by Mary Sutton / @mary_sutton73
Land of Shadows by Rachel Howzell Hall
If the press is to be believed, there are two sides to LA: gritty and glamorous. This book definitely explores the gritty side. And does it with a fresh voice and a compelling protagonist.
The dialog is snappy, the pacing is brisk and the twists are just right. Elouise “Lou” Norton is a strong, intelligent protagonist – but broken, and in more ways than one. I like the fact that she can acknowledge that and it’s impact on her, without turning her whiny or needy. I also like how the book acknowledges the reality of being black and poor in LA, and a black woman at the LAPD, without turning into a lecture or diatribe. I will definitely pick up the next two in the series.
Note: not for folks who don’t like strong profanity or on-page violence in their mysteries.