love the voices of all the characters.

A brief summary of the Highway 59 trilogy--Darren Matthews is a black Texas Ranger. Yes, it’s about as complicated as you might imagine. He was raised by his two uncles after his father died in Vietnam before he was born, because his mother was an addict. He has complicated difficult relationships with his whole family, and that includes his trusty bottle of Jim Beam. When a black girl goes missing from the all white sorority house where his mother is a maid, he knows that nothing good can have happened to her.

My experience of Texas does not go any further than the Austin airport, but these books are absolutely dripping with atmosphere, to the extent I feel like I’ve seen the state. Locke is a native so she writes the state with both warts and with love, with disdain for the worst parts and with pride for the best. This is a satisfying conclusion to Highway 59, and I hope Locke will continue to write novels.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three in the saga of Darren Matthews has him in a personal funk. He could be indicted by a MAGA obsessed prosecutor for obstruction and he has just resigned from the Texas Rangers. He's a drunk. He's alienated the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with as well as having an on/off relationship with his mother. His mom tweaks his interest in a missing black girl from Stephen F. Austin University. No one including her family acknowledges that she's missing. Simultaneously he discovers his maternal branch of the family. Both investigations lead down paths filled with lies and duplicity. Lots of pain on this journey but also some vindication. It will be interesting to see where the next book goes.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and apparently final entry in Attica Locke's "Highway 59" series. The action takes place in East Texas (Lufkin) and Houston, areas that I'm somewhat familiar with, having lived here for many years. Locke obviously knows the area well also and her descriptions of places and people are right on.

The main character in the novels is Texas Ranger Darren Mathews. In this instance, Darren is facing early retirement and a potential indictment for actions he has taken. On the plus side, he has finally met a woman that he loves and is planning on remaking his life with her in his beloved farmhouse. But then his peace is shattered by a visit from his mother.

His mother is a cleaner at a sorority house at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. She tells Darren that one of the members of the sorority - the only Black member - is missing. Darren is not sure he can trust his mother's story but he feels compelled to investigate. However, when he talks to the sorority members they all insist that the Black member, Sera, is not missing at all.

As Darren investigates and learns more about Sera's family and her hometown, things do not add up. Even though he gets no backup from local law enforcement or the Rangers, he is convinced that his mother, whom he has never trusted, may in fact be on to something and that an innocent young woman's life may depend on him getting this right. All he wants is finally to live in peace but he'll find no peace if it turns out that Sera is actually in danger and he did nothing.

Locke skillfully weaves East Texas history and politics into her story and it all rings true. She also gives us the fuller story of Darren's background and his growing up with the uncles who raised him which also more fully explains his fraught relationship with his mother.

While this book could potentially be read as a standalone, I don't recommend it. To get the full effect you really need to read the series from the beginning: Bluebird, Bluebird and Heaven, My Home. You'll be glad you did.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Barb]

started the audiobook, just a little too much for this moment in time. July 2025

[reading is my hustle]

so good to spend time with darren matthews again. Attica Locke continues to impress with her snappy dialogue, critique of social injustice, and top notch writing skills. it was hard to watch darren be so messy flailing and reckoning with his family history but it paired well with the overall narrative. i read this slowly as i didn't want it to end. the ending felt a bit rushed but it also feels like locke left it to be continued. that would be grand

[Gerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointed in this final book. I felt the ending to be a big letdown and think after previous books it would have been a lot better. Felt the author tried to tie up too much at the end. My biggest complaint was the politics were just too much for me. IMO, far too many authors feel the need to inject political views into their storyline and it turns me off – regardless of their views I don’t care! I read for enjoyment and to escape the political bashing. If I want to hear and listen to that, I can turn on cable news at any time.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love being reminded while reading an author’s new book why I loved this author in past reads! The writing is so well-done and certain passages are so perfectly described that I read them multiple times! I liked how the story continued. But I wanted more from the ending. It felt rushed and unsatisfying. Worth it for the writing! 4 stars

Mystery featuring Black and Latine characters

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fave book in the series so far: I appreciate the main character’s development along with his maturing relationships. It’s also very current in terms of themes and racial/socioeconomic/political context. Footnote. I split my read of this book as an e-book and an audiobook. I didn’t love the narrator on the audio version.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

You can write a story about race without mentioning politics every other page and beating us over the head with it. Good grief. If as much attention had been paid to plot, this could have been a captivating story.

A disappointing conclusion to a series I had previously really enjoyed.

[Erika Vijh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Idk I didn’t love it. Least compelling of the series. Very rushed ending. Less to do with the mystery and more with the man. Not for me. Presented an interesting and compelling story/concept with the mystery and didn’t see it through.