This is the first book I’ve read by Attica Locke and it definitely won’t be my last. Bluebird Bluebird is a complex and gripping mystery with social commentary that never feels ham-handed or preachy. I enjoyed it so much I may even check out Empire on Hulu (Ms. Locke writes for the show).
Darren Matthews has a lot going on. He is a black Texas Ranger is East Texas. His career is in jeopardy after sticking his neck out for a family friend. His marriage is in jeopardy for the same reason. He might also be a high functioning alcoholic. As a favor for a friend, he goes to the tiny town of Lark to look into two murders. A black lawyer from Chicago, followed a few days later by a white local girl. The prevailing theory put forth by the local authorities is that the white girl was killed as retaliation for the black man. If the patent ridiculousness of this story wasn’t already apparent, it becomes clear as soon as Darren arrives in town that there is a lot more going on. He must look into secrets that the small town is unwilling to give up to an outsider, along with the generations old ties between the black and white residents of Lark. We also see that, despite the reverence with which the Rangers are held in the state of Texas, they can’t protect Darren from the violent racist elements in town.
If you are a fan of mystery and suspense and you haven’t picked up an Attica Locke book, I highly recommend that you do. If I had the free time I feel like I would love read through her entire scope of work in a week or so, even if it left me a little more cynical about the state of race relations in the U.S. that I already was.
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