In looking for something different to read, I stumbled upon this thriller from the 1980’s, which was so much more substantive and nuanced than I ever imagined.
It begins in 1919, when Will Henry Lee is appointed the Chief of Police in the tiny town of Delano, Georgia. Things are fairly quiet until the first body turns up – that of a young boy, naked, with suspicious marks on him. This case is niggling at him but life goes on and he is forced to move on with the times. As the years pass, the case becomes buried deeper and deeper in layers of race, power, politics, and in simple human nature and the ultimate resolution is a shock to everyone.
This story is so carefully delivered, over time, even over generations, and the reader’s patience is rewarded with an exquisitely intricate plot. There is a horrifying overlay of the deep south’s history of racial bias which, sadly, is quite poignant and relatable today. So too, are the political power plays, the small town alliances, and injustices. Timeless, apparently.
The writing, too, is sharp and clear, with poignant dialogue and a few great scenes. My particular favorite scene is one in which the wife of Billy, Will Henry’s son, buys a shotgun and shows what a woman can do all by herself to protect herself from the nasty Klansmen who are out to get her and her husband. I won’t give it all away, but I’d say that scene alone is worth reading the book for!
This book is a definite page-turner and one that will stay with me for awhile. I’m not sure it’s a “must read” but it’s close!
kindread spirits 