Book Review: Darktown by Thomas Mullen, powerful and compelling!

What makes Darktown such an important read is the fact that the events it covered happened within the last century and with the USA presidential election and Donald Trump, highlighting how attitudes haven't changed so much over the last century, it's imperative that we remember the atrocities of this era.


Set in Atlanta 1948 Darktown is a wonderfully researched

story that highlights very real attitudes and the struggles to overcome them. 
In the context of the state of Atlanta's appointment of the first black police officers, Darktown becomes more than just a crime fiction book, it is testament to the racism that existed less than seventy years ago.  The first black officers had restricted police powers and were badly treated by the majority of their white peers.  Darktown is a compelling  and very honest read. 
Black officers, Tommy Smith and Lucius Boggs appear to be the only ones to care when a black woman is found murdered in Darktown after being seen in the car of an influential white man.  With prejudice rife and their authority limited these men attempt to work their way through the system to achieve justice.

This is not just a damn good crime story it is a powerful reminder of how bad things were.  Mullen's characters are not all good and not all bad which makes them all the more convincing. His skill in evoking a sense of place is second to none.  I could feel the jazz in my bones, taste the stench of despair and feel the tension of life in Darktown. A really powerful read.  Highly recommended.  This book will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.