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Majestic Hills
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26A Black couple leaves their downtown Chicago condo for a new suburban subdivision, only to find themselves at the center of a maelstrom in this gripping page-turner from the award-winning author of Three Girls from Bronzeville.
Tired of the daily drama in his emergency room, Dr. Langdon Blaque is in search of a place where he can leave the world behind. He loves his job and has no delusions about the suburbs being perfect, but he wants peace and quiet. His wife Josephine, a lawyer, grew up listening to her father’s stories about the Jim Crow South, and sundown towns. She prefers the city. Still, she agrees to move with the caveat that they stay for a year and reassess.
The tight-knit, predominantly white group of neighbors in Majestic Hills initially welcomes them with open arms. But beneath the veneer of privileged harmony, tensions simmer. When a horrifying crime rocks the community, the illusion of safety is shattered, and Josephine and Langdon find themselves at the heart of a brewing storm that pits neighbor against neighbor, exposes deeply ingrained prejudices, and threatens to implode into violence.
As their experiment in suburban living ticks toward the one-year mark, the Blaques are pushed to a breaking point. Can they find a way to make a home in Majestic Hills? Or has the move put their future, their marriage, and even their safety in jeopardy?
Tired of the daily drama in his emergency room, Dr. Langdon Blaque is in search of a place where he can leave the world behind. He loves his job and has no delusions about the suburbs being perfect, but he wants peace and quiet. His wife Josephine, a lawyer, grew up listening to her father’s stories about the Jim Crow South, and sundown towns. She prefers the city. Still, she agrees to move with the caveat that they stay for a year and reassess.
The tight-knit, predominantly white group of neighbors in Majestic Hills initially welcomes them with open arms. But beneath the veneer of privileged harmony, tensions simmer. When a horrifying crime rocks the community, the illusion of safety is shattered, and Josephine and Langdon find themselves at the heart of a brewing storm that pits neighbor against neighbor, exposes deeply ingrained prejudices, and threatens to implode into violence.
As their experiment in suburban living ticks toward the one-year mark, the Blaques are pushed to a breaking point. Can they find a way to make a home in Majestic Hills? Or has the move put their future, their marriage, and even their safety in jeopardy?
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 4, 2026
2 people are currently reading
4461 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow. I had such high hopes here. This one started great and kept my interest all the way through until 4 chapters before the end. Then it turned in a whole different direction. You have the sense from the main couple and the actions and dialogue of others in Majestic Hills that there will be some sort of reckoning on lines of race and justice. Instead- instead!- the reckoning is something completely out of left field. Overall; I loved all of the characters except Christopher and was hoping for a fiery requirement of humanity and justice and it piddled out w that ending, which was such a disappointment.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book and read it quickly as I couldn't put it down! Josephine, a partner in a law firms is skeptical when husband, Langdon wants to move them to the country as she loves their high-rise in the city. She agrees to one year but has no idea what they are in for! When they arrive it's clear that many residents are friendly, but there's also the sense that as "newcomers," people are quick to judge before they know them. But like anyplace, there are those with good intentions...and bad, so just prepare to read long into the night!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is well written and thought provoking. Characters are well written and complex. The book for some may be a hard read due to the content, but in this world today, it may open some eyes, on how Black people navigate around situations. Very interesting group of characters. I do recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This gave me everything I was expecting and more. This touched on how black people tend to interact with the world...not in fear but with caution. And how easily that caution can turn out to be much warranted. I would highly recommend this book and will probably read this again! 4.5/5
I was granted an advanced copy of this book from Scribner through NetGalley.
I was granted an advanced copy of this book from Scribner through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dawn Turner does an amazing job writing realistic characters. They feel legitimately human, flaws and all. I was hooked from the first page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Majestic Hills is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that blends literary depth with elements of domestic suspense. A Black couple (the Blaques) move into a predominantly white, upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood, where tensions among neighbors slowly escalate. I loved the writing, the social commentary, and the political intrigue.
While the book was immersive, I did find myself wishing for a more thrilling read. It leans much more toward domestic drama than suspense, and although there are many mysterious and tense moments, there isn't much payoff. Instead, the characters carry the story-and thankfully, they're written with real depth. They feel flawed, human, and genuinely relatable.
That said, the novel slightly lacks narrative momentum.
Rather than building toward a climax, it often circles the same emotional beats, which caused the plot to feel flat at times. Majestic Hills ultimately reads more like a message-driven literary novel than a gripping thriller. I appreciated the message and the character work, but the social commentary comes at the expense of suspense.
Overall, I still found this an enjoyable and meaningful read. It's very well written and compelling in its exploration of people and power, but readers looking for a true thriller may be disappointed, while those who enjoy reflective, issue-focused literary drama will likely find more to appreciate!
Majestic Hills is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that blends literary depth with elements of domestic suspense. A Black couple (the Blaques) move into a predominantly white, upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood, where tensions among neighbors slowly escalate. I loved the writing, the social commentary, and the political intrigue.
While the book was immersive, I did find myself wishing for a more thrilling read. It leans much more toward domestic drama than suspense, and although there are many mysterious and tense moments, there isn't much payoff. Instead, the characters carry the story-and thankfully, they're written with real depth. They feel flawed, human, and genuinely relatable.
That said, the novel slightly lacks narrative momentum.
Rather than building toward a climax, it often circles the same emotional beats, which caused the plot to feel flat at times. Majestic Hills ultimately reads more like a message-driven literary novel than a gripping thriller. I appreciated the message and the character work, but the social commentary comes at the expense of suspense.
Overall, I still found this an enjoyable and meaningful read. It's very well written and compelling in its exploration of people and power, but readers looking for a true thriller may be disappointed, while those who enjoy reflective, issue-focused literary drama will likely find more to appreciate!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews