The USA has a menacing culture, which embraces extreme violence and corruption. The January 6th 2020 Insurrection led to multiple deaths and systematic vandalism. It was celebrated by President Trump as an act of ‘patriotism’. His first act, as president, was to pardon all 1500+ insurrectionists. None of them were black. If 1500+ insurrectionists had been black would there have been slaughter on the steps of Congress? Would there have been any pardons?
So what?
This novel is set in Los Angeles in 1951. The police were racist, corrupt and used extreme violence. The novel is unflinching in its portrayal of that world. It is brilliantly written full of believable characters and does not have a ‘focus group’ happy ending. It is also set within a known world, which is used as a backdrop to the plot.
If you are shocked by racist language and brutality avoid this novel. Otherwise….Go for it.
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