Play Book Tag discussion

This is a psychological thriller with an action packed thriller ending set in the world of NYC gentrification of minority occupied neighborhoods. Said gentrification is taken to extremes as this is a thriller and anything less than an over-the-top ending would just be boring. Being a NYC real estate lawyer, one who actually was involved in one of the real developments mentioned in passing by one of the characters, I have mixed feelings about this one. It's made it hard to rate, so I settled on 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

A black Brooklyn neighborhood, a little rundown, is seeing long time residents selling and white couples moving in to what the aggressive real estate brokers are describing as 'an emerging neighborhood'. These are classic brownstones, some single family, some divided into apartments, many with original detail, all long occupied by the same owners. Just down the block, a medical testing center has just been approved to take over an abandonned hospital. As the story opens, efforts to acquire the brownstones from the longtime black owners escalates. Sydney has returned home after a bitter divorce and is struggling to hang on to her mother's brownstone, dealing with her mother's medical bills, lack of a job, and clearly suffering depression. You sense there is more to the story. You also meet Theo, one of the new white residents, who lives across the street from Sydney with his girlfriend. Theo's relationship with Kim is over but as co-owner of the house and being unemployed, he's in limbo. There is an annual neighborhood party scheduled for the near future, and Sydney has volunteered to give an historical walking tour. Theo joins her in researching the neighborhood's history. As they work together, the past provides guidance on what is happening in the present, and Theo and Sydney take action.

It's good, enjoyable, and the historic information is beautifully interwoven and fascinating. Author even provides a list of resources in the end. The neighborhood is well described with its residents recognizeable. What I didn't care for: how the gentrifiers are practically caricatures of greed, racism and evil - just too much, reflecting ALL the behaviour described in social media as 'Brad' or 'Karin' for example [Note: author uses 'Brad' frequently but never refers to a woman as a 'Karin' even when literally reflecting behavior that has been designated such, like threatening to call the police and complain that a POC was endangering her meritlessly]. There is only one white 'good guy' and he's shady. It's also a very slow build, but that also increases the tension and prolongs the puzzle of what exactly is going on and what secrets Sydney and Theo are independently hiding. I was sorely tempted a couple of times to check that my apartment doors were locked.

I have heard that the pacing was off in this, and I've seen mixed reviews, but I would like to try it sometime. Interesting that you have a close relationship to the content (regarding real estate law).

Have you read her before? She traditionally writes romance, which I really want to read, but this was the first thriller.

Meli wrote: "I have heard that the pacing was off in this, and I've seen mixed reviews, but I would like to try it sometime. Interesting that you have a close relationship to the content (regarding real estate ..."

I have not. There is a little romance here and it's well done I thought. Definitely pacing off but not terribly so. I had a really adverse reaction to the unbalanced characterization of the white vs. black characters, and of course the extremism of how real estate gentrification and development is portrayed. Of course, that part had to be if you are going to make a thriller out of it.

Also there is this whole thing at the end involving the hospital and its development and future use that seemed totally unnecessary except as a rather superficial device to allow something specific to happen at the end.

I am definitely interested in reading her romances (which are mostly historical I think?) and would read more thrillers. I think I even have her An Extraordinary Union in my ebook TBR library.

Her historical research is meticulous.

I think I liked this a bit more than you- I gave it 4 stars.

I really liked the analyzation of the black women questioning herself, seeing her own frustration, along with having to appear calm at all times to not seem the "angry black woman". Adds a nuanced layer to the psychological thriller and unreliable narrator tropes.

Joi wrote: "I think I liked this a bit more than you- I gave it 4 stars.

I really liked the analyzation of the black women questioning herself, seeing her own frustration, along with having to appear calm at..."

Agreed. My problems and why it only got 3.5 stars for me relate to poor pacing, the bizarre medical trope added at the end, and just how almost cartoony those in real estate behind the aggressive actions and even the whites moving into the neighborhood (except for Theo of course) were presented in contrast to the black characters.

But then, I am far too close to the subject matter both in my profession and where Iive and have lived in NYC to be anything but extremely critical.

I actually read few legal thrillers nor watch any real estate shows or legal dramas on TV because I end up screaming at the TV or throwing the book against the wall.

Totally makes sense- I've heard horror stories about the geography in Home Alone 2, lol!

I feel like books set in NYC almost immediately get an additional half or full star :) But, I've never even been.

@Joi - I have heard the same arguments about Home Alone 2. It's also mentioned in Lilly & Dash which is a super adorable YA romance series on Netflix.