The Man Who Fell From the Sky

David Gomes #1

by Bill Fletcher Jr.

In 1970, a sniper's bullet shocks the sleepy Cape Cod village of Osterville. David Gomes, a young reporter for the Cape & Islands Gazette covers the story, thinking his reporting might lead to a job with a major metropolitan newspaper. With protests against the Viet Nam war and the rise of the Black Panthers roiling the county, the murder investigation becomes deeply personal when Gomes, a Cape Verdean American, encounters the legacy of the often overlooked history of a non-enslaved African people in the USA, as well as the deep-seated hatred toward all people of African descent among members of the white community.

Gomes soon learns that investigating a murder can put him in the cross-hairs of a cold-blooded killer. It's a dangerous place for the young reporter as he peels away layers of family history in his quest to discover the motive behind a savage act of murder, and comes to understand a complicated, contradictory history of his own people.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

350 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2018

Reviews

[Online-University of-the-Left · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a mystery story placed in the context of race, class, and sex in Boston, Cape Cod, and the Cape Verdian community as they all intersect in spinning a yarn with interesting twists. Long known as a socialist political leader and nonfiction author, this is Fletcher's first work of fiction, and he does it quite well.

[David Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut novel by long time union organizer and political activist, Bill Fletcher. Set in Cape Cod in 1970-71, the book explores the Cape Verdean community of Massachusetts and the role of race and nationality in their conflicted relationships with African Americans as well as the white community (some Cape Verde immigrants and their descendants refuse to identify with American Blacks who are the descendants of slaves; a few even chose to identify themselves as Portuguese, their colonial oppressors in Cape Verde, eschewing their African heritage). The mystery plot is well constructed and will keep you turning the pages. My only critique is that, while the character of the protagonist, David Gomes, is nicely developed, some of the surrounding characters were not as well fleshed-out. But overall, this is an impressive fiction debut for Fletcher and I hope he tries his hand at writing more. Highly recommended; 4 stars.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I am traveling I like to pick up books on the "Local Authors" shelf. Many are disappointing, but some can be excellent, some are just fun, and many provide a way to further explore places you have enjoyed. (Kieth McCaffey's mysteries centering on fly-fishing in Montana are among the better examples I have come across.)

I had high hopes for this one. Set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, it is a mystery based in old racial tensions, but added a complication I was not familiar with - descendants of people from from the once Portuguese-controlled African island of Cape Verde.

Unfortunately, this was an example of a great idea let down by weak writing. Key plot points lost their power when the reader learned about them in long, rambling exposition, motivations were not convincing, and pacing was clumsy, so unfortunately many of the Big Reveals fell flat.

Nonetheless I learned some new new things and was introduced to some new ideas, which made the book more than worth reading. There is a Cape Verdean Museum in Falmouth that I am looking forward to exploring on my next trip to the Cape.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read murder mysteries but I'm glad I read this one. The Man Who Fell from the Sky kept moving at a good pace with new clues constantly being revealed in surprising and creative ways. The story unfolds as Dave Gomes, a Cape Verdean reporter for a local Cape Cod newspaper who is investigating a shocking murder in a quiet Cape Cod neighborhood, which seemed to be a professional hit. As the investigation progresses, I appreciated the descriptions of differences within the Cape Verdean community in southeastern Massachusetts, as well as the descriptions of divisions between the Cape Verdean community and Afro-Americans, all set in the context of the historical racism towards all people of color in the US, which (spoiler alert) which ends up playing a big role in the murder causes. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book - The Man Who Changed Colors - which just arrived.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Way to Learn about Cape Verdean History and Community

Good murder mystery plot. So rarely in detective fiction is a plot tied up with an accurate and revealing history! Rarely is light shined on nuances as well as glaring racism —across many decades;
I loved getting an authentic look at the lives in the Cape Verdean communities, and how people’s lives were so affected by racism from decades back, then jettisoning in time in a continuum into the lives of descendants.
I had a hard time though believing in some of the characters. They were not as 3-dimensional as I yearned for, especially the protagonist’s girlfriend. Yet I appreciated the portrayal of the protagonist — admitting he was a dork for not being able to commit to a relationship earlier in his adult life.

[Jimmy Tarlau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery novel by long time union and social activist, Bill Fletcher. The book explores the Cape Verdean community of Massachusetts and the interplay of race and national origin for the long term immigrants from those islands. It is something I knew absolutely nothing about and was fascinated to know about the relationship between the Cape Verdean and Portuguese communities. It was pretty riveting and I could hardly put the book down at the end. Unfortunately the ending is (as is in many books) a little rushed and took away from the book as a whole.

[Merle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best mystery of the year! Extremely well written and spellbinding book with fascinating characters, a riveting plot and a surprise ending. This book combines a great yarn and a focus on social justice.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery book written by a local author. Not my usual choice of genre, but I did enjoy reading it. I especially liked the local references of places, cultures, and accents. Easy read.

[Anne OLeary Coad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, not a must read, but not a waste of time either. Loved how the story unravelled.

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! The story kept me on the edge of my seat but I also loved how the history and culture has been woven in. Great book!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder mystery set in 1971 Cape Cod. Lots of cultural detail and racial politics of the area make it an absorbing and fast read.

[Miranda Probeyahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked immediately! The story did slow but it was the perfect build up to the resolution!

[Judy Andrews]

A great mystery!!! Fun to read!

[Marilynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was compelling, the anti-racist theme was realistic, and I learned about Cape Verde and it’s history of Portuguese colonialism. I also was drawn into the linear storytelling.