Tomb of the Unknown Racist

Ellen Burns #3

by Blanche McCrary Boyd, Karen White (Reader)

An Amazon Best Book of the Month in Literature and Fiction

The award-winning author of The Revolution of Little Girls and Terminal Velocity concludes her grand survey of political activism 20 years later with her provocative new novel, Tomb of the Unknown Racist.

Blanche McCrary Boyd's first novel in 20 years continues the story of her protagonist Ellen Burns. When Tomb of the Unknown Racist opens in 1999, Ellen - now sober, haunted by her activist past, her failed relationships - is peacefully taking care of her demented mother in South Carolina. Ellen's brother, Royce, was a celebrated novelist who, a decade earlier, saw his work adopted by racists and fell under the sway of white supremacy. Ellen thought he died from a botched FBI raid on his compound. But when his estranged daughter turns up on the news claiming he might be responsible for kidnapping her two mixed-race children, Ellen travels to New Mexico to help her newfound niece. 

The book chronicles Ellen's search for Royce, her descent into the dark abyss of the simmering race war in the country, and the confrontation that occurs when she learns the truth about her family's past. Tomb of the Unknown Racist is a thrilling novel set in the shadow of the Oklahoma City bombing, the subculture of white supremacy, and deep state government. A family drama set against political and racial struggle, it is a tour de force end to a trilogy by a stunning writer whose work has offered a resonant survey of politics and activism across the American experience.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adult, Novels, Contemporary, Literature

MP3 CD

First published May 8, 2018

About the author

Blanche McCrary Boyd (born 1945) is an American author whose novels are known for their eccentric characters.

Among the awards Boyd has won are a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1993–1994, a National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Fellowship in 1988, a Creative Writing Fellowship from the South Carolina Arts Commission in 1982–1983 and a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing from Stanford University in 1967–1968. She was nominated for the Southern Book Award for The Revolution of Little Girls in 1991, and also won the Lambda Literary Award and the Ferro-Grumley Award for Lesbian Fiction that same year. She was nominated for the Lambda Award for Lesbian Fiction again in 1997.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Janelle Janson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you so much Counterpoint Press for my free copy of TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN RACIST by Blanche McCrary Boyd - all opinions are my own.

It’s 1999 in Charleston, South Carolina and Ellen lives with and takes care of her mother who struggles dementia. She’s watching television when she hears on the news that her niece, Ruby, who lives in New Mexico, has been abducted and her children are also missing. She hasn’t seen Ruby for years and Ruby’s brother Royce, is presumed dead by the FBI. Royce Burns was once a successful novelist who had involvement with white supremacists. He was supposedly killed during a standoff with the FBI because of his involvement with a terrorist organization. Ellen ventures out to find out what happened to Ruby but finds out so much more.

The story itself kept me interested, but it did drag on a bit in places. There is a lot going on in this book: Ellen’s sobriety, her love interests, police investigation, and her family’s ties to white supremacy. I did find Ellen’s character very unique as she’s not someone you could categorize easily or fit into a perfect box. She’s larger-than-life, quirky, but also frustrating at times. Ellen’s character is featured in previous books, but this can be read as a standalone. The love story aspect wasn’t my favorite, just because it seemed out of place in the rest of the storyline. All in all a solid read.

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Tomb of the Unknown Racist : When DNF Becomes the Only Option

Let's talk about literary disappointments. You know that feeling when you pick up a book that sounds absolutely perfect on paper, only to find yourself staring at the pages wondering if you're somehow reading it wrong? That's exactly what happened with Blanche McCrary Boyd's The Tomb of the Unknown Racist .

The premise had me hooked initially. A novel dealing with racism in America? In today's world? Sign me up! But sometimes, the most promising setups lead to the biggest letdowns.

Here's the thing about being a book reviewer: we're supposed to finish everything we start. It's like an unwritten rule, right up there with "don't dog-ear the pages" and "never crack the spine." But after dragging myself through half of this book, I had to break that sacred covenant. Yes, I'm admitting it – I DNF'd this one.

The story bounces around like a pinball machine with ADHD. One moment you're here, the next you're somewhere completely different, leaving you constantly flipping back pages trying to piece together who's who and what's what. The main character, Ellen, feels about as relatable as a piece of furniture – and not even a comfortable one at that. The rest of the cast? They're like shadows of shadows, neither memorable nor engaging.

Look, maybe it was the wonky formatting in my review copy. Maybe I should've read the previous books in the series. But honestly? A good book should stand on its own, regardless of these factors. Instead, this one just kept tripping over its own feet.

Sometimes, the bravest thing a reader can do is admit defeat and close the book. So here I am, waving my white flag. Life's too short for books that make you work this hard just to stay awake.

[Kerine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Tomb of the Unknown Racist, we follow Ellen Burns throughout a sort of quest to find help her niece (Ruby) when her two children are missing. It is partly a detective story to find out the truth about what happened to Ruby's children and bring her supposedly "dead brother" out of hiding part; and a spiritual journey for Burns to come to terms with all of the things in life - the radical racism in America, her sobriety, and how to deal with all the actions of her brother and by extension, all white people. Tomb of the Unknown Racist delves deep into the world of the white supremacy movement, and the extent of its reach and varying ideologies. Ellen tasks herself with trying to tackle all these things while keeping her sobriety and lust of both men and women in check.

I will admit that the story itself did captivate me, though at the times the writing felt a bit dry. The whole story reads as Ellen's memoir, her "final battle" so to speak. With that being said, there are times when she [Ellen] is frustrating in how she thinks and interacts with others but with it being from her POV she often tries to justify her thought processes.

There were some elements I didn't care for, like Ed Blake as a love interest - or character in general. Ellen's interactions with Blake were almost overly "poetic" and didn't come off as love at all. Every other character seemed fairly interesting. I also didn't like the fact that almost everyone wanted to/did/considered sleeping with Ellen. I did appreciate the plain (meaning it wasn't controversial or ostracized) representation of her bisexuality though.

I did love characters like Estelle, Satane, Sister Irene (and maybe just most of the female characters), especially when they called Ellen out on sometimes using serious issues and her righteous mentality to cover the selfishness and ego behind some of her actions.

All in all, not my favorite book but an interesting enough read. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to see a different way to see how people view, cope and react to the ongoing - horrible - phenomenon of racism.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to force myself to finish this and it was so bad I can't even remember the story, except that I HATED the main character. she's terrible.. and she's supposed to be 'woke' but she's exactly the type of person that thinks she's an ally and not. I wanted the story to be good- but it was terrible. Trash writing and bad sex scenes. Can I tell you how annoying it is that the character calls herself a lesbian but then has sex with a man constantly?

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bless Blanche Boyd.
I could - of course - nitpick. The climax doesn't really work, which may be a bigger problem than a nit. But there is so much here that is smart and personal and peculiar. One of the best - maybe the best - book I've read this year.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanche McCrary Boyd’s writing is so textured, so riveting, and so third-degree burningly funny that I forget sometimes to be devastated by it. And this book is devastating, a fearlessly human yarn of loss and grief and the struggle for forgiveness. I never had any idea what was going to happen next, but I was mesmerized from start to finish. Just awesomely, gut-wrenchingly moving and memorable.

A few quotes:

“Being with you is like seeing a car wreck on the road and knowing you’re going to plow into it.”

“Metaphors become like real passageways in my head. I mean, metaphors can just be plain old metaphors, or they can make me feel as if I’ve stuck my arm in too deep and pulled out a living fish.”

“You fucker,” I cried, “people are responsible for what they do. They have to be. Aren’t we?”

Words that matter must be fitted hard against each other like these stones, made into a surface that can hold weight and power, and the result cannot simply be an empty frame.

And finally, one of my favorites:

“Do I seem like someone who would have the sense to quit?”

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The past is never dead. It isn't even past," William Faulkner once wrote, and this is one darkly quirky elaboration of that observation. What happened to her brother Royce, acclaimed (and allegedly dead) novelist turned white supremacist prophet, seems to be as (or more) difficult to decipher than the mystery of his current whereabouts for MC Ellen Burns. Ellen herself, who launches into action with the velocity and random trajectory of a pinball, is quippy, quotable and quick to anger, both righteous and wrongheaded. Her reckless quest to archaeologize (and maybe redeem?) her family's flawed and tragic history (and her own role in it) is compelling and relentlessly readable, and often hilarious, for something with so many disturbing elements, although like many novels with an awesome premise and an extravagantly unspooling plot, the denouement struck this reader as a bit on the anticlimactic side, as well as leaving me thoroughly confused about what the hell just happened. Because the subject is race, white supremacist conspirators and terrorism, it has a timely feel, although it takes place in 1999. But the themes of filial responsibility ("Am I my brother's keeper," Ellen asks); the notion of a place beyond forgiveness (literally the land of Nod); and the impenetrability of the past are timeless. I gather this is the third novel in a trilogy, and I am tempted (a little) to go back and read the first two, just because hanging out with Ellen is such a blast. But I didn't feel like I was adrift for not having read the previous installments, I hope that won't stop you either.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 My rating is extremely generous. Should of been a good book with a timely subject. Instead it is a rambling, incoherent mess. I almost put it down when the main character, a lesbian, continued to sleep with a man she really didn't even like. I kept thinking it would get better, but instead it just got worse. Usually I finish a 300 page book in less than 3 days, but this mess took me almost 2 weeks.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure I have sufficient words to describe this incredible novel, which is the third of a trilogy concerning a very eccentric woman named Ellen Burns and her family. The previous installment was written 20 years ago, and it is not crucial to read those first. It's a hell of a ride.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book jumped from one thing to another without fully explaining what or why things were happening. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Interesting premise but not very well executed.

[Shelley Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a serious story with characters whose sharp humor helps them cope with tragedy. You'll enjoy this book if you have an affection for any of the following types of people: Southerners who are angry about racists in their family, sober alcoholics who depend on AA meetings, lesbians who sometimes sleep with men, police officers and journalists who try to do their jobs but sometimes make mistakes, and anyone else with an ugly past they struggle to understand and accept.

This was one of those books that was so engaging I wanted to read straight through without stopping. Reality bites.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart.

Blanche McCary Boyd pulls no punches and you will know exactly how her characters feel about everything that happens to them.

This novel is sad, poignant, thrilling and painful.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty, engaging, complicated, angry. It is rare to read a novel that takes on white supremacy, racism, government complicity, aging, addiction - and does so in an engaging way. Intelligent and imperfect. I couldn't put it down.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and while it was good, it seems a bit dysfunctional at times. This is the third book in a trilogy that was written over many years. That said, this book can easily stand alone.

There are many characters in this book, yet not many of them are fully developed. Ellen is the main character and she lives in South Carolina. Her brother was an established author when he walked away from his biracial marriage and daughter. His works are revered by white supremacist and he becomes involved with them, even though initially he had no connection. The FBI raids his compound and he's believed to be dead.
Fast forward, and Ellen is watching TV with her mother who suffers from dementia when she recognizes her brothers daughter, Ruby. Ruby claims she'd been kidnapped and her children were taken. Ellen immediately goes to her niece and there she tries to help the daughter only to find out all she believed before, might not be true. As she tries to figure out what happened, she tramples on anyone who gets in the way or tries to help. As a character, Ellen is very self centered, impulsive, yet it's never really clear why. Scenes jump around and there's a lack of focus. The story itself is good, but there were several times I couldn't understand why someone was reacting the way they did. There isn't much development of the other characters.

[Marisa Duarte · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery thriller about a former radical feminist from the South (Charleston) who, through a series of traumatic revelations, realizes her brother, a white power terrorist, might still be alive. Boyd's writing is taut and fast-paced. Significant events happen in the span of a sentence, which makes a page-turner, but also can lose readers in piles of plot-points. A few of the characters come to life, but many are foils and lack the depth to bring to life the vivid historied landscapes that signify the regional battles over white power and the way whiteness structures loss, caste, and trauma across the south, west, and southwest states. One awful win: a glimpse into the racial hierarchies governing the thoughts and actions of the protagonist, a white southern woman. One major fail: the irresponsible rendering of a fake Indigenous people of the southwest (the 'Nogalu') alongside references to Navajo and Zuni people, places, and artistic expressions. There's really no excuse for that fail other than writer's laziness and a need to write off responsibility to recognizable reality. Otherwise, this book was a fast gripping read. For readers from the southwest who are also actively anti-racist, the story won't satisfy. I appreciate another Goodreads reviewers contribution: for readers 'who like white southern ladies', this one might be for you.

[Stven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This begins like a detective novel with mysterious deaths and murky pasts, but it turns out to be something else. The title suggests it'll be about racist agitators in America, and it does turn out to be about that. We start on page 1 with a list of 9 facts in the history of late 20th century white supremacist violence. The real focus of the story, though, is our first-person narrator and protagonist, a dynamic and rambunctious woman involved in this craziness only because her vanished brother has become a cult hero to the race fanatics. It's her reckless forge-ahead personality that makes things happen in the story. The reader likes her and wants to see what she'll do next.

If this were drawn to some sort of smashing conclusion, it might make a better story. It's more like real life that so many things are unresolved.

[Stefanie Doebler · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATE writing bad reviews, but I did not like a single thing about this book. I was so excited to read it because I was intrigued by the topic. It seemed so timely given the current state of affairs in our country. But ugh. The plot was very convoluted, there were way too many extraneous characters, and lots of details that didn’t seem to advance the story or contribute to the development of the main characters (what was the point of the lesbian nun?). The reviews I read beforehand were uniformly positive, so I kept waiting for the narrative to pick up—for the mystery to reveal itself—but it t never did. I read this book for a book club, which is the only reason I finished it. I understand that is part of a trilogy. Maybe if I had read the other two books first, I would have appreciated this one.

[April Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library because the title and the cover art intrigued me - that's also how I pick wines. This was pre-pandemic when we could go to the library in person and check out the beautiful displays that thoughtful librarians curate for lazy people who don't have time to figure out what they want to read. Anyway, I did not read the previous books in the series but was still able to enjoy this book. I really liked the protagonist in the book. I thought the characters were well-developed. The author approached race in a way that did not leave me feeling icky. The story surprised me in places. I have a habit of trying to guess the ending of books before I finish them but I can not say that my guesses were correct this time. This book was entertaining and better than I thought it would be.

[Christine Doiron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery and the suspense were the best parts of this book. None of the characters - not one - did I really like or connect with. There were an awful lot of them, with a lot of intertwined and ever shifting relationships. The author threw a lot of interesting seeming and eccentric people into the mix here. Lots of backgrounds, lots of sexual identities, plenty of diversity in all sorts of ways. Just all jumbled up together in a meaningless way. We didn’t go very deep with anyone except the main character, and she was hard to like most of the time.

I can give it 3 stars because it did hold my attention and it was a pretty quick read.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.
Though initially charmed, I ultimately felt about this book, and it's main character Ellen Burns, as her ex-girlfriend Meg described Ellen having worn her out, "Meg said I lacked a healthy sense of limitation. She said I was exhausting."

This was still an incredibly unconventional story driven by a host of deliciously eccentric characters. Ms. Boyd's voice is so strong and original, I was mostly happy to follow her characters as they haphazardly wound their way through this series of events that felt messy and plotless and times and transcendentally wise at others.

[Candie Paulsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused about my experience reading this book. This one was chosen by my book club group and I certainly wouldn’t have read it on my own. While I never stopped enjoying reading the story, it did make me scratch my head a lot, I never really got a rhythm going with the main character because she’s so random, and the author basically revealed the story’s cards all along the way. I wasn’t hanging by a thread to the last page to see what would happen, I just kind of floated along wondering “wtf am I reading?”

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a mixed bag for me. It didn't help that I had such high expectations for it. The writing is interesting, (I didn't get bored), at times with some humor and thoughtful ideas, but the story went all over the place with a lunatic of a protoganist who may have meant well but never thought anything through.

I thought I would learn more about white supremacy groups but I actually learned more about AA groups, which the main character visited frequently.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absorbing and interesting characters and story, although I never really felt all that connected to the main character's motivations. That might be because this was the 3rd in a trilogy and I hadn't read the first 2 books (although the main storyline was "stand-alone" and didn't really need too much backfill from previous books). I might have felt might understanding of the protagonist's mindset and feelings about her brother if I had the historical perspective. Still an interesting read.

[Walkergordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I was going to find an interesting, enlightening and entertaining read. Instead, ridiculous flat drivel. The reviews are misleading - kudos to the publishers for their sway. I couldn’t finish it. No character development, authors “authority” on southern white supremacy (while living in Connecticut for near 40 years) and ridiculous premise of the lesbian sleeping with the lawman, this is a humdinger of a yawn. Typical academic trying to be hip.

[Elizabeth Tanner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free book received. This was in a genre for Lesbian general fiction. I do not think it was the correct category. The main character is flawed, which is fine, but almost too flawed. I understood the historical aspects of racism and the sects that were involved in the OK bombing. Not my cup of tea. Writing was good. Plot left something to be desired.

[Cristina Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never had a book that reads with this subject matter and to think a person was related to her, he obviously really delusional to take the situation of white supremacy so far.

I quite sickening to see that his partner kills her own children as they colored so he would return, why they do this i cannot know

[Jerre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the title, and while there was some satisfying comments about social justice and revealing past and present injustices, there was too much of this story that I found improbable for me to enjoy it. I found it in the fiction section rather than the mystery section of our library, so maybe I had the wrong expectation.

[Kathleen Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny! This detective novel delivers juicy genre-busting goodness right down to the truthful, untidy pit us all. Who transports you to a region better than Blanche McCrary Boyd? Tomb Of The Unknown Racist is ‘can’t put it down’ engaging.

[Kate Belt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has elements that I usually find unappealing, such as killings, espionage, and white supremacy, but it’s a finalist for the 2019 Pen/Faulkner award for fiction, so I decided to give it a try. It’s a powerful story with great writing.