Southern Man by Greg Iles

 

This seventh Cage Penn book is the icing on the cake following Iles' amazing Nachez Burning trilogy (Nachez Burning, The Bone Tree, and Mississippi Blood), which also features Penn Cage. Set fifteen years after Mississippi Blood, in 2023, on the eve of the presidential election, it is a microscopic look at the state of US politics, race relations, and the nature of the unrest we are currently experiencing.

When a rap concert turns bloody at the hands of the Sheriff's Department in Bienville, Mississippi, two figures emerge as leaders: one, a Black tourist guide, and the other, a White third-party presidential candidate who has the best chance of winning since Ross Perot. One hopes to quell the retaliatory mood of the crowd, and the other hopes to raise his political aspirations to a national stage. At odds, the stage is set for a confrontation with far-reaching consequences.

This looks like it will be the final Penn Cage book, as it is revealed early on that Cage's cancer is no longer in remission. That's sad news for fans of the series, myself included, but Iles does a good job of handling the characters and dealing with the life-threatening situation. This fast-moving story weaves together today's political climate and Civil War-era slavery issues. It is sometimes uncomfortable to read, but it is a story that needs telling. This political and historical thriller shines a light on corruption, race relations, and family relationships, both past and present. It is an excellently written book that can be read as a standalone--although the other books in the series are so good, I recommend reading them all. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 28, 2024.

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Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello

 I was drawn to this book because it sounded intriguing: in 1923, a New York woman is found dead and the possible suspects range from a hoodlum to a wealthy Philadelphia businessman. Based on a true story, this historical fiction read is riveting.

When Dot King is found murdered in her apartment by her housekeeper, Ella Bradford, all of her jewels and furs missing, her scandalous lifestyle becomes a gold mine for the newspapers of the time, and pressure is placed on New York homicide detective John Coughlin to solve the murder. What Coughlin quickly finds out is that the politics of the case--going all the way up to President Harding's cabinet--is outweighed by his gut instinct that Dot's gigolo lover is the culprit. Besides getting political pressure to close the case, Coughlin is also held accountable by the only woman on the crime beat, reporter Julia Harpman who is determined that justice be done for Dot. 

Told mostly from Harpman's perspective, the book explores the many suspects and their motives as well as Coughlin's reasoning to narrow the field. This is a well-researched book that shines the light on a notoriously corrupt Harding presidency and brings the Roaring Twenties to life through Dot and her lovers and acquaintances. It's a fast-paced and well-written recounting of the murder and its subsequent investigation that kept New York riveted for years.

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