First published 2024
Police Constable Johnson "Sonny" Stone discovers a dead body floating in the polluted Dry River at the edge of Port of Spain, Trinidad. The year is 1932, and the British colony seethes with racial and class tensions. The wealthy exploit their privilege, criminals grab what they can, and the poor survive on scraps. Stone faces his own troubles. His wife has abandoned him, and the Constabulary has suspended him for defying orders. Despite his personal struggles, he cannot ignore the murder case. His investigation pulls him through every district of the divided city, from elite neighborhoods to dangerous slums. The case connects to calypso music, political schemes, and deep corruption. Stone must track down the killer regardless of the consequences. The legacy of slavery and indenture still shapes Trinidad, creating a powder keg of competing communities. Stone's pursuit of justice threatens to expose secrets that powerful people want buried.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, corrupt-system, personal-struggles
Setting: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Period: 1932
140 pages · Paperback · 1000Volt Press
Content warnings: racism, violence