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The Trees by Percival Everett - 4* - My Review

This book tells a story of two black detectives investigating a series of present-day murders of one or more white victims and a single black victim. The story begins in Money, Mississippi, where the first of such murders is discovered. As the story progresses, similar murders start occurring in many other parts of the US. The storyline references America’s tragic past of lynching.

I was initially hesitant to pick it up since I know it would be painfully difficult to read about a person being lynched. I should have known an author as skilled as Percival Everett would not write such a book. They are not part of the present-day storyline. Instead, it focuses on the legacy of bigotry that haunts us in current times.

The prose is straight-forward. The chapters are short. The dialogue is plentiful. Parts of it contain grim humor. Everett bases the narrative in a familiar genre – that of a detective story. He uses this familiar scenario to deliver biting social commentary, examining the concepts of justice and vengeance.

The names of lynching victims since 1913 are included. It is a long list. And the perpetrators of these crimes have literally gotten away with murder. The point is clearly made, and with no need to moralize. The villain of the piece is clearly racism in all its ugly manifestations. The ending is particularly thought provoking.

I finished this one recently and also rated it 4 stars. The list of lynching victims was especially moving listening to the audiobook because of how long it lasts.

Yes. So sad.

Thanks for this review. I do not know the author but am about to meet him. I will read this book, painful as it will be. Thanks. We all need to learn more to make our world better. peace, janz

Peacejanz wrote: "Thanks for this review. I do not know the author but am about to meet him. I will read this book, painful as it will be. Thanks. We all need to learn more to make our world better. peace, janz"
It is really a quite creative way to address racism. I look forward to your thoughts abou ti.