Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
When it comes to law and order, East Texas plays by its own rules--a fact that Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger, knows all too well. Deeply ambivalent about growing up black in the lone star state, he was the first in his family to get as far away from Texas as he could. Until duty called him home.
When his allegiance to his roots puts his job in jeopardy, he travels up Highway 59 to the small town of Lark, where two murders--a black lawyer from Chicago and a local white woman--have stirred up a hornet's nest of resentment. Darren must solve the crimes--and save himself in the process--before Lark's long-simmering racial fault lines erupt.
I've been fortunate enough in recent years to help contribute to some 'best books of the year' (aka favourite books of the year, really) for several magazines on a few continents. It's always tricky as there are many good contenders, and you never have enough spots.
Recently I've been thinking about the best books of not just a single year, but an entire decade - thanks in part to a series that highly regarded book blogger Grab This Book (aka Gordon) has started, getting reviewers and writers to share books they'd add to a library of great tales.
I've now been reviewing crime and thriller fiction for a range of publications - as well as reading tonnes for awards judging, festival preparation, author interviews, and just plain old cause I want to - for coming up 13 years. A lot of good and great novels have passed under my eyes in that time. It's tricky to consider what my 'best book of the 2010s' might be, given I was reading and reviewing so much the entire decade. Lots and lots and lots of great reads, many of which are tough to compare.
One book that I definitely think should be in the conversation, however, is this fourth novel from California-based screenwriter and author Attica Locke. She has been dazzling readers and critics alike (as well as audiences, recently) since her exquisite debut BLACK WATER RISING a decade ago.
But Locke really raised the bar with BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD, the first in her Highway 59 series, which went on to scoop the
rare trifecta of Edgar, CWA Dagger, and Anthony Awards for Best Novel.
In her fourth novel, Locke returned to her native
Texas, and introduced Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger whose sense of duty
has him seeking justice and serving the community within a home state which he
both loves and hates. Mathews is a tough and honourable man who is currently
suspended for helping an old friend. A choice he made that could threaten both
his job and his marriage. While waiting to find out his future on those fronts,
Mathews heads to the small town of Lark in East Texas after hearing of two
bodies washed up in the bayou: a black lawyer from Chicago and a local white waitress.
Put simply, Locke’s tale is a masterpiece. A mesmerising
story that brings a fresh perspective to the rural noir of the American South
and Southwest. BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD is a brilliant novel full of
lyricism and insight into the complexities of people and place.
In the
conversation for the best crime novel, and best crime writer, of the past
decade.
Craig Sisterson is a lawyer turned features writer from New Zealand, now living in London. He’s interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at festivals on three continents. He's been a judge of Australian, Scottish, and NZ crime writing awards, and is co-founder of Rotorua Noir. His first non-fiction book, SOUTHERN CROSS CRIME, was published in 2020. You can heckle him on Twitter.
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