Helpful Score: 3
This story started out very slowly, and never really got "thriller" like until the final quarter of the book. It was more a social dissertation on racism and gentrification, than a thriller or romance. Ending very unbelievable.
Helpful Score: 2
I have to say I couldn't finish this book & that almost never happens..The fowl language is not necessary & adds nothing & its a political commentary rather than a thriller..
This was so iffy-to-bad, I was in fact shocked to find the author is 40 (!) and has trad published several books, including winning an Edgar award.
Echoing everyone else who wondered where the "thriller" was, until the minimum halfway point of the story.
although maybe this characterization is not the author's fault; it was more like "a straight up story where mysterious things occasionally happen", than it was a "thriller", and then all of a sudden, it turned lickety split into a fairly decent grade B horror movie...
also, the fact that I've actually strolled some of the streets of Brooklyn did not help.
For some books it might; for this it did not, because all I could think was "this is an area where the NYPD is in charge; not Barney Fife." You can say lots of things about the NYPD; you can't really say they're amateur, and it's really hard to believe in any type of world where they've ALL been bought off to look the other way... the author's literary style is good, though.
Echoing everyone else who wondered where the "thriller" was, until the minimum halfway point of the story.
although maybe this characterization is not the author's fault; it was more like "a straight up story where mysterious things occasionally happen", than it was a "thriller", and then all of a sudden, it turned lickety split into a fairly decent grade B horror movie...
also, the fact that I've actually strolled some of the streets of Brooklyn did not help.
For some books it might; for this it did not, because all I could think was "this is an area where the NYPD is in charge; not Barney Fife." You can say lots of things about the NYPD; you can't really say they're amateur, and it's really hard to believe in any type of world where they've ALL been bought off to look the other way... the author's literary style is good, though.
Alyssa Cole is a talented romance author, so I was intrigued to see her write a thriller. This was 'entertaining' and thought-provoking.
As an urban dweller, I've considered gentrification a good thing - revitalizes the area, raises property values, etc. Shamefully, I seldom considered the impact on the people and businesses that previously called the area home. Where do they go? How do they manage? Can they maintain decades-long relationships?
This novel is all about contrasts: community vs progress, history vs future, Black vs White, good vs evil. It is so timely as our nation finally begins to reckon with racial injustices. It has a slow start, an intriguing middle as the circumstances slowly come into focus, and the ending is rushed and unbelievable, literally. But I'll never see an urban construction site through my old lens.
As an urban dweller, I've considered gentrification a good thing - revitalizes the area, raises property values, etc. Shamefully, I seldom considered the impact on the people and businesses that previously called the area home. Where do they go? How do they manage? Can they maintain decades-long relationships?
This novel is all about contrasts: community vs progress, history vs future, Black vs White, good vs evil. It is so timely as our nation finally begins to reckon with racial injustices. It has a slow start, an intriguing middle as the circumstances slowly come into focus, and the ending is rushed and unbelievable, literally. But I'll never see an urban construction site through my old lens.
Language was so foul I couldn't make it through even the first half before stopping. Too bad, it could have been good read.
Last week I started reading this book but it became a turnoff to me as I was looking forward to reading a thriller as it is advertised on the cover. The author in the beginning points out the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood is happening. I am so tired of hearing about Systemic Racism and Critical Race Theory that Iâm unable to read on and get to the thriller part of the book. Now let me explain: Critical Race Theory leads to Marxism which causes class conflict. Marx wanted revolution workers to gain consciousness of their plight, seize means of production, overthrow capitalist class and usher in a new socialist society. Marxist-style revolutions end in disaster. Marxist practices and ideas unleash manâs darkest brutalities. The American dream is that all peopleâs can transcend their origins through education, hard work & good citizenship.
Iâm not participating in this âwokenessâ attitude of being truly anti-racist as it is anti-capitalist and leads to Marxism in the end. Equity-based forms of government would mean end of private property, individual rights, equity under the law, federalism and freedom of speech. It would be replaced by race-based redistribution of wealth, group-based rights, active discrimination and omnipotent bureaucratic authority.
Critical Race Theory prescribes a revolutionary program that would overturn the principles of the Declaration of Independence and destroy the remaining structure of the Constitution. I recognize slavery history but the 1st Amendment protects citizens from compelled speech, the 14th Amendment provides equal protection under the law and The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on basis of race.
Critical Race Theory promotes race essentialism, collective guilt, and neo-segregation which violates basic principles of equality and justice. We should all be talking about aiming at excellence, a common standard that challenges people to achieve their potential. âExcellence beats diversity every time.â
We must promote the true story of America - a story that is honest about injustices in American history but places them in context of our nationâs high ideals and the progress we have made towards realizing them. We must have courage to stand and speak the truth. Truth and justice are on our side!
Iâm not participating in this âwokenessâ attitude of being truly anti-racist as it is anti-capitalist and leads to Marxism in the end. Equity-based forms of government would mean end of private property, individual rights, equity under the law, federalism and freedom of speech. It would be replaced by race-based redistribution of wealth, group-based rights, active discrimination and omnipotent bureaucratic authority.
Critical Race Theory prescribes a revolutionary program that would overturn the principles of the Declaration of Independence and destroy the remaining structure of the Constitution. I recognize slavery history but the 1st Amendment protects citizens from compelled speech, the 14th Amendment provides equal protection under the law and The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on basis of race.
Critical Race Theory promotes race essentialism, collective guilt, and neo-segregation which violates basic principles of equality and justice. We should all be talking about aiming at excellence, a common standard that challenges people to achieve their potential. âExcellence beats diversity every time.â
We must promote the true story of America - a story that is honest about injustices in American history but places them in context of our nationâs high ideals and the progress we have made towards realizing them. We must have courage to stand and speak the truth. Truth and justice are on our side!
