I read two great gritty urban mystery reads this past week. Both uniquely told in their own way but both addressing the politics and social systems of Atlanta and Los Angeles respectively in a way that I found compelling…
Paper God
I’ve read a lot about Atlanta this past month; probably more than I ever have in previous years. So it made sense that I would finally get to this political thriller from Goldie Taylor. I do so appreciate good political thrillers because they are rare and this one did not disappoint. Taylor knows her city well and draws on her experiences working in politics to create a bird’s eye portrayal of the A and its inhabitants as they face the effects of a series of homicides and a shady political power play.
My only issue with the book, aside from Taylor’s overuse of similes, is the storyline behind the trans character. I laid out the issues above. I think Taylor handles it well but it’s still frustrating how often trans characters get cast into tragic subplots. If you can stomach that, and you like your mystery/thriller books with a healthy dose of politics, you’ll like this one.
