Assessment:
Plot/Idea: White Gold takes readers on a breakneck ride raging with murder, greed, and desperation, through the eyes of embittered lawman E.J. Kane, who stumbles into danger at every turn in his quest to survive the untimely death of his son, all while trying to save his drug-addicted daughter. The tension builds quickly, and Jimerson’s plot submerses readers in action before delivering the final unexpected, but satisfyingly complete, blow.
Prose: Despite some rough transitions, Jimerson crafts easy prose that helps readers sink into the novel’s mood. Dialogue flows naturally, and the effective writing style steadies the plot’s pace, even in high stakes moments.
Originality: Though this novel boasts a gritty crime narrative with conventional whodunit hijinks, Jimerson’s smooth approach gives it somewhat of an edge; the story’s polished prose is a standout.
Character Development/Execution: This book’s main players are well-defined, albeit stereotypical at times, and their backstories help unite them in a collective web of intrigue. Savvy mystery fans may guess the perpetrator, but the process will be entertaining enough to keep them hooked until the end.
Date Submitted: April 07, 2022
Jimerson has worked as a district attorney, and his knowledge of the milieu lends a powerful sense of verisimilitude, as when the aging E.J. muses over the changes over the years in law enforcement. The author does an equally fine job with the settings of his native East Texas: "The pallet of colors pouring out on the green hills and pine trees gave him pause." The sense of this tightly knit community is also strong, as a shared background connects E.J. more closely to an opponent than his supposed allies. Although the plot gets a little convoluted, individual scenes carry the story to a satisfying conclusion.
Best of all are the sharply limned characters—E.J. is no cardboard cowboy, but a complex figure with a difficult past and tangled family life. Jimerson does an especially effective job of showing E.J.'s sense of powerlessness as he watches his daughter’s life fall apart. E.J.'s relationship with his ex-wife Rebecca is both subtle and real: A series of sharp exchanges reveals both why they got married and why they got divorced. Readers will be heavily invested in E.J.'s odyssey, turning pages rapidly in hope that his journey ends in victory.
Takeaway: Richly drawn characters and a vivid East Texas setting highlight this noir-flavored murder mystery.
Great for fans of: Craig Johnson’s Longmire series, Jon Land’s Caitlin Strong series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B