Ball does a great job of building suspense and weaving different elements of mystery together in a story that oozes Southern gothic and atmospheric setting. As Buck settles in, the depth of corruption he’s facing becomes increasingly apparent: he discovers racketeering in his department, encouraged by the mayor, and several young women have gone missing. “Half my men are corrupt, the other half incompetent, and they’re all lying to me,” he says, in Ball’s characteristically sharp dialogue. As Ball mines Buck’s uncertainty for suspense, the new chief will also have to deal with conflict with his significant other, Jolene, who’s unenthusiastic about his new job and harbors deep concerns about Mercy’s crime history.
The timelines, which split between the present and occasional chapters about Jolene’s experiences some months earlier, at times slow down the narrative’s momentum, as do Buck’s dream sequences with the deceased Billy. But the interlocking challenges Buck faces will entice lovers of small-town crime stories, and Ball excels at weaving together murder, cronyism, and compelling surprises strong enough to serve as the strong foundation of a series.
Takeaway: A police chief new to the Deep South faces compelling corruption.
Comparable Titles: George Dawes Green’s The Kingdoms of Savannah, John Hart’s Down River .
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
