Lives Laid Away (August Snow #2), by Stephen Mack Jones

Eight stars

Having enjoyed the series debut, I am back with the next novel by Stephen Mack Jones, set on the rough streets of Detroit. Again combining a police procedural with gritty racial struggles, this book will resonate with those who keep an open mind about the depiction of the darkest inner city living. August Snow is still trying to keep the streets of Mexicantown safe, flipping houses and protecting those about whom he cares. When whispers of an ICE presence stirs up a frenzy in town, Snow is the first to go looking for answers. However, he is waylaid when a former colleague provides him with some disturbing information. A young Hispanic woman, dressed as Marie Antoinette, appears to have leapt off a bridge to her death. Snow is not entirely convinced of the suicide angle, but everything about this stinks to high heaven, particularly when it becomes apparent that she was an illegal alien. Snow is invited to a secret meeting, where he discovers that there is a rogue ICE group scooping up illegals and placing them into the sex slave trade. No one seems entirely sure who’s behind this, but Snow is not about to wait for answers. Using some of the grit and determination he gathered when he was with the police, Snow begins his own investigation, forced to work with the authorities, even when he is not all that interested. Things trace back to a white supremacist gang, though no one is willing to share much of anything, save a beat down for Snow. When a second woman turns up dead, also in a costume, Snow realises that he will have to act fast to save Mexicantown and its citizens. Without knowing who he can trust and with many lurking in the shadows, Snow will have to be vigilant if he wants to live through this ordeal. A powerful follow-up novel that keeps the reader in the middle of the socio-economic and political struggles of the city, while also working through a horrific set of crimes and a world so depraved that even August Snow is shocked. Recommended to those who want a darker novel that holds nothing back when it comes to racial disparity, as well as the reader who enjoys a gritty protagonist.

While I struggled to connect on some level with the debut novel, this book was much more to my liking. Stephen Mack Jones masterfully builds a story with his no holds barred style, seeking to reveal racial and socio-economic disparity while placing it directly in front of the reader. The August Snow backstory is not as prevalent this time around, but random mentions left me wanting to know more about this unique man. There is a great deal of character development in this piece, which has me eager to see how the series will progress. Snow will do almost anything for his Mexicantown neighbours, including defend them from the likes of ICE and their random rules. Snow’s passion comes from a dedicated family life, but also being willing to push back against those who seek to oppress. With his intuitiveness, Snow is eager to make a difference and thrives to help those in need, even if they cannot speak for themselves. There are some recurring characters that added interesting flavours to both novels, as well as new faces, all of whom complement the work that Snow does. The vast array of characters and unique goings-on offer the reader a thoroughly entertaining piece that does not stop until the final reveal. The novel is well-paced and reveals much about the immigration struggles in America, paired with the racial divide that no one pretends to hide. There is also a blunt discussion about the sex slave trade and how the weakest links in society become the easiest targets. Jones has a way of making his point effectively, keeping the reader attuned to the struggles of all in some of the less than desirable parts of Detroit. While I was on the fence about how I felt about the series before starting this book, I am sold now and cannot wait for the next piece. I can only hope that Jones never loses the grit that makes this book stand out from many in a supersaturated genre.

Kudos, Mr. Jones, for an interesting take within the genre. I cannot wait to see what else you have to say!

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons

August Snow (August Snow #1), by Stephen Mack Jones

Eight stars

After the cover and dust jacket blurb of this novel caught my eye, I knew that I would give Stephen Mack Jones a try. Mixing some police procedural with gritty racial struggles, this series debut will surely interest many who enjoy the genre, but are not afraid to tackle some of the more taboo issues that arise in a city where equality is not even faked. August Snow is half-Black, half-Hispanic, using this unique cultural mix to his advantage. Returning to Detroit after a year away, much has changed for Snow, though many still vilify him for the actions he took. Once a detective with DPD, Snow blew the horn on a corrupt mayor and the police who helped protect him. He received a major payout, but is still the centre of many whispers and a platter for his head remains at the ready. When Snow is approached by Eleanor Paget, he is not sure what to expect. Paget is a wealthy woman and well-known around town. Her husband’s death was one of the high-profile cases Snow worked before everything blew up in his face. After Paget mentions that she feels her bank accounts are being tampered with, she seeks Snow to help keep an eye on things and dig a little deeper. Not a registered PI and with little interest in doing so, Snow declines Paget’s offer, but promises to keep in touch. A few days later, Paget is found dead, apparently having shot herself, but Snow is not buying it. He decides to poke around to see what really lurked under the surface for Eleanor Paget. With a handful of former colleagues still speaking with him, they share the sentiment that Paget was likely unhappy and chose to end things herself. Equally baffling is why the FBI approaches Snow and has many questions for him about his interactions with Paget. The deeper Snow digs, the more he uncovers, including what might be a money laundering scheme, which could be the angle the Feds are taking. As Snow tries to piece it all together, he’s sure that there is something going on, though cannot put his finger on how Paget fits into the larger narrative. On the mean streets of Detroit, anything’s possible and August Snow knows that all too well, which includes decades of racial suppression, a motive all its own. A decent debut that pulls the reader into the middle of the socio-economic and political struggles of the city. Recommended to those who want a break from the glitzy procedurals that fill the genre, as well as the reader looking for a gritty piece to balance out some of their other reading experiences.

I entered this book with an open mind and sit here now, unsure if it met my expectations. Stephen Mack Jones has a way with words and paints quite the tale, which seeks to reveal racial and sociology-economic disparity and put it directly in front of the reader. The August Snow backstory is quite thorough and left me wanting more, which is balanced nicely with some character development and decent choices to lay the groundwork for a successful series. Snow is a no holds barred kind of guy, not afraid of standing his ground, willing to rock the boat if it furthers his cause. Snow’s attention is trying to reinvent himself and the Mexicantown area in which he lives, breathing new life into something that many have left to perish. With his intuitiveness, Snow is eager to make a difference and thrives to help those in need, even if they do not appear to require much of anything on the surface. Other characters complement the work that Snow does, sometimes in subtle ways that are not entirely apparent at first glance. The vast array of characters offer the reader a flavoursome choice of perspectives, spicing up the narrative effectively throughout. The novel is well-paced and reveals much about the central characters from beginning until the very end, while also proving to be a raw depiction of the filthy underbelly that is Detroit. Snow interacts well with most folks, though their varied backgrounds make the protagonist’s colours differ at various points of the novel. Jones has a way of making his point effectively, keeping the reader attuned to the struggles of all in some of the less than desirable parts of Detroit. While I am still on the fence about how I feel about the book, I will likely give the second book a try to see how it sits with me. It’s the least I can do, since the awkwardness of the gritty presentation parallels how most people feel about snow in August.

Kudos, Mr. Jones, for an interesting debut. I’ll keep an open mind and tackle another before locking in a personal decision.

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons