annieb123
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Midnight Sleeper is the first book in a historical mystery series by Raeder Lomax. Released 3rd July 2023, it's 356 pages and is available in ebook format. Other editions are available in paperback. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.
This is an engaging and well written historical mystery set during prohibition in the US. It's often quite unflinching and I found it difficult to read at some points, given the undeniably historically accurate but nevertheless quite painful, racism, sexism, governmental corruption, and violence.
The language and vernacular are unvarnished and sometimes quite unsettling to read. There are multiple uses of the "n-word" and mentions of sexual abuse and racism/sexism.
For all that, it's well written, with a tight, action driven plot, and three dimensional characters.
Four stars (with the aforementioned issues).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes