M. P. Wright

M. P. Wright's A Sinner's Prayer is a wild ride of a read, filled with dangerous characters and more than a little violence (though Wright doesn't linger on the specifics on overly graphic ways). I picked it up because I was interested ion the novel's context: Bristol in 1970, with overt racial tensions. JT, a Black former private detective, originally from the Caribbean, is forced into an investigation by a white police superintendent. Haunted by deaths resulting from his earlier work, JT has no desire to return to his former career, particularly because he is now raising his sister's young daughter.

JT quickly finds himself investigating corrupt, powerful men. He unwillingly accepts the help of a cousin who's a gang boss, with his own scores to settle with the suspects. The racism is ugly and pervasive, and the reader experiences a great deal of it through JT's eyes.

This is less a mystery novel than a novel of suspense. Wright makes it clear pretty early on who is responsible for the death that triggers JT's reluctant return to detective work. The suspense comes in as a result of the number of dangerous individuals involved and the uncertainty about which characters will remain alive at the novel's end.

Wright has a wonderful ear for language, including accents and dialects, that makes his characters vivid. When they speak, we hear their varied voices and quickly develop a feel for their individual personalities.

If you like a who-dunnit that relies on character and action more than complex mystery, you'll find this a deeply satisfying read.… (más)

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The title of Wright's third book in the Detective J.T. Ellington series, caught my eye as I was browsing NetGalley one day, so after debating if I should read the third book in a series I had never read, I downloaded it and the rest is history.

Set in the tumultuous 1960s among the Vietnam War, ghetto rioting, and the rise of a militant antiwar movement, Joseph Ellington is swept from Bristol to Harlem, to New Orleans, and finally to Barbados inside of just a few days. The telegram he receives from his cousin Vic (a man with questionable business practices) is short and to the point "Joseph Stop I sincerely regret to inform you of the death of your sister Bernice May Ellington Stop Request you make arrangements to return to Barbados to settle affairs Stop." Joseph's journey to Barbados is laden with violence, death and family secrets that will change his life forever.

Told in Joseph's point of review, we delve into Joseph's pain and anger of losing yet another loved one, as well as the fear that he might not make it back to his quiet life in Bristol. Joseph interacts with many well-developed, colorful characters (good and bad) during a year of much unrest, giving the story depth and credibility convincing me that book 3 can be read on its own. A fast-paced, quality suspense thriller with plenty of surprises that does contain violence and strong language. Mr. Wright notes that book 4, Rivers of Blood, is in the works. Get the whole series at Amazon.

Thank you to Mr. Wright, Black and White Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.… (más)