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The Fervent Whites
Guilt, shame, and suspicion swirl as a small community in upstate New York turns on itself in this moody, propulsive thriller from the award-winning writer of In West Mills.
“Endlessly entertaining . . . Does anyone write about the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality with more honesty and intensity than De’Shawn Charles Winslow?”—Wiley Cash, author of When Ghosts Come Home
The truth is closer than you think—just beyond the fence.
The year is 1982, and the people of the Hudson Valley community of Fervent have begun to move on from a homicide that upended the once quiet town. When the former neighbors who were convicted of the crime, James and Ella White, are proven innocent, released from prison, and return to Fervent, some people have cause for concern.
Sylvia Upshaw and her best friend, Lafayette “Fate” Jolly, are uneasy about the Whites’ return. While the Whites were incarcerated, Sylvia revealed an explosive secret to their adopted son, Morgan, with devastating consequences. During the murder trial, Fate’s testimony helped seal their fate. James and Ella won’t let the betrayals go unpunished. Sylvia and Fate quickly become victims of harassment from the Whites, and when another murder is committed in Fervent, the town is left to fend for itself.
Intimate and chilling, The Fervent Whites examines how small communities with long-simmering tensions behave when pushed to the limits of civility.
“Endlessly entertaining . . . Does anyone write about the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality with more honesty and intensity than De’Shawn Charles Winslow?”—Wiley Cash, author of When Ghosts Come Home
The truth is closer than you think—just beyond the fence.
The year is 1982, and the people of the Hudson Valley community of Fervent have begun to move on from a homicide that upended the once quiet town. When the former neighbors who were convicted of the crime, James and Ella White, are proven innocent, released from prison, and return to Fervent, some people have cause for concern.
Sylvia Upshaw and her best friend, Lafayette “Fate” Jolly, are uneasy about the Whites’ return. While the Whites were incarcerated, Sylvia revealed an explosive secret to their adopted son, Morgan, with devastating consequences. During the murder trial, Fate’s testimony helped seal their fate. James and Ella won’t let the betrayals go unpunished. Sylvia and Fate quickly become victims of harassment from the Whites, and when another murder is committed in Fervent, the town is left to fend for itself.
Intimate and chilling, The Fervent Whites examines how small communities with long-simmering tensions behave when pushed to the limits of civility.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 26, 2026
Sly maneuvers run through The Fervent Whites right from the title.
The story takes place in 1982 in the Hudson Valley, in a hamlet called Fervent, which might suggest enthusiasm or fanaticism. All the neighbors in this mostly Black community are buzzing about the return of James and Ella White, released from prison for a murder they didn’t commit. In a curious coincidence that feels entirely determined, the Whites also happen to be White.
But don’t get too confident here: Every obvious code is a feint.
De’Shawn Charles Winslow circled around a triple murder in his previous novel, a literary mystery called Decent People, and in this svelte new book, menace feels as close as a knife pressed to a vein.
Sylvia Upshaw — “Syl” to everyone — is feeling all the feelings about the Whites coming home. After all, she was like a mother to their adopted Black son, who died while they were in prison. It’s only right that they should all have a chance, finally, to mourn together.
“I’m so sorry you two went through — everything,” Syl tells James and Ella when they drop by unannounced. “I didn’t expect you two to come back here,” she adds, “so soon, I mean.”
“We know there’ll always be a bit of stain on our names,” Ella admits. “People don’t forget scandal. But this is our community. So, we’re not going anywhere.”
Great.
It’s not that Syl doesn’t trust the legal system — or the Whites. Indeed, some of her best friends are White. But old tensions between her and her returned neighbors now feel like an exposed nerve. Long before they went to prison, Syl made it clear that she didn’t approve of White folks adopting Black children. She never hesitated to offer unsolicited advice about everything — from how they disciplined their son to how....
You can read the rest of this review for free on Substack:
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the...
The story takes place in 1982 in the Hudson Valley, in a hamlet called Fervent, which might suggest enthusiasm or fanaticism. All the neighbors in this mostly Black community are buzzing about the return of James and Ella White, released from prison for a murder they didn’t commit. In a curious coincidence that feels entirely determined, the Whites also happen to be White.
But don’t get too confident here: Every obvious code is a feint.
De’Shawn Charles Winslow circled around a triple murder in his previous novel, a literary mystery called Decent People, and in this svelte new book, menace feels as close as a knife pressed to a vein.
Sylvia Upshaw — “Syl” to everyone — is feeling all the feelings about the Whites coming home. After all, she was like a mother to their adopted Black son, who died while they were in prison. It’s only right that they should all have a chance, finally, to mourn together.
“I’m so sorry you two went through — everything,” Syl tells James and Ella when they drop by unannounced. “I didn’t expect you two to come back here,” she adds, “so soon, I mean.”
“We know there’ll always be a bit of stain on our names,” Ella admits. “People don’t forget scandal. But this is our community. So, we’re not going anywhere.”
Great.
It’s not that Syl doesn’t trust the legal system — or the Whites. Indeed, some of her best friends are White. But old tensions between her and her returned neighbors now feel like an exposed nerve. Long before they went to prison, Syl made it clear that she didn’t approve of White folks adopting Black children. She never hesitated to offer unsolicited advice about everything — from how they disciplined their son to how....
You can read the rest of this review for free on Substack:
https://roncharles.substack.com/p/the...
June 12, 2026
3.5 stars. De'Shawn Charles Winslow is carving out a space for himself with his third historical, small town, Black-centered crime novel. This time we move from rural NC to rural NY in the early 80's, to the town of Fervent where white flight has left mostly middle class Black families and poor whites. Once again, Winslow gives us a novel that is more about place and time and character than about crime.
Sylvia's next door neighbors, The Whites, are one of the only white families left in Fervent. They were also convicted of murder, but have just been exonerated. The trial has left a lot of tension, and Sylvia feels it even more because the Whites' adopted son died while they were in prison because of a secret Sylvia shared with him. The Whites and Sylvia were once much more like friends, but there was always tension because their son was Black, part of an interracial adoption. Sylvia has never been very good at hiding her disdain, and she has overstepped more than once into more of a parental role.
This is just where we begin, with Sylvia already in knots wondering if the Whites will find out that she shared their secret. And there is plenty more from there as tension runs through the town and another killer is on the loose. As in his previous novel, Winslow also observes racial tension and homophobia among communities.
Winslow creates interesting, full characters and really pulls you into a time and place. Sometimes I wanted this to move a little more quickly, and sometimes I wanted Winslow to pull back just a little and trust the reader more. There were times when the book felt like it was doing a little too much explaining or repeating itself. In his previous novels, Winslow has had more points of view, covered more time, and here it feels a bit claustrophobic being just with Sylvia so closely.
Sylvia's next door neighbors, The Whites, are one of the only white families left in Fervent. They were also convicted of murder, but have just been exonerated. The trial has left a lot of tension, and Sylvia feels it even more because the Whites' adopted son died while they were in prison because of a secret Sylvia shared with him. The Whites and Sylvia were once much more like friends, but there was always tension because their son was Black, part of an interracial adoption. Sylvia has never been very good at hiding her disdain, and she has overstepped more than once into more of a parental role.
This is just where we begin, with Sylvia already in knots wondering if the Whites will find out that she shared their secret. And there is plenty more from there as tension runs through the town and another killer is on the loose. As in his previous novel, Winslow also observes racial tension and homophobia among communities.
Winslow creates interesting, full characters and really pulls you into a time and place. Sometimes I wanted this to move a little more quickly, and sometimes I wanted Winslow to pull back just a little and trust the reader more. There were times when the book felt like it was doing a little too much explaining or repeating itself. In his previous novels, Winslow has had more points of view, covered more time, and here it feels a bit claustrophobic being just with Sylvia so closely.
June 15, 2026
I liked this book. A very quick read but not super propulsive, it is a more literary thriller/mystery than a true genre book. I liked it and did figure out what was going on before the end. It wasn't always clear what the central plot of the book was, but mostly it all worked out for me. A really strong sense of place and time which I appreciated.
June 29, 2026
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Racist town and murderous neighbors in only 200 pages!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Short: And if my opening line doesn't sound like an interesting story, I must disagree. The story of how race affects a whole town is a completely worthy story.
It explores how characters are affected by white flight, hate crimes, and being part of multiracial families. Unfortunately, this short book-- a novel of only just over 200 pages-- didn't give me enough of what I needed to connect to the story.
Given that most of the pages were dialogue, I never oriented to the setting, nor was I able to follow the plot very well. Add onto that the many many minor but named and speaking characters, and I was often lost in this one.
I read this book immediately after reading FAIRFIELD COUNTY, and for some reason they paired beautifully. Even though I struggled with both, narratively, the themes these two books visit reflect each other with deep meaning and resonance. Honestly, this connection turned both these books into fours, and I love it.
Preread: Racism in communities is a worthy subject, but only 200 pages seems quite short.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
"Content Warnings:"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
racism, white flight, wrongly accused, prison, corruption,
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Short: And if my opening line doesn't sound like an interesting story, I must disagree. The story of how race affects a whole town is a completely worthy story.
It explores how characters are affected by white flight, hate crimes, and being part of multiracial families. Unfortunately, this short book-- a novel of only just over 200 pages-- didn't give me enough of what I needed to connect to the story.
Given that most of the pages were dialogue, I never oriented to the setting, nor was I able to follow the plot very well. Add onto that the many many minor but named and speaking characters, and I was often lost in this one.
I read this book immediately after reading FAIRFIELD COUNTY, and for some reason they paired beautifully. Even though I struggled with both, narratively, the themes these two books visit reflect each other with deep meaning and resonance. Honestly, this connection turned both these books into fours, and I love it.
Preread: Racism in communities is a worthy subject, but only 200 pages seems quite short.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚
"Content Warnings:"
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
racism, white flight, wrongly accused, prison, corruption,
June 22, 2026
Thanks to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
De'Shawn Charles Winslow's The Fervent Whites is a powerhouse of a thriller that takes place in the town of Fervent located outside of the Hudson Valley. It's 1982 when a white couple, James and Ella White are released from prison for a crime they didn't commit. The Whites move back to their old home next door to their previous neighbors, a black family, The Upshaws. Sylvia, the Upshaws matriarch, has always questioned her neighbors particularly about the adoption of their black son, Morgan. Morgan was embraced by the Upshaws, particularly by Sylvia, but she ends up blaming herself for his unexpected death. The Whites put on a friendly exterior towards Sylvia, but she and her best friend, Fate, never feel at ease with them especially since their testimony against them was what helped convinct them. Sylvia begins to see signs of growing anger and bitterness from both John and Ella towards her and Fate which will not only impact them, but the rest of their town. Winslow incorporates issues such as race, homophobia, and class into the story, but never writes them as social commentary, but uses them to bring tension especially between John and Fate. Theres also an unexpected amount humor to ease that's best demonstrated in a scene that involves a hillarious failed attempt at a book club reading of Toni Morrison's classic Song of Solomon. The best aspect of the story is how Winslow avoids charactatures and creates multifaceted people throughout the town of Fervent. I read a lot of Thrillers and admit that I have my favorite tropes, but Winslow in Fervent has written one that goes outside those tropes. He has managed to keep the elements of what makes a great thriller, but at the same time bring the thriller to another level.
De'Shawn Charles Winslow's The Fervent Whites is a powerhouse of a thriller that takes place in the town of Fervent located outside of the Hudson Valley. It's 1982 when a white couple, James and Ella White are released from prison for a crime they didn't commit. The Whites move back to their old home next door to their previous neighbors, a black family, The Upshaws. Sylvia, the Upshaws matriarch, has always questioned her neighbors particularly about the adoption of their black son, Morgan. Morgan was embraced by the Upshaws, particularly by Sylvia, but she ends up blaming herself for his unexpected death. The Whites put on a friendly exterior towards Sylvia, but she and her best friend, Fate, never feel at ease with them especially since their testimony against them was what helped convinct them. Sylvia begins to see signs of growing anger and bitterness from both John and Ella towards her and Fate which will not only impact them, but the rest of their town. Winslow incorporates issues such as race, homophobia, and class into the story, but never writes them as social commentary, but uses them to bring tension especially between John and Fate. Theres also an unexpected amount humor to ease that's best demonstrated in a scene that involves a hillarious failed attempt at a book club reading of Toni Morrison's classic Song of Solomon. The best aspect of the story is how Winslow avoids charactatures and creates multifaceted people throughout the town of Fervent. I read a lot of Thrillers and admit that I have my favorite tropes, but Winslow in Fervent has written one that goes outside those tropes. He has managed to keep the elements of what makes a great thriller, but at the same time bring the thriller to another level.
June 10, 2026
The Fervent Whites
By: De'Shawn Charles Winslow
Publish Date: June 6, 2026
Publisher: Random House/One World
General Fiction (Adult)
#TheFerventWhites#NetGalley
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House/One world for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
I gave this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed myself while reading it.
This book is set in a small New York town that is now mostly a black neighborhood. One of the residents in the area are returning back home after being in prison for 18 months. People are trying to figure out why they would want to return to the old neighborhood after what happened. There are two residents who are worried because of what they did. They didn't do anything wrong but are scared, nonetheless. What did they do; one testified against them and the other told a secret. In their defense they thought the couple were locked up for life.
The author does a great job because you get to know all the characters and you feel for them. Even the couple from prison. As the story goes the couple who were released from prison have issues and they let everyone know and they aren't nice.
This is a short book, so a lot happens and it is full of action. What I like about the story is the friendships and the small-town togetherness.
The book takes place in the year 1982, so during this time is the HIV virus and one of the characters is gay. There is also hatred about the gays and the blacks even in this small town and the towns surrounding it. Just beware when you read it because the n word is used a couple of times.
By: De'Shawn Charles Winslow
Publish Date: June 6, 2026
Publisher: Random House/One World
General Fiction (Adult)
#TheFerventWhites#NetGalley
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Random House/One world for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
I gave this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed myself while reading it.
This book is set in a small New York town that is now mostly a black neighborhood. One of the residents in the area are returning back home after being in prison for 18 months. People are trying to figure out why they would want to return to the old neighborhood after what happened. There are two residents who are worried because of what they did. They didn't do anything wrong but are scared, nonetheless. What did they do; one testified against them and the other told a secret. In their defense they thought the couple were locked up for life.
The author does a great job because you get to know all the characters and you feel for them. Even the couple from prison. As the story goes the couple who were released from prison have issues and they let everyone know and they aren't nice.
This is a short book, so a lot happens and it is full of action. What I like about the story is the friendships and the small-town togetherness.
The book takes place in the year 1982, so during this time is the HIV virus and one of the characters is gay. There is also hatred about the gays and the blacks even in this small town and the towns surrounding it. Just beware when you read it because the n word is used a couple of times.
June 15, 2026
3.75
June 13, 2026
The concept was better than the execution for me. Nothing unexpected, slightly clumsy/heavy-handed delivery. The two main protagonists were likable enough to carry the story.
June 11, 2026
I wish this weren’t being marketed as a thriller. It does have some thriller elements (murder, kidnapping, secrets) but it reads as literary fiction with an underlying thrum of tension. The author does a great job with the character work within a very small community and the day to day insidious ways that racism and homophobia shape the interactions between people. I’m just not sure I buy what ends up happening or why.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
Small town living at its most insidious! This is my first experience with this author, and it has been a delight. I loved the title of this book, and fortunately everything that comes after that is pretty great, too!
The town of Fervent is small, so everyone is in each other's business, and this is especially pronounced when it comes to people's identities, though their actions aren't too far behind. Sylvia, or Syl, shares many of her thoughts both with readers and with characters on some uncertainty around the return of a couple from the neighborhood who were imprisoned after being found guilty of a serious crime. While indisposed, their family experiences another kind of tragedy. Syl and her best friend, who is nicknamed Fate, are the primary vehicle through which readers learn information and observe at first, and there are some shifts to that throughout the novel. What never changes is that these characters are riding around with some serious secrets, gross opinions and ideas, and a few opportunities to become real menaces in each other's lives.
This is a short novel, and ideally it moves quickly but somehow also features developed, intriguing characters and situations: really a perfect match. I enjoyed this read very much, except for the part where it's set in the early '80s but reflects some of the disturbed attitudes people still somehow have now (uh...figure it out). That's a this country problem, though, not a this book issue at all.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, and I expect I'll be thinking about this one.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Erica Hernandez at Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Small town living at its most insidious! This is my first experience with this author, and it has been a delight. I loved the title of this book, and fortunately everything that comes after that is pretty great, too!
The town of Fervent is small, so everyone is in each other's business, and this is especially pronounced when it comes to people's identities, though their actions aren't too far behind. Sylvia, or Syl, shares many of her thoughts both with readers and with characters on some uncertainty around the return of a couple from the neighborhood who were imprisoned after being found guilty of a serious crime. While indisposed, their family experiences another kind of tragedy. Syl and her best friend, who is nicknamed Fate, are the primary vehicle through which readers learn information and observe at first, and there are some shifts to that throughout the novel. What never changes is that these characters are riding around with some serious secrets, gross opinions and ideas, and a few opportunities to become real menaces in each other's lives.
This is a short novel, and ideally it moves quickly but somehow also features developed, intriguing characters and situations: really a perfect match. I enjoyed this read very much, except for the part where it's set in the early '80s but reflects some of the disturbed attitudes people still somehow have now (uh...figure it out). That's a this country problem, though, not a this book issue at all.
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author, and I expect I'll be thinking about this one.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Erica Hernandez at Random House for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had me glued to the pages from the very beginning.
The Fervent Whites is one of those stories that quietly creeps under your skin. What starts as a small-town drama unfolds into a tense, character-driven exploration of grief, resentment, race, belonging, and the long shadows secrets can cast. The residents of Fervent may know each other’s names, but that doesn’t mean they know each other’s hearts.
What stood out to me most was how layered the characters felt. Nobody is entirely simple, and the conversations surrounding family, community, and identity were incredibly thought-provoking. The book raises difficult questions about what it means to love someone, who gets to define family, and how people carry both loyalty and hurt at the same time.
The atmosphere was heavy with tension. Every interaction felt like it could ignite something bigger, and the sense of unease never really let up. Watching a community wrestle with old wounds, lingering suspicions, and the fallout of past events kept me completely invested. As one character notes, people don’t easily forget scandal, and that truth hangs over the entire novel.
I also appreciated that beneath the suspense was a story about love in all its complicated forms: parental love, chosen family, friendship, and the ways people show up for one another even when circumstances are messy.
If you enjoy literary suspense, morally complex characters, small-town dynamics, and stories that spark conversation long after you’ve finished reading, I definitely recommend adding The Fervent Whites to your TBR.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.
The Fervent Whites is one of those stories that quietly creeps under your skin. What starts as a small-town drama unfolds into a tense, character-driven exploration of grief, resentment, race, belonging, and the long shadows secrets can cast. The residents of Fervent may know each other’s names, but that doesn’t mean they know each other’s hearts.
What stood out to me most was how layered the characters felt. Nobody is entirely simple, and the conversations surrounding family, community, and identity were incredibly thought-provoking. The book raises difficult questions about what it means to love someone, who gets to define family, and how people carry both loyalty and hurt at the same time.
The atmosphere was heavy with tension. Every interaction felt like it could ignite something bigger, and the sense of unease never really let up. Watching a community wrestle with old wounds, lingering suspicions, and the fallout of past events kept me completely invested. As one character notes, people don’t easily forget scandal, and that truth hangs over the entire novel.
I also appreciated that beneath the suspense was a story about love in all its complicated forms: parental love, chosen family, friendship, and the ways people show up for one another even when circumstances are messy.
If you enjoy literary suspense, morally complex characters, small-town dynamics, and stories that spark conversation long after you’ve finished reading, I definitely recommend adding The Fervent Whites to your TBR.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I read the author’s debut novel, In West Mills, and was impressed then as I am now. First, this is a propulsive thriller excellently paced but it is underlying theme that friendship is about the person not the color and those who cannot accept the color are tragedies for their loss of it that resonates.
It’s 1982 and James and Ella White have been exonerated for the killing of Paul Hope and released from jail. They decide to return to Fervent, a small subdivision outside NYC, which is unsettling for many of its residents. The Whites are white, a minority in the area, but they had adopted a black child, Morgan, so were accepted, though they were both known for their tempers. Sylvia “Syl” Upshaw and her friend Lafayette “Fate” Jolly are black and are neighbors of the Whites. They have observed that the Whites don’t seem to know, in their opinion, how to raise a black child. When Morgan’s parents are imprisoned, a secret about his parentage is revealed. Morgan dies in an accident and the Whites learn the secret of his birth was revealed and are out for vengeance.
I loved the characters in this book - even the Whites. They are excellently drawn and developed. The story unfolds dramatically as we watch Syl and Fate worry about retribution but intervening events bring a few red herrings to the story. Mrs. Talbot was probably my favorite because she was afraid to speak up against discrimination. And the writing flowed so well.
I enjoyed the read and highly recommend.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Old World/Random House for allowing me to read this ARC.
It’s 1982 and James and Ella White have been exonerated for the killing of Paul Hope and released from jail. They decide to return to Fervent, a small subdivision outside NYC, which is unsettling for many of its residents. The Whites are white, a minority in the area, but they had adopted a black child, Morgan, so were accepted, though they were both known for their tempers. Sylvia “Syl” Upshaw and her friend Lafayette “Fate” Jolly are black and are neighbors of the Whites. They have observed that the Whites don’t seem to know, in their opinion, how to raise a black child. When Morgan’s parents are imprisoned, a secret about his parentage is revealed. Morgan dies in an accident and the Whites learn the secret of his birth was revealed and are out for vengeance.
I loved the characters in this book - even the Whites. They are excellently drawn and developed. The story unfolds dramatically as we watch Syl and Fate worry about retribution but intervening events bring a few red herrings to the story. Mrs. Talbot was probably my favorite because she was afraid to speak up against discrimination. And the writing flowed so well.
I enjoyed the read and highly recommend.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Old World/Random House for allowing me to read this ARC.
June 14, 2026
(rounded down from 2.25)
This was kind of a weird one. From the blurb, it sounded right up my alley. An almost all-black neighbourhood with one couple who were in jail for murder and then freed when the real murderer confessed. They're back in the neighbourhood, mourning their adopted black son's death, and also dealing with the awkwardness of living amongst neighbours who testified (truthfully) about their batshit behaviour and helped put them away.
The actual execution is actually confusingly shallow. The Whites are so cartoonishly aggressive (literally arguing with people in public, shoving up a gay black neighbour against a wall, making threats of bodily harm to random people because they're in a bad mood) that it's hard to take them seriously as fully fleshed out characters in this book and understand the casual way everyone else just ignores their intolerant and violent nonsense for years.
The main character's point of view is Syl, a black mother who is also not super likable or complex. She has a point in trying to push the Whites to take care of their black son the way that black parents would (getting a proper barber, etc.), but is kind of obnoxiously holier than thou about how much Mrs White loves her son. Nobody here is really likable (which is fine), but they are also not interesting or particularly complex (which is very, very bad, IMO).
I was hoping for better and assume this is one of the rare misses from this author based on reviews of his other books.
This was kind of a weird one. From the blurb, it sounded right up my alley. An almost all-black neighbourhood with one couple who were in jail for murder and then freed when the real murderer confessed. They're back in the neighbourhood, mourning their adopted black son's death, and also dealing with the awkwardness of living amongst neighbours who testified (truthfully) about their batshit behaviour and helped put them away.
The actual execution is actually confusingly shallow. The Whites are so cartoonishly aggressive (literally arguing with people in public, shoving up a gay black neighbour against a wall, making threats of bodily harm to random people because they're in a bad mood) that it's hard to take them seriously as fully fleshed out characters in this book and understand the casual way everyone else just ignores their intolerant and violent nonsense for years.
The main character's point of view is Syl, a black mother who is also not super likable or complex. She has a point in trying to push the Whites to take care of their black son the way that black parents would (getting a proper barber, etc.), but is kind of obnoxiously holier than thou about how much Mrs White loves her son. Nobody here is really likable (which is fine), but they are also not interesting or particularly complex (which is very, very bad, IMO).
I was hoping for better and assume this is one of the rare misses from this author based on reviews of his other books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Random House/One Word and De'Shawn Charles Winslow for providing me an ARC of this book.
I savored this read even though I am not usually one to read thrillers or suspense. I decided to give it a try after reading the description and liking both the title and cover. This was my first time reading a book by De'Shawn Charles Winslow and I will now give more of his work a chance.
The book is well written and the characters are compelling and well developed. I found myself yelling a couple times at characters and had fun annotating my copy with what I thought might happen, who did or did not do this and that. Syl was my favorite character and the Whites got my blood boiling! I particularly loved how the topics of transracial adoption and racism are weaved through the narrative. It felt effortless and left me wanting to read more works doing similar things with as much skill as De'Shawn Charles Winslow's.
The only thing that pushed my rating of The Fervent Whites below 5 stars was the repetition. Events in the book are not told in a linear fashion. This resulted in information being repeated more often than I would have liked. It unfortunately felt like I was being hit over the head with it. Otherwise, I devoured this book. I felt like a fly on the wall watching this small town in the 1980s imploding from until then unspoken and insidious tensions.
I highly recommend this book, even if you are not usually interested in suspense and thrillers.
I savored this read even though I am not usually one to read thrillers or suspense. I decided to give it a try after reading the description and liking both the title and cover. This was my first time reading a book by De'Shawn Charles Winslow and I will now give more of his work a chance.
The book is well written and the characters are compelling and well developed. I found myself yelling a couple times at characters and had fun annotating my copy with what I thought might happen, who did or did not do this and that. Syl was my favorite character and the Whites got my blood boiling! I particularly loved how the topics of transracial adoption and racism are weaved through the narrative. It felt effortless and left me wanting to read more works doing similar things with as much skill as De'Shawn Charles Winslow's.
The only thing that pushed my rating of The Fervent Whites below 5 stars was the repetition. Events in the book are not told in a linear fashion. This resulted in information being repeated more often than I would have liked. It unfortunately felt like I was being hit over the head with it. Otherwise, I devoured this book. I felt like a fly on the wall watching this small town in the 1980s imploding from until then unspoken and insidious tensions.
I highly recommend this book, even if you are not usually interested in suspense and thrillers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A small town in the 1980s, a wrongful conviction, and the return of the people everyone believed were guilty created that tense and uneasy feeling I look for in a mystery. It felt like the kind of story where everything is already fragile and just waiting to fall apart.
What I enjoyed most was how much it focused on relationships and consequences, not just the mystery itself. The history between Sylvia, Fate, and the Whites added real depth, and you could feel that tension in every interaction. It really showed how past choices do not just disappear and can come back in ways that affect everyone involved. That made the story feel more personal.
The small town setting also stood out to me. It had that familiar feeling where everyone knows each other, but there are still secrets underneath the surface. When the second murder happens, it felt less like a surprise and more like everything had been building up to that moment.
Overall, this was an engaging and chilling read that kept my interest from beginning to end. It balanced suspense with emotional tension in a way that made it feel layered and real. If you enjoy small town thrillers with complicated relationships and lingering secrets, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks Netgalley and Random House | One World for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
What I enjoyed most was how much it focused on relationships and consequences, not just the mystery itself. The history between Sylvia, Fate, and the Whites added real depth, and you could feel that tension in every interaction. It really showed how past choices do not just disappear and can come back in ways that affect everyone involved. That made the story feel more personal.
The small town setting also stood out to me. It had that familiar feeling where everyone knows each other, but there are still secrets underneath the surface. When the second murder happens, it felt less like a surprise and more like everything had been building up to that moment.
Overall, this was an engaging and chilling read that kept my interest from beginning to end. It balanced suspense with emotional tension in a way that made it feel layered and real. If you enjoy small town thrillers with complicated relationships and lingering secrets, this is definitely worth picking up.
Thanks Netgalley and Random House | One World for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.
June 11, 2026
3.5 stars. While short, the characters and setting are fully realized and you are immediately immersed in the hamlet of Fervent. I would not call this a thriller (as it has been described). It is a portrait of tensions, including racial animosities and the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, as well as loss, in a VERY small town, and what happens when they boil over.
The year is 1982, and the people of the Hudson Valley community of Fervent have begun to move on from a homicide that upended the once quiet town. When the former neighbors who were convicted of the crime, James and Ella White, are proven innocent, released from prison, and return to Fervent, some people have cause for concern.
Sylvia Upshaw and her best friend, Lafayette “Fate” Jolly, are uneasy about the Whites’ return. While the Whites were incarcerated, Sylvia revealed an explosive secret to their adopted son, Morgan, with devastating consequences. During the murder trial, Fate’s testimony helped seal their fate. James and Ella won’t let the betrayals go unpunished. Sylvia and Fate quickly become victims of harassment from the Whites, and when another murder is committed in Fervent, the town is left to fend for itself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/One World for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
The year is 1982, and the people of the Hudson Valley community of Fervent have begun to move on from a homicide that upended the once quiet town. When the former neighbors who were convicted of the crime, James and Ella White, are proven innocent, released from prison, and return to Fervent, some people have cause for concern.
Sylvia Upshaw and her best friend, Lafayette “Fate” Jolly, are uneasy about the Whites’ return. While the Whites were incarcerated, Sylvia revealed an explosive secret to their adopted son, Morgan, with devastating consequences. During the murder trial, Fate’s testimony helped seal their fate. James and Ella won’t let the betrayals go unpunished. Sylvia and Fate quickly become victims of harassment from the Whites, and when another murder is committed in Fervent, the town is left to fend for itself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/One World for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I will never skip a book by De’shawn Charles Winslow. The Fervent Whites kept me up—a slow burn thriller wrapped in Winslow’s signature small town people politics. Winslow knows how to build layers of emotion between characters, a depth of world building that made me love his past two books. In The Fervent Whites, the dialogue-driven connection between neighbors and friends and lovers and enemies starts to ache in your belly. Tension is present from the start when Ella and James White, recently cleared of a murder, return back to the community of Fervent. Syl, our primary narrator, had a complicated relationship with them because of her and her family’s closeness with their son—a young Black man adopted by the Whites. An important secret broils between them and builds across the book.
I cared about each character in this book (be it love or hate), and recognized the way the folks of the town invest in each other. Winslow uses their relationships to note the slow shifts and bumpiness of how racial and social politics change over time in places like this. It adds to the tension and distrust in a way that serves the story and provides a sense of redemption that is not without complexity.
June 29, 2026
My first book from Mr. Winslow, despite having several on my TBR list. This did not disappoint even though I think it maybe was a little different than I had expected. It went a bit more horror than I had expected, not that I mind, and some of the talk about interracial adoption had me a bit on edge. Every reader brings their own past to a book. My past includes an interracial adoption that was denied for the singular reason that it was interracial without any discussion. My past also includes an interracial adoption that was approved with no inquiry as to how we would incorporate the child's ethnic background. Neither situation was good, well except we ended up with a child we love. But, it also gave me a bit touchier insight into some of the concerns of Sylvia and Fate and also made me understand the defensiveness of the Whites. (Please note that I have no commented on the fact that the Whites are white people who live in a town called Fervent. It is too easy!) All that added something to the story as presented. I think I wouldn't have minded another 100 pages here, but for the pages we got it was definitely an enveloping read!
Thanks to Random House / One World for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Random House / One World for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Syl, a Black woman, doesn't like her White neighbors, James and Ella White. She strongly believes their adopted Black son, Morgan, should be raised by Black parents. When James and Ella are released from prison for being wrongly accused of murder and return to the town of Fervent, tensions escalate. They have rude, violent, and intolerant tendencies. They have questions about how Morgan died while they were in prison, and Syl is hoping they don't discover her connection to the unfortunate accident.
I was grateful to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I enjoyed the premise and overlapping plot points. It is important to have books such as this that contribute to conversations of racial tensions and mixed race adoptions.
While I found the foundation to be strong, its execution was lacking. There was too much "telling" instead of "showing". I needed more sensory descriptions to be sucked in and convinced. Many parts were overexplained. I would've been more intrigued if the author had let me infer conclusions, instead of spelling them out. I believe this could be a strong, thrilling book if these edits were made.
I was grateful to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I enjoyed the premise and overlapping plot points. It is important to have books such as this that contribute to conversations of racial tensions and mixed race adoptions.
While I found the foundation to be strong, its execution was lacking. There was too much "telling" instead of "showing". I needed more sensory descriptions to be sucked in and convinced. Many parts were overexplained. I would've been more intrigued if the author had let me infer conclusions, instead of spelling them out. I believe this could be a strong, thrilling book if these edits were made.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC
I'd like to thank Random House, One World, and NetGalley for the chance to give "The Fervent Whites" an early read in return for an honest review.
For being as short as "The Fervent Whites" is, this felt like a fully realized world, with characters that had solid, realistic backstories. It was refreshing to get a cast of characters that felt familiar, as if most of these people could be the people that you live right next door to. In that regard, it mimics the dynamics that we see in real life, especially for those within marginalized communites. This may be a novel set in the 80's, but many of the same sentiments that are discussed within the novel are still very relevant today, feeling timelier than ever. The fear that the POC characters feel, regardless of the situation they are faced with in the novel, are deeply rooted within modern fears today. In all honesty, it's a bit difficult to fully deconstruct many of the themes here, as I am not a member of the black community, but I can understand where these discussions are coming from, even if it may be from a distance. Winslow does a great job at keeping the plot tight without sacrificing the necessary character development that makes the explosive conclusion work. This is a very, very solid read, and I look forward to seeing what Winslow does in the future.
Be sure to give "The Fervent Whites" a read when it is published on June 9, 2026.
I'd like to thank Random House, One World, and NetGalley for the chance to give "The Fervent Whites" an early read in return for an honest review.
For being as short as "The Fervent Whites" is, this felt like a fully realized world, with characters that had solid, realistic backstories. It was refreshing to get a cast of characters that felt familiar, as if most of these people could be the people that you live right next door to. In that regard, it mimics the dynamics that we see in real life, especially for those within marginalized communites. This may be a novel set in the 80's, but many of the same sentiments that are discussed within the novel are still very relevant today, feeling timelier than ever. The fear that the POC characters feel, regardless of the situation they are faced with in the novel, are deeply rooted within modern fears today. In all honesty, it's a bit difficult to fully deconstruct many of the themes here, as I am not a member of the black community, but I can understand where these discussions are coming from, even if it may be from a distance. Winslow does a great job at keeping the plot tight without sacrificing the necessary character development that makes the explosive conclusion work. This is a very, very solid read, and I look forward to seeing what Winslow does in the future.
Be sure to give "The Fervent Whites" a read when it is published on June 9, 2026.
June 20, 2026
This is a review of an advanced copy. Many thanks to Random House/One World and NetGalley.
The Fervent Whites takes place in the 1980s in the Hudson Valley in a small hamlet called Fervent. The Whites were just let out of prison after being found innocent of a crime and returned to their home in this community, much to the dismay of the other residents. They are not particularly friendly to their neighbors, actually being outright hostile at times. Syl wants to give them the benefit of the doubt due to all that they have gone through, including the loss of their adopted son.
This is for fans of a small community with secrets and tensions between the residents. Add to that a killer on the loose, and that is what The Fervent Whites is all about. It's not really a thriller. I'd call it more of a literary thriller. It was just ok for me. I found the writing very heavy-handed. It lacked nuance, and I prefer writers that can give their readers more credit. I thought there were things about this book that were very clever so it had great potential but I also believe that many readers will enjoy it.
The Fervent Whites takes place in the 1980s in the Hudson Valley in a small hamlet called Fervent. The Whites were just let out of prison after being found innocent of a crime and returned to their home in this community, much to the dismay of the other residents. They are not particularly friendly to their neighbors, actually being outright hostile at times. Syl wants to give them the benefit of the doubt due to all that they have gone through, including the loss of their adopted son.
This is for fans of a small community with secrets and tensions between the residents. Add to that a killer on the loose, and that is what The Fervent Whites is all about. It's not really a thriller. I'd call it more of a literary thriller. It was just ok for me. I found the writing very heavy-handed. It lacked nuance, and I prefer writers that can give their readers more credit. I thought there were things about this book that were very clever so it had great potential but I also believe that many readers will enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2026
When Syl’s white neighbors, the Whites, adopted a black son, Syl tries to help out with cultural differences. Rebuffed, Syl believes that she loves Morgan more and could raise him better herself as a black woman. Morgan and her own children become great friends, but the Whites remain hostile. When the Whites are arrested for murder Syl and her best friend, Fate, testified in their trial. Now the Whites are back after being convicted of a murder they did not commit. Hostility escalates as their son, Morgan was killed in an accident while they were incarcerated. Syl is holding onto a secret connecting her to Morgan’s death, a secret that she hopes the White’s never uncover. As the hostility escalates and there’s a new murder in the neighborhood, the killer is found quite quickly, but is there more to the story? This book had a lot of potential and I really enjoyed the characters. The main problem for me was the secret. It just didn’t have the impact that it could have. A good read, but could have been better. Thank you to One World and NetGalley for an ARC of this book
June 21, 2026
Book Report: The Fervent Whites by De’Shawn Charles Winslow
Set in a small Hudson Valley town in 1982 The Fervent Whites follows a community still haunted by a murder that changed everything. When James and Ella White are released from prison after being wrongfully convicted and return home…old wounds are ripped open and long buried secrets begin to surface. As tensions rise and another murder shakes the town…everyone is forced to confront the past and the consequences of their choices.
This was the perfect weekend read! At just over 200 pages…I flew through it in a couple of sittings. What impressed me most was how much story…atmosphere and character development Winslow packed into such a slim novel. The small town setting felt vivid…the simmering tension kept me turning pages and I could easily picture this as a limited series adaptation. A quick read that still gives you plenty to think about…especially if you enjoy stories about secrets and community dynamics.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Set in a small Hudson Valley town in 1982 The Fervent Whites follows a community still haunted by a murder that changed everything. When James and Ella White are released from prison after being wrongfully convicted and return home…old wounds are ripped open and long buried secrets begin to surface. As tensions rise and another murder shakes the town…everyone is forced to confront the past and the consequences of their choices.
This was the perfect weekend read! At just over 200 pages…I flew through it in a couple of sittings. What impressed me most was how much story…atmosphere and character development Winslow packed into such a slim novel. The small town setting felt vivid…the simmering tension kept me turning pages and I could easily picture this as a limited series adaptation. A quick read that still gives you plenty to think about…especially if you enjoy stories about secrets and community dynamics.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I was instantly captivated by the drama unfolding in this small town in upstate New York during the 1980s. The characters were incredibly engaging, and the mystery element kept me eagerly turning the pages.
The story begins with two former residents of Fervent returning home after serving time for a crime they didn’t commit. As they navigate their way back into their former community, they find themselves entangled in a complex web of relationships and secrets. The story unfolds with a rich tapestry of characters, each with their own unique struggles and motivations.
I I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Syl and Fate. Although the book takes a darker turn toward the end, it ultimately unfolds as a redemptive story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and One Word for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released on June 9, 2026.
The story begins with two former residents of Fervent returning home after serving time for a crime they didn’t commit. As they navigate their way back into their former community, they find themselves entangled in a complex web of relationships and secrets. The story unfolds with a rich tapestry of characters, each with their own unique struggles and motivations.
I I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Syl and Fate. Although the book takes a darker turn toward the end, it ultimately unfolds as a redemptive story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and One Word for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released on June 9, 2026.
July 2, 2026
I nabbed this book because Ron Charles, a critic I respect and enjoy, wrote this,"It pinballs from tragedy to social satire to small-town thriller to gothic horror. That’s not a lack of control; it’s a conscious effort to destabilize assumptions about who’s safe, who’s suspicious, and what kind of story we’re in — between these covers and in this country."
While in principle I can agree about the genre spanning, in practice I found The Fervent Whites slow, inconsistent and overly expository. I like a character with interesting contradictions, but in this case, I just didn't believe in the Whites (both their last name and also color). Would Ella White expect the main character, Syl, to sympathize about the loss of her son, while at the same time plotting a completely pointless revenge? They also explain their backstories through monologues, which I found Writing 101 class clunky. If it hadn't been so short, I wouldn't have finished.
I wish I'd read the book Ron Charles enjoyed. That one sounded great.
While in principle I can agree about the genre spanning, in practice I found The Fervent Whites slow, inconsistent and overly expository. I like a character with interesting contradictions, but in this case, I just didn't believe in the Whites (both their last name and also color). Would Ella White expect the main character, Syl, to sympathize about the loss of her son, while at the same time plotting a completely pointless revenge? They also explain their backstories through monologues, which I found Writing 101 class clunky. If it hadn't been so short, I wouldn't have finished.
I wish I'd read the book Ron Charles enjoyed. That one sounded great.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an insidious little book this is!
In The Fervent Whites the author puts us into a small town - charming on the outside with something very rotten on the inside.
While bigotry - both racism and homophobia - is present here, the story is, at its heart, a thriller that explores what happens when someone tries to do what they think is right, only to end up doing it to just the wrong people.
The writing is taut, leaving you on edge. It also brings you some interesting moral quandaries, specifically about a secret shared. Part of me understood why the secret was shared. Part of me said that these people needed to mind their own business.
I really enjoyed this and would happily read the author again!
In The Fervent Whites the author puts us into a small town - charming on the outside with something very rotten on the inside.
While bigotry - both racism and homophobia - is present here, the story is, at its heart, a thriller that explores what happens when someone tries to do what they think is right, only to end up doing it to just the wrong people.
The writing is taut, leaving you on edge. It also brings you some interesting moral quandaries, specifically about a secret shared. Part of me understood why the secret was shared. Part of me said that these people needed to mind their own business.
I really enjoyed this and would happily read the author again!
June 7, 2026
A small town whodunnit with so many twists and turns. Sylvia and Fate are both surprised when the Whites return to Fervent seemingly wanting to restart their lives but nothing could prepare them for what that means for them.
I’ve enjoyed all of De’Shawn Charles Winslows stories. He captures a small towns’ secrets and grudges so well and asks the reader to consider what lies at the heart of a small community where nothing stays behind closed doors for long.
The Fervent Whites is a wonderful follow-up to Decent People and makes Winslow an auto-buy author for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this e-arc.
I’ve enjoyed all of De’Shawn Charles Winslows stories. He captures a small towns’ secrets and grudges so well and asks the reader to consider what lies at the heart of a small community where nothing stays behind closed doors for long.
The Fervent Whites is a wonderful follow-up to Decent People and makes Winslow an auto-buy author for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this e-arc.
July 2, 2026
The Whites are a Caucasian family living in an African American community while raising their adopted African American son. After an altercation with an acquaintance, the White family is wrongfully convicted of a murder they didn’t commit and sent to prison. When the truth finally comes to light and they are released, they return home to face the tragic loss of their son who died while they were in prison. Believing others are responsible for his death, they set out on a path of revenge.
A fun read, very engaging, De’Shawn knows how to layout a story without over doing it, over complicating it, or letting it be boring and those are awesome qualities in an author.
A fun read, very engaging, De’Shawn knows how to layout a story without over doing it, over complicating it, or letting it be boring and those are awesome qualities in an author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a fascinating novel about a murder and the complications of racial bigotry. James and Ella are released from prison after being declared innocent of Paul Hope's murder. But while they were incarcerated, their adopted black son, Morgan was killed. Neighbor, Sylvia knows a secret about them and is unsure what to do about it Should the neighbors take sides? What really happened as it a clear case of black vs. white? Go in blind and get ready for a great read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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