by Joe Lansdale
First published 2010
Harry Collins and his little sister discover a brutally murdered black woman in the bottoms of the Sabine River. The year is 1933, and East Texas still feels the weight of the Depression. Their small town erupts with racial tension after the discovery. When a second victim appears, this time a white woman, the Klan moves quickly to lynch an innocent black man. Harry knows they have the wrong person. He and his sister begin their own investigation to find the real killer. Their search forces them to look beyond the surface hatred that divides their community. Harry must navigate the dangerous currents of prejudice and violence while seeking a truth that runs deeper than the color of skin. The children's quest becomes a race against time and mob justice.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, coming-of-age, family-secrets, race-against-time
Setting: East Texas, Sabine River
Period: 1933
328 pages · Paperback · Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Content warnings: racism, violence