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Louis Kincaid #1
Dark Of The Moon
In a sleepy, secret-ridden southern town, there are those who still believe its best to leave the past alone...Thirty years ago, a young black man vanished from rural Black Pool, Mississippi — and his violent death remained shrouded in mystery. Now his skeletal remains have been discovered in a murky swamp, along with a length of rope entwined in its bones...a rope that is unmistakably a noose.
Abandoned by the white father he never knew, and estranged from his black mother, Louis Kincaid was glad to leave the hometown that had always treated him like an outcast. But nothing could have prepared him for the ominous reaction of the locals when he returned and started investigating the decades-old lynching. With a veil of suspicion and terror descending over the quiet streets of Black Pool, Kincaid must now uncover a trail of blood-chilling evil as he hunts a shadowy killer whose vengeance has only just begun.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
13 people are currently reading
1278 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Parrish
26 books274 followersP.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
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January 22, 2025
The American South has probably been ruined for me by the (more than likely false) stereotypes of Southern culture in movies, TV shows, and books. When I think "the South", I will probably always envision unbearable heat and humidity, sweaty overweight men in white suits hand-fanning themselves and drinking lemonade on a porch, incomprehensible English dialects, and slavery. I know, it's wrong, but what are prejudices for if not to be challenged or disproven?
The only time I have ever been to the South was a two-day visit to Savannah, Georgia. It was a beautiful city, from what I saw, and it certainly didn't exhibit any of the afore-mentioned preconceptions, with the exception of the heat and humidity. It was a bit of a cognitive dissonance for me, and an eye-opening experience. I do not honestly believe that all Southerners are lazy, unintelligent, and racist. No more than Northerners, I suppose. The truth is, of course, that stereotypes have some basis in truth, and the stereotypes of Southern institutionalized racism, while slightly unfair, exist for a reason.
The issue of racism among Southerners in the 21st century has, sadly, been raised due to a few unfortunate and embarrassing current events that managed to make national and international news.
One was the discovery that the state of Mississippi only recently (within the past year), apparently, abolished statutes allowing slavery from their state charter. (The excuse? Oh, they forgot to do it years ago...)
Another was news of some Southern high school students protesting their own senior proms for having segregated proms---in 2013. (School boards and administrators were actually defending and justifying their racist policies.)
And, finally, of course, the biggest news was poor ol' Paula Dean, who lost her TV show, contracts with the Food network, and good standing because she said the "n"-word. I'll be honest, I felt for Paula Dean. I don't believe that she is a horrible person, and I don't believe that she deserved the treatment that she received, but I also think her statements that there are "appropriate" and "inappropriate" times to use the "n"-word indicate a slightly weird (Southern) cultural, um, (for lack of a better word) stupidity. That Dean (and other Southerners) honestly believe that it's occasionally okay to say the "n"-word is, well, fucked up. IT IS NEVER OKAY TO SAY THE "N"-WORD! Unless, of course, you are Samuel L. Jackson in a Quentin Tarantino movie or Mark Twain.
Granted, words have power, and sometimes we give words too much power. Comedian Lenny Bruce believed that derogatory terms were derogatory because they were associated with hatred and feelings of racist superiority. Eliminate the hatred and racism behind the derogatory words and they just became harmless words. Bruce had a good point. But how do you eliminate racism from an inherently racist word? Better yet: how do you eliminate racism?
It's ridiculous to believe that racism no longer exists today. All you have to do is watch the evening news, local and national, to see that race is still a major issue. Still, for many, there is a belief that ours is somehow a more enlightened time. After all, we elected a black President. Twice. But most of us know that there is a lot of denial involved. Just ask Paula Dean.
All of this is just a rambling intro to my review of P.J. Parrish's excellent 1999 debut novel "Dark of the Moon", the first to feature private detective Louis Kincaid. In this book, we are introduced to a young, idealistic police detective who has just been hired by a small Mississippi town as a deputy. Kincaid is also black, a fact that was apparently overlooked or ignored by Sheriff Dodie when he hired Kincaid sight unseen.
Within his first couple months on the job, a body is discovered of a young black man who was apparently murdered thirty years ago. An obvious lynching, Kincaid is told to back off the case and file it "unsolved". Not good enough for Kincaid. Going against Sheriff Dodie's orders, Kincaid decides to investigate, re-opening many old wounds and creating new ones by angering many townspeople who don't want to be reminded of an embarrassing "dark" period in their town's (and the South's, in general) history.
Parrish (the pseudonym of a writing team of (white) sisters) knows how to tell an exciting murder mystery while painting an atmospheric picture of the present-day South. I'm sure some readers (especially some Southerners) may find Parrish's depiction of the South unfair and full of stereotypes. Not being a Southerner myself, I can't say if it's fair or not, and while there may be some stereotypes employed, Parrish tends to use them for the purposes of ultimately shattering them and getting to the truth.
The only time I have ever been to the South was a two-day visit to Savannah, Georgia. It was a beautiful city, from what I saw, and it certainly didn't exhibit any of the afore-mentioned preconceptions, with the exception of the heat and humidity. It was a bit of a cognitive dissonance for me, and an eye-opening experience. I do not honestly believe that all Southerners are lazy, unintelligent, and racist. No more than Northerners, I suppose. The truth is, of course, that stereotypes have some basis in truth, and the stereotypes of Southern institutionalized racism, while slightly unfair, exist for a reason.
The issue of racism among Southerners in the 21st century has, sadly, been raised due to a few unfortunate and embarrassing current events that managed to make national and international news.
One was the discovery that the state of Mississippi only recently (within the past year), apparently, abolished statutes allowing slavery from their state charter. (The excuse? Oh, they forgot to do it years ago...)
Another was news of some Southern high school students protesting their own senior proms for having segregated proms---in 2013. (School boards and administrators were actually defending and justifying their racist policies.)
And, finally, of course, the biggest news was poor ol' Paula Dean, who lost her TV show, contracts with the Food network, and good standing because she said the "n"-word. I'll be honest, I felt for Paula Dean. I don't believe that she is a horrible person, and I don't believe that she deserved the treatment that she received, but I also think her statements that there are "appropriate" and "inappropriate" times to use the "n"-word indicate a slightly weird (Southern) cultural, um, (for lack of a better word) stupidity. That Dean (and other Southerners) honestly believe that it's occasionally okay to say the "n"-word is, well, fucked up. IT IS NEVER OKAY TO SAY THE "N"-WORD! Unless, of course, you are Samuel L. Jackson in a Quentin Tarantino movie or Mark Twain.
Granted, words have power, and sometimes we give words too much power. Comedian Lenny Bruce believed that derogatory terms were derogatory because they were associated with hatred and feelings of racist superiority. Eliminate the hatred and racism behind the derogatory words and they just became harmless words. Bruce had a good point. But how do you eliminate racism from an inherently racist word? Better yet: how do you eliminate racism?
It's ridiculous to believe that racism no longer exists today. All you have to do is watch the evening news, local and national, to see that race is still a major issue. Still, for many, there is a belief that ours is somehow a more enlightened time. After all, we elected a black President. Twice. But most of us know that there is a lot of denial involved. Just ask Paula Dean.
All of this is just a rambling intro to my review of P.J. Parrish's excellent 1999 debut novel "Dark of the Moon", the first to feature private detective Louis Kincaid. In this book, we are introduced to a young, idealistic police detective who has just been hired by a small Mississippi town as a deputy. Kincaid is also black, a fact that was apparently overlooked or ignored by Sheriff Dodie when he hired Kincaid sight unseen.
Within his first couple months on the job, a body is discovered of a young black man who was apparently murdered thirty years ago. An obvious lynching, Kincaid is told to back off the case and file it "unsolved". Not good enough for Kincaid. Going against Sheriff Dodie's orders, Kincaid decides to investigate, re-opening many old wounds and creating new ones by angering many townspeople who don't want to be reminded of an embarrassing "dark" period in their town's (and the South's, in general) history.
Parrish (the pseudonym of a writing team of (white) sisters) knows how to tell an exciting murder mystery while painting an atmospheric picture of the present-day South. I'm sure some readers (especially some Southerners) may find Parrish's depiction of the South unfair and full of stereotypes. Not being a Southerner myself, I can't say if it's fair or not, and while there may be some stereotypes employed, Parrish tends to use them for the purposes of ultimately shattering them and getting to the truth.
November 8, 2008
Incredible!
It’s 1983, and Louis Kincaid has returned to Black Pool, Mississippi, by request, as his mother is dying. Hired as the county detective might have been a step up for him, but Kincaid is half-black, half-white, and had they known that, he most definitely wouldn’t have been hired.
As a skeleton is exposed, Kincaid is on the hunt: he wants to know who it was so that his/her remains can be put to rest. But as Kincaid digs, his investigation goes beyond that: and 30-year-old case of a missing fifteen-year-old black boy is a clue in the right direction, but is it prudent to continue investigating?
The more he digs, the more complicated the case gets, and soon Kincaid is unsure of who he can trust and what he should do. Should he leave it alone and let the past remain where it is, or should he seek justice while everyone is pushing Kincaid to keep his mouth shut.
The book had me intrigued right from the beginning. I mean, you read history books and watch movies and documentaries, but unless you’ve lived it, you don’t really understand why everything was like that back then. I thought the authors did an awesome job bring the past to life, what it was like back then, how people held things against you simply because of the colour of your skin. I’d love to say I’m glad times have changed, but sometimes I don’t know if they’ve changed all that much, or for the better either.
I thought the mystery intriguing and had a very hard time putting the book down. I simply wanted to know why. The why of it all. And while there is one left pretty much unpunished, I felt very much like Kincaid. I’m glad he got to the bottom of it, and I felt bad for everything he’d been put through.
The characters are believable, even if you don’t want them to be; even if you don’t want to imagine that people can be that cruel. And I believe Kincaid was right - had it been any other time, I think he and Abby could have had something. Great mystery, great characters, great action and sequence of events. You could feel the pain the characters live/have lived, and I adore it when an author/authors can do that to a reader. Can’t wait to get my hands on the second in this series!
It’s 1983, and Louis Kincaid has returned to Black Pool, Mississippi, by request, as his mother is dying. Hired as the county detective might have been a step up for him, but Kincaid is half-black, half-white, and had they known that, he most definitely wouldn’t have been hired.
As a skeleton is exposed, Kincaid is on the hunt: he wants to know who it was so that his/her remains can be put to rest. But as Kincaid digs, his investigation goes beyond that: and 30-year-old case of a missing fifteen-year-old black boy is a clue in the right direction, but is it prudent to continue investigating?
The more he digs, the more complicated the case gets, and soon Kincaid is unsure of who he can trust and what he should do. Should he leave it alone and let the past remain where it is, or should he seek justice while everyone is pushing Kincaid to keep his mouth shut.
The book had me intrigued right from the beginning. I mean, you read history books and watch movies and documentaries, but unless you’ve lived it, you don’t really understand why everything was like that back then. I thought the authors did an awesome job bring the past to life, what it was like back then, how people held things against you simply because of the colour of your skin. I’d love to say I’m glad times have changed, but sometimes I don’t know if they’ve changed all that much, or for the better either.
I thought the mystery intriguing and had a very hard time putting the book down. I simply wanted to know why. The why of it all. And while there is one left pretty much unpunished, I felt very much like Kincaid. I’m glad he got to the bottom of it, and I felt bad for everything he’d been put through.
The characters are believable, even if you don’t want them to be; even if you don’t want to imagine that people can be that cruel. And I believe Kincaid was right - had it been any other time, I think he and Abby could have had something. Great mystery, great characters, great action and sequence of events. You could feel the pain the characters live/have lived, and I adore it when an author/authors can do that to a reader. Can’t wait to get my hands on the second in this series!
April 8, 2017
A good mystery and kept me wanting to keep reading. Twists and turns to keep your interest and make you want to find out how it will end.
December 7, 2008
Dark of the Moon is the first book in a series about a young biracial detective named Louis Kincaid. This book kept my attention and was diffiult to put down. I liked the character of Louis and look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Louis Kincaid, a young Michigan police officer, returns to the small Mississippi town of his birth when he finds out that his mother is dying. Louis is hired by phone as an investigator for the local sheriff's office, and upon his arrival is greeted with subdued dismay due to his race. Louis was separated from his alcoholic mother as a child and was adopted by a loving family. He was raised in the north, so has not experienced the racial tension that he finds in his southern hometown. Shortly after his arrival, a body is found that appears to have been the black victim of a lynching years earlier. As Louis investigates, he is confronted with resistance. The people of the town are not interested in solving the old murder, but the discovery of the body sets a series of dangerous events in motion. As new murders take place, Louis knows that they are connected to the lynching victim. As he works to solve the old and new cases, he finds himself in danger and then under arrest for murder. Louis must uncover what prominent citizens have been keeping secret for years in order to remove himself from danger and clear his name.
This was a fast paced book with plenty of action. I found it interesting that the authors set this book fifteen years or so in the past. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
Louis Kincaid, a young Michigan police officer, returns to the small Mississippi town of his birth when he finds out that his mother is dying. Louis is hired by phone as an investigator for the local sheriff's office, and upon his arrival is greeted with subdued dismay due to his race. Louis was separated from his alcoholic mother as a child and was adopted by a loving family. He was raised in the north, so has not experienced the racial tension that he finds in his southern hometown. Shortly after his arrival, a body is found that appears to have been the black victim of a lynching years earlier. As Louis investigates, he is confronted with resistance. The people of the town are not interested in solving the old murder, but the discovery of the body sets a series of dangerous events in motion. As new murders take place, Louis knows that they are connected to the lynching victim. As he works to solve the old and new cases, he finds himself in danger and then under arrest for murder. Louis must uncover what prominent citizens have been keeping secret for years in order to remove himself from danger and clear his name.
This was a fast paced book with plenty of action. I found it interesting that the authors set this book fifteen years or so in the past. I will definitely be reading more in this series.
July 12, 2016
I was sucked into this book almost immediately! The story is somewhat slow paced, but the author(s) manage to give you enough to keep you intrigued. It’s set in 1983, which gives the racial situations an authenticity that I don’t think would be there if it was set in the late ’90s, when it was written. At the end of the book you’re left with a mystery that’s not quite completely solved, so it leaves you with something to think about. Will what happens in Black Pool come back to haunt or help Louis at some point in the future? I guess I’ll have to read more books to find out!
April 20, 2020
Even though I have finished reading this book , I feel that I have changed some how.
Something Sheriff Dodie said has stayed with me. He said "There is no justice, Kincaid", not for me, not for you. And not for him."
Another quote that was notable was Mr. Tinker, who quoted a Shakespearian saying. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing ; end them."
I hope there will always be the people willing to oppose injustices.
Something Sheriff Dodie said has stayed with me. He said "There is no justice, Kincaid", not for me, not for you. And not for him."
Another quote that was notable was Mr. Tinker, who quoted a Shakespearian saying. "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing ; end them."
I hope there will always be the people willing to oppose injustices.
April 13, 2017
Louis Kincaid is definitely a man on a mission! I read the last book in this series first and was immediately hooked so I had to go back and start at the beginning with this one. Thought they were all set in Michigan, but evidently not since this was in Mississippi. The mystery was engaging despite being a sensitive subject from the past and really kept me guessing until the end. Can't wait to read the next one in the series!
September 10, 2022
Absolutely brilliant novel.
The way it was written was quite confronting, the use of the word Ni--er popping up quite often made me feel uncomfortable and sad that people can be so cruel to others, but the story itself was so well written I didn't want to put the book down.
The conclusion was fantastic and I have nothing but the highest of praise for this author, P.J. Parrish.
I can't wait to read another book from this author!
The way it was written was quite confronting, the use of the word Ni--er popping up quite often made me feel uncomfortable and sad that people can be so cruel to others, but the story itself was so well written I didn't want to put the book down.
The conclusion was fantastic and I have nothing but the highest of praise for this author, P.J. Parrish.
I can't wait to read another book from this author!
April 18, 2016
This is the first book by P. J. Parrish that I've read, and I am impressed. It has a quiet strength that I found appealing. The story flowed well and kept my interest.
The setting is in the rural south in 1983. Louis Kincaid is a detective who has returned because his mother is dying. Louis is of mixed parentage. His black mother was a lousy mother, and his white father is unknown. Louis was taken from his mother and raised by a white foster mother.
A hunter finds a skeleton in the woods. The rope is still around the neck. Louis has taken a temporary job with the Sheriffs Department, and even though the bones are 20-25 years old, he can't let this go. Racial tensions are apparent, and Louis does get in trouble. There are people who do not want this investigated.
Some will say this story has been told before and the characters are cliched, but I enjoyed this book. Louis is tenacious and he tries to do the right thing. The Sheriff is weak and easily manipulated, and his deputies are a mixed bag. The mayor and the district attorney are in power. In the end, Louis returns North.
I very much want to read the next book to see what happens to Louis and if he ever returns to his hometown in the South.
The setting is in the rural south in 1983. Louis Kincaid is a detective who has returned because his mother is dying. Louis is of mixed parentage. His black mother was a lousy mother, and his white father is unknown. Louis was taken from his mother and raised by a white foster mother.
A hunter finds a skeleton in the woods. The rope is still around the neck. Louis has taken a temporary job with the Sheriffs Department, and even though the bones are 20-25 years old, he can't let this go. Racial tensions are apparent, and Louis does get in trouble. There are people who do not want this investigated.
Some will say this story has been told before and the characters are cliched, but I enjoyed this book. Louis is tenacious and he tries to do the right thing. The Sheriff is weak and easily manipulated, and his deputies are a mixed bag. The mayor and the district attorney are in power. In the end, Louis returns North.
I very much want to read the next book to see what happens to Louis and if he ever returns to his hometown in the South.
July 27, 2012
This is another story about Southern racism, 60s hate crimes, and a cop that's willing to bend or even break some rules if it helps him to solve a murder case that haunts him. Having grown up in the deep Southern U.S., I can testify that while things have gotten much better down there, there's still plenty of bigotry to go around, and I didn't find this story the least bit unbelievable.
I was sucked in and enjoyed it quite a bit. I found myself incensed at the injustice and flippancy expressed about this long ago murder among the local cops, and how shame of their history made them want to leave things buried and hidden. Regardless of race, only an outsider would have the determination and gall to stand up and push the boundaries of the force to give our long dead victim any hope of justice.
I found it had a very reminiscent feel to the movie and tv series The Heat of the Night.
I was sucked in and enjoyed it quite a bit. I found myself incensed at the injustice and flippancy expressed about this long ago murder among the local cops, and how shame of their history made them want to leave things buried and hidden. Regardless of race, only an outsider would have the determination and gall to stand up and push the boundaries of the force to give our long dead victim any hope of justice.
I found it had a very reminiscent feel to the movie and tv series The Heat of the Night.
August 19, 2009
If you enjoy books about the KKK, lynching mobs and good ole Southern white boys who hate blacks, this just might be the book for you.
This is not an enjoyable book. It's rather depressing and racially tense. Had the premise indicated what this book was truly about, I never would have picked it up.
This is not an enjoyable book. It's rather depressing and racially tense. Had the premise indicated what this book was truly about, I never would have picked it up.
June 10, 2017
First line: "The naked trees snaked upward, black capillaries against a bleached, predawn sky.
Louis Kincaid and I go way, way back. I discovered this series after I found the second book of the series (Dead of Winter) in a big box full of other mass market paperbacks that my grandpa had amassed. I'm pretty sure that this was at the beginning of what would become a long phase of me only reading detective fiction novels (other binged authors besides P.J. Parrish included Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, and Lisa Gardner to name a few). I was immediately hooked and went on to retrieve and read all the sequels from the library. I had never actually read, Dark of the Moon, the first book in the series, so when I saw that it, and all its sequels, were available on Amazon through thrift shops, I immediately bought them in order to have an epic binge/rebinge.
Detective Louis Kincaid has always been one of my favourite characters. He's a young, biracial cop, born in Mississippi, who had an absent, alcoholic black mother and a white father who took off soon after he was born. Shortly after, he was placed in a foster home with white parents up north, in Michigan. He's a very good cop, tenacious in his quests to find justice for the victims of his cases. He's always been a character you want to root for and one you trust to do his very best.
In Dark of the Moon, Louis returns back to his hometown of Black Pool, Mississippi, to work an investigation that delves heavily into the racism that still dominated the southern US. A unique feature of this series is that it starts in 1983, so the racial tension still seems very much like a legitimate threat.
The story is very compelling, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the story. The mystery is intriguing, and the topics explored through that scope will no doubt be cause for introspection and thinking about how racism is still persistent in the 2010s. I only wish that the ending had been a little tighter. Justice is mostly met but there are several characters who go unpunished. There are so many despicable, racist assholes in this story that I wanted Louis to nail every single one them.
Louis Kincaid and I go way, way back. I discovered this series after I found the second book of the series (Dead of Winter) in a big box full of other mass market paperbacks that my grandpa had amassed. I'm pretty sure that this was at the beginning of what would become a long phase of me only reading detective fiction novels (other binged authors besides P.J. Parrish included Kathy Reichs, James Patterson, and Lisa Gardner to name a few). I was immediately hooked and went on to retrieve and read all the sequels from the library. I had never actually read, Dark of the Moon, the first book in the series, so when I saw that it, and all its sequels, were available on Amazon through thrift shops, I immediately bought them in order to have an epic binge/rebinge.
Detective Louis Kincaid has always been one of my favourite characters. He's a young, biracial cop, born in Mississippi, who had an absent, alcoholic black mother and a white father who took off soon after he was born. Shortly after, he was placed in a foster home with white parents up north, in Michigan. He's a very good cop, tenacious in his quests to find justice for the victims of his cases. He's always been a character you want to root for and one you trust to do his very best.
In Dark of the Moon, Louis returns back to his hometown of Black Pool, Mississippi, to work an investigation that delves heavily into the racism that still dominated the southern US. A unique feature of this series is that it starts in 1983, so the racial tension still seems very much like a legitimate threat.
The story is very compelling, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the story. The mystery is intriguing, and the topics explored through that scope will no doubt be cause for introspection and thinking about how racism is still persistent in the 2010s. I only wish that the ending had been a little tighter. Justice is mostly met but there are several characters who go unpunished. There are so many despicable, racist assholes in this story that I wanted Louis to nail every single one them.
March 20, 2025
Dark of the Moon by P.J. Parrish is a riveting and action-packed thriller that explores how the past can haunt us in the most unexpected ways and how determination can lead to unrelenting consequences. This novel vividly illustrates the truth that no matter how long ago something happened, the ghosts of our actions can always come back to haunt us; and when a person is determined enough, nothing will stand in their way.
In 1955, Max and his gang committed an unforgivable act; the murder of a 16-year-old black boy named Eugene Graham. None of the four men could have known that this horrible crime would eventually come back to destroy them all. As the years pass, the bones of Eugene are discovered, and Detective Kincaid begins investigating, unraveling the past that these men thought they had buried. Max, who was a part of the gang, takes matters into his own hands, becoming a vigilante determined to kill off the rest of the men involved to cover up his crime. The only reason one of them survives is because Max’s wife, in a desperate act to protect her daughter, kills him herself.
I found this novel not only captivating but deeply engaging. It was so suspenseful and gripping that, despite my busy schedule, I couldn’t put it down. If not for life’s demands, I would have finished it much quicker, but it was worth every moment of time spent reading it. The complexity of the characters, especially Max’s descent into darkness, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice by Detective Kincaid, made this an unforgettable read.
I can honestly say I would gladly reread Dark of the Moon whenever I get the chance. It’s a brilliant crime thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, high-stakes crime novel. It was purely an accident that I stumbled upon this book, but if I ever come across the next Kincaid thriller, A Killing Rain, I’ll definitely be picking it up. If you enjoy thrilling mysteries that mix crime and personal stakes, this one’s for you.
In 1955, Max and his gang committed an unforgivable act; the murder of a 16-year-old black boy named Eugene Graham. None of the four men could have known that this horrible crime would eventually come back to destroy them all. As the years pass, the bones of Eugene are discovered, and Detective Kincaid begins investigating, unraveling the past that these men thought they had buried. Max, who was a part of the gang, takes matters into his own hands, becoming a vigilante determined to kill off the rest of the men involved to cover up his crime. The only reason one of them survives is because Max’s wife, in a desperate act to protect her daughter, kills him herself.
I found this novel not only captivating but deeply engaging. It was so suspenseful and gripping that, despite my busy schedule, I couldn’t put it down. If not for life’s demands, I would have finished it much quicker, but it was worth every moment of time spent reading it. The complexity of the characters, especially Max’s descent into darkness, and the unrelenting pursuit of justice by Detective Kincaid, made this an unforgettable read.
I can honestly say I would gladly reread Dark of the Moon whenever I get the chance. It’s a brilliant crime thriller that will keep you hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, high-stakes crime novel. It was purely an accident that I stumbled upon this book, but if I ever come across the next Kincaid thriller, A Killing Rain, I’ll definitely be picking it up. If you enjoy thrilling mysteries that mix crime and personal stakes, this one’s for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
This is the first of the, so far, two mysteries staring Louis Kincaid. Louis has come back to Black Pool, Mississippi because his mother is dying. His law enforcement education and experience gets him the job as the first inspector in Black Pool's sheriff's office. But, he got the job over the phone and the sheriff didn't know he was black because he didn't 'sound' black. His first case is a discovery of bones with the lynching rope still attached. Both this book and the second one are just excellently written, finely crafted stories. I understand that Parrish's third is due out this Fall and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
May 11, 2019
This book has been hard to put down. I found myself wrapped up in the mystery of the story, but angry, or maybe even upset by the racism this story portrays. Being Canadian, I didn’t grow up with the racism that was rampant the South of U.S. I found that part of the book very disturbing. The story itself, however, was excellent. I look forward to diving into the rest of the series.
May 13, 2020
I had previously read book 8 in this series, "A Thousand Bones" and had always been curious about how the series started. This is a gripping read with some holes. Louis does a lot of stupid things but hes' only 24, confused, scared and alone with no one to trust. I will be seeking out the second in this series.
February 3, 2018
I read the Kincaid books later in the series already. Wasn't sure if I should read the series in reverse or not. Decided to start at the beginning and discover how character developed over the years.
Story reminded me of James Lee Burke's books, as it took place in the US south.
After reading the blurbs for the next few, Except for Dead of Winter, I have decided to skip those that take place in Florida. I like the setting in Michigan especially. Good thriller.
Story reminded me of James Lee Burke's books, as it took place in the US south.
After reading the blurbs for the next few, Except for Dead of Winter, I have decided to skip those that take place in Florida. I like the setting in Michigan especially. Good thriller.
April 16, 2018
I'm having a hard time deciding between two and three stars. I had a very hard time with the language but enjoyed the flow of the story and most of the characters. I won't be reading any more of this series because of the language, such a bummer.
June 13, 2024
This was a murder mystery starting with the remains of a lynching in Mississippi. Then people started to be murdered and it turns out they are related to the lynching. The racial prejudice is unsettling, but probably pretty realistic.
June 28, 2024
This was a well written book, besides the "n" word. I really enjoyed the character development and how one man changed such a small, narrow minded town. This was the first book in awhile I just couldn't put down.
July 9, 2017
This is one of the only books I've ever read more than once. It's very exciting and rewarding all at the same time. Definitely worth the read!
January 29, 2018
Really enjoyed the first of the Louis Kincaid series. Looking forward to reading the next 10 in the series. This sister writing team, P. J. Parrish, really draws you into the characters.
April 11, 2018
Very good. Suspenseful story looking back at 1950's racism.
May 24, 2018
I HAD READ SEVERAL IN THIS SERIES AND WHAT HAPPENED IN FIRST BOOK WAS ALWAYS MENTIONED. NOT AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE SO I FOUND A PAPERBACK AND ORDERED. IT WAS WORTH IT. VERY GOOD BOOK.
June 14, 2018
Suspenseful, heartbreaking, an excellent read!
August 20, 2018
I think I've found a new series to read!
September 24, 2018
I’m rereading the series since a new book came out. Love this series. Reminds me of the Kare Burkholder series by Linda Castillo. Highly recommended .
November 6, 2018
Great book! I read the first Louis Kincaid out of order. Enjoying all these books
November 11, 2018
A strong, dark and powerful book that won't leave you in one piece.
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