In the story of Texas Ranger Darren Mathews, Attica Locke strips back the story to reveal something stronger and very accessible, that also echoes the hard boiled noir of the 1930's. Highly recommend! Great for mystery buffs, those who like to explore faraway places through their reading (East Texas), people interested in race relations or small towns. Bluebird Bluebird is a mystery/thriller set in Texas that works on many levels, and it has both heart and dry humour.

There are times when you read a novel and know it will stay with you for a long time; such was the case for me with Bluebird, Bluebird. Far more than a crime novel, this well-written, immersive book shines a spotlight upon racial tensions in East Texas.

Through Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger whose family hail from the state, we are given a glimpse into a world where a white woman’s death is investigated, but the suspicious death of a black man is left unexplored. Darren gives us an insight into the life of a black law enforcer in an area where such a man is a rarity, an area which houses the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Through his investigations, we are drawn into the racial politics and educated on what life is like (badge or no) when you are unwelcome in your own homeland.

I was thoroughly absorbed by this story. Having never read any of Locke’s work before, I was extremely taken with her storytelling and prose. The mystery aspect of the story is fascinating, however, it’s the look through the microscope at small-town East Texas life and the dynamics surrounding it that I found really made this novel. It’s a thought-provoking book and Locke raises many very pertinent issues. At times I was incredulous (and perhaps very naive) to find that this type of racism still occurs so freely in the world. It’s a very timely novel that will no doubt impact the reader and leave a lasting impression.

I may have accidentally stumbled upon Bluebird, Bluebird when some blog tour spots suddenly became available but I am so pleased that I did, otherwise I might have missed this astonishing book. Of course, the spots were snapped up quicker than I could respond, but fortunately I was invited to close the tour.

The prologue states 'Texas, 2016' and after that, due to the words and actions of the characters, I felt as if the book went back in time to around the 1950's but I couldn't have been more wrong. I was actually gobsmacked when one of the characters mentioned the TV shows Scandal and Real Housewives. I wish I could believe it was all fiction, but the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, just like the Ku Klux Klan, is very real indeed.

Skin colour plays a big part in this story when two bodies are found in the bayou: the first body is that of a black lawyer from Chicago, Michael Wright, which causes barely a flicker among the residents of Lark, Texas. The second body is Missy Dale, a local white woman, which sees law enforcement officers from across the state descend on Lark. The police don't think there is any link between the deaths because nobody cares about stranger Michael Wright, however, Texas Ranger Darren Matthews doesn't believe in coincidence.

As the story unfolds, the secrets of all the residents of Lark come to the fore. Some of them have more to hide than others and one of them has a lot to lose when Darren uncovers a link to the murder of Joe Sweet, husband of local cafe owner, Geneva. Fingers start pointing at likely suspects and the police don't know whether they are looking for one killer or two.

I felt absolutely wrung out after reading Bluebird, Bluebird. I don't know whether I was exhausted with the dry, dusty Texas heat or cotton-mouthed from being unable to put the book down for refreshments. It's alarming to think that skin colour still has an effect on how people are treated these days, and full marks to Attica Locke for raising the issue. I often google things after reading, and I had assumed that the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) was created for the purposes of this book. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I saw that the ABT, and many gangs like them, are real.

I can see Bluebird, Bluebird becoming a firm favourite for book groups as there are so many excellent discussion points in it. The story is vivid, shocking and thought-provoking and this may be the first time that I have heard of Attica Locke, but I know it won't be the last.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I have to admit shamefully that this is the first book I have read by Attica Locke, but I can guarantee it wont be the last.
When a local white girl is murdered in a small Texas town, the police form an investigation. Three days prior to the girls discovery, a black lawyer from Chicago was found murdered, but this seems to have been swept under the carpet.  Ranger Darren Mathews, currently suspended finds himself in the little town of Lark investigating the murders and not all is as it seems.
As soon as Darren drove in to Lark, a rural East Texas town on Highway 59 I could feel the tension, this whole book is filled with tension and with each page you turn you can feel it building and building.
Darren having been on suspension knows there is more to the two murders than meets the eye and he’s a determined character, likeable but he’s a troubled soul. The local police force aren’t willing to completely co-operate with Darren being an out of Towner so it’s up to Darren to try to investigate and gain as much knowledge from the locals as possible. Having personal problems back home gives Darren a vulnerable side and it was easy to feel the battles he was dealing with in his head come alive on the page.
Bluebird, Bluebird is a wonderfully written novel that completely drew me in, it wasn’t easy-going at times, it’s quite disturbing but totally gripping. Filled with some wonderful characters it was easy to slip into this book and lose track of time, finding out the secrets and lies surrounding these characters was quite breath-taking and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
I wouldn’t say this was a particularly fast paced thriller but it’s a story that has you guessing the whole way through, it’s full of surprises and like I said previously the tension builds on each page making you feel part of the story. It gave me the chills at times and the descriptions of characters and scenery made it so easy to visual as I was reading. With a satisfactory ending that also leaves you wondering, I would definitely recommend Bluebird, Bluebird and I’m really looking forward to reading more from Attica Locke.

This novel just oozes Texas - so much so that you read the prose with the syrupy drawl in your mind. It tells the story of Darren, a Texas Ranger who travels to Lark having been told about 2 deaths - a black man and a white woman. What I found so interesting here was the matter of fact way in which the author discussed racism towards the black community. Justice only works in one way in this town and that is always to benefit the white community. As a black man, Darren has learned how to operate in this environment but we are led to wonder how much his experiences influence his judgement. Similarly, the plot leads us to some fascinating and mostly unexpected conclusions that speak to the reality of small town Texas in 'post racial' America. There are a lot of talking points here, but Locke never forgets that this is a mystery novel and ultimately, the plot doesn't waiver from the investigation into the deaths. Locke successfully interweaves the social commentary into the narrative and we never feel like it overshadows the characters or the story. All in all, this is a very timely and well constructed mystery and I look forward to reading more stories set along Highway 59.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Attica Locke returns to familiar territory with a story of racial tension, inequality and separation in modern day America. However, there’s nothing tired about her exploration of these issues. In fact, they have fresh resonance against the background of the #TakeAKnee and #BlackLivesMatters campaigns.

I have to say the idea that, in this day and age, people should still be discriminated against openly because of the colour of their skin or that their deaths should matter less than those of people with a different colour skin is anathema to me. So I found the descriptions of racist language and attitudes in the book deeply unsettling. However, nothing shocked me as much as finding out that the white supremacist gang that features in the book – The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas – actually exists and is not a product of the author’s imagination.

The background of discrimination creates the tension at the heart of the book and its pervasive nature means it will need a strong character to stand up to the vested interests unmoved by the ingrained racism and economic inequality. Darren Mathews’ commitment to his role as a Texas Ranger has created tension in his marriage and threatens his sobriety. He’s proud of the place he grew up and what his family have made of themselves. Well, not all of his family, because his birth mother, Bell, is a downbeat, manipulative drunk. Propelled by a strong sense of justice, Darren refuses to be sidelined or thwarted in his search for the truth about the murders of a black lawyer and a white woman whose deaths may be linked. His willingness to go out on a limb will bring him dangerous enemies – ‘Without the badge, he was just a black man travelling the highway alone’ - and result in long-buried secrets being uncovered.

The author has a natural way with dialogue that makes you forget you’re reading a book and imagine the action is playing out in front of you. Not surprising perhaps given that Attica Locke is an award-winning screenwriter. She also has the ability to create characters that seem real. They may be flawed and not always likeable but they seem to speak truthfully about the way some people live.

‘She was sitting on the concrete steps in front of the mobile homes, smoking a Newport and picking nail polish off her big toe. She had a beer at her feet, but Darren knew better. The real shit was in the house....Bell lifted a little bullet-shaped bottle of Cutty Sark and sucked on it like a nipple. They sold the little airplane-size bottles for fifty cents at the bait-and-tackle-shop, and Bell had them lined up on the window ledge like a loaded clip of rifle shells.’

The author also creates a wonderful sense of place. Again, what she describes may not be the most attractive places you’ve ever been to but they come alive on the page – the sights, sounds and smells.

‘Behind the rear wall was the kitchen, where Dennis was working on a pot of oxtails. Geneva could smell bay leaves soaking in beef fat and garlic, onion and liquid smoke. Beyond the kitchen’s screen door lay a wide plot of land, red dirt dotted with buttercup weeds and crabgrass, rolling a hundred yards or so to the banks of a rust-coloured bayou that was Shelby County’s western border.’

Finally, Locke is brilliant at plot. I’ll be honest, I did not see the development in the last few paragraphs coming and it put a whole different perspective on one of the key relationships in the book.

I devoured Bluebird, Bluebird in just a couple of sittings and it left me entertained as a murder mystery story but with a profound sense of discomfort about some of the things I’d read. I guess that’s what the best contemporary fiction should do. The excellent news for fans (like me) of Attica Locke’s books is that Bluebird, Bluebird is the first in a planned series - Highway 59. I can’t wait for the next one.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers, Serpent’s Tail, in return for an honest review.

Link to blog review and Q&A here: https://annebonnybookreviews.com/2017/09/28/bookreview-qa-bluebirdbluebird-by-atticalocke-serpentstail-5/
My review:
I picked this novel via netgalley, as I am a huge fan of novels with a diverse theme. I then saw a blurb from one of my favourite authors, Joe Ide giving praise for the novel and knew it must very special indeed. I knew the novel dealt with strong themes of racial inequality and the unbalanced justice system of the USA. However, at this point my knowledge of this, was limited to the infrequent news reports here in the UK and fiction/non-fiction reading. I have never visited the USA so have never witnessed the complexity of the issue, well that was all about to change!
I picked up Bluebird Bluebird and only a few days later the Charlottesvile neo-Nazi’s formed their march, that left one woman dead and many injured.
Suddenly this novel felt very poignant!
“For black folks, injustice came from both sides of the law, a double-edged sword of heartache and pain”
The novel surrounds the case of two dead bodies found in the bayou. One a black lawyer from Chicago and the other a local white woman. The racial tension of the setting of Larks, is evident on every page. This is a place that is divided by race and refuses to change. The novel details the crooked unbalance in the American justice system, one that will continue to define generation after generation. Black history meets white privilege head on, in this rollercoaster of a read. The novel is incredibly thought provoking, especially against a backdrop of current politics. I found myself questioning why the president of the USA, is so keen to condemn and discredit, the black lives matter movement. Whilst allowing white supremacist movements like the Aryan brotherhood to thrive!
The novel opens in 2016 Texas, USA. We are initially met with Geneva, a local café owner, the difference between justice for a black/white victim is explored. As the body of the black lawyer, has barely been investigated by the local police. But for the white local victim they are pulling out all the stops! In my eyes, a victim is a victim, end of!
But in rural America, it is not that way at all.
We meet protagonist and Texas ranger Darren Matthews, he has recently been suspended from work, his wife’s kicked him out and he is lonely and a little bit broken. He is called as a witness at an indictment case in San Jacinto county. The case involves Darren’s close friend Rutherford ‘Mack’ McMillan, who Darren has known for 20yrs. Mack is possibly being indicted for the crime of murder! The police believe he has shot and left for dead Ronnie ‘red rum’ Malvo. The case is one of extreme complexity, with Malvo being a member of the Aryan brotherhood Texas (ABT). Two days prior to the discovery of Malvo’s body, Darren was summoned to Mack’s property. Malvo was trespassing and harassing Mack’s granddaughter Breanna. When Darren arrives on the scene, Mack has his gun aimed at Malvo. Darren diffuses the situation and Malvo leaves.
Two days later Malvo is found dead in a ditch. A circumstantial case is built that Mack, holding vengeance for the incident, he tracked down and killed Malvo. Mack is facing death row! Prior to his suspension, Darren was working on a multi-agency task force. Their sole reason for assembly, is to dismantle the ABT and jail them for their various drug/gun operations they run. Darren knows that Malvo had turned snitch and any member of the ABT could have had him taken out. But he can’t declare this in court due to the level of secrecy on the task force. The reader is led to believe Mack will just become another statistic, another black man wrongly convicted!
“how easily a coloured man’s general comportment could turn into a matter of life and death”
Darren leaves court frustrated with the system and angry that he can’t speak out! He meets up with agent Greg Heglund from the criminal investigation division (FBI). They discuss the task force and its intentions. We learn the task force only truly cares about taking down criminal activity of the ABT. They have no intention of dealing with the racial hatred. It’s at this moment we learn Darren has been greenlit and the ABT have targeted his property with faeces. Greg urges Darren to discreetly look into another case for him, whilst he is on suspension. A case in Lark, Shelby county.
Lark a small town with a population of just 178. Is no stranger to racial murders. But with the last case having been in 1998, what has driven somebody to murder in 2016. The 1998 case was when James ‘Jasper’ Byrd Jnr was dragged through the town, until his head came off. The murder was savage, but what has made this racist savagery return!
“He felt ashamed of his country and ashamed of his home state”
We get some more background on Darren and we learn of his desire to enter law school and of his own parentage. His father having died in Vietnam at just 19yrs old. His 16yr old mother couldn’t cope and he was raised by his uncles. His mother is now a crafty alcoholic, surviving on her wits. After visiting with his mother and pondering his own roots. He decides to take the case.
As he drives the US highway 59, the meaning of this is explained to the reader. With its links to the northern border and slavery. We also hear Darrens internal thoughts on the ABT. The ABT being born in a Texas prison, half their members incarcerated at any one time. The initiation process requiring a dead black body, removed of its skin. The Lark case involves victim one, Michael Wright, a Texas native now living in Chicago. He is a lawyer by profession and has a similar background to Darren. He is married but separated and no-one appears to know what he was even doing in Lark. Victim two is Missy Dale, a local waitress, enrolled in beauty school. She is married to Keith Avery Dale, who is fresh out of jail. Is he ABT?
Darren arrives in town and is quickly acquainted with local café owner Geneva, Michael’s wife Randie and sheriff Parker Van Horn. The Sheriff is quick to label Michaels murder as a drunken accident, despite the evidence to the contrary. It isn’t long until Darren is faced with local members of the ABT and the tension starts to build.
The case and the plot are extremely cleverly written. They keep you guessing until the very last page. The characterisation is insightful and intense. Why does the world look out for the likes of Missy Dale, whilst ignoring the victims like Michael Wright and Mack? Having been made aware so clearly of the unbalanced and unfair justice system. Why do the ABT feel they are the victims? Why are they so obsessed with hating on black citizens who have done them, no harm? And as stated above, why does the US president defend them? Although this is a work of fiction, the roots of its inspiration are clear. White supremacy is a poison and it is killing America. 5*
“Criminality, once it touched black life, was a stain hard to remove”

This is the first of Attica Locke's books I have read, but I will definitely be reading more now.

The story highlights the race issues faced every day by poc, and is timely given the currently news events in the US. The openness of the racism is horrifying, especially the idea people have to deal with it in real life.

The story itself is wonderfully written, with fascinating characters and plenty of mystery and thrill to keep you wanting more.

Utterly brilliant! Bluebird, Bluebird instilled the same feelings as reading To Kill a Mockingbird and A Time to Kill. A very atmospheric and racially driven book that tells the uncomfortable truth of race relations in some parts of the U.S.

In small town Texas a murdered white girl calls for a police investigation while the murder of a black man, which happened first, does not. That is clearly wrong but there is much more than meets the eye as, Darren Mathews, a Texas Ranger, sees the injustice of the situation and takes it upon himself to look into the facts. I am full of respect for Darren, our slightly flawed hero. He is a real rock star and I hope this is the first of many books featuring him and his rather unorthodox ideas of justice.

Atmosphere and character development are the strongest elements of this book. I felt sweaty, hungry, anxious and tense as events unfolded in Bluebird, Bluebird. I wanted a shower and a hot meal at Geneva's and to be told all would be ok. This book sucks the reader in and won't let go 'til the story is told properly. The 'simple' premise is deceptive as there is so much more here than one might expect. The story is wider than two deaths and tells of the imbalance of the justice system when race is taken into account. The characters really stand out. Darren, Randie and Geneva bear the scars of a life that didn't turn out as hoped and struggle on in the face of reality. It may not be pretty but by the end you come to feel for these characters as if they are family. That is a real treat to behold.

A Texas Ranger investigates a murder whilst under suspension with the target of getting some evidence against the local white supremacist group. As he digs into the recent events others start to emerge and he is confronted with complex family structures which are a product of the South and it's slavery / racist history. It is a good storyline however I find the atmosphere created by the language of the South irritating, and subconsciously keep linking it with the Dukes of Hazard TV programme, diminishing the impact of this serious subject. If even half of the events accurately represent reality, then it is very easy to see why there is so much resentment in "black" culture. We appear as a society unable to let go of the past and must punish today's people for the crimes of their ancestors.

This book is a triumph. Attica Locke deals with important racial issues that are so prevalent in today's society. She paints a complex picture of a small backwater in Texas. Every single one of her characters is complete in themselves. and Ranger Darren Mathews symbolically embodies an ideal of justice and equality. It's a thriller, but more than that it's also a social commentary.

Where do you start with this book, I have to say I didn't find it an easy read, and the reason I didn't find it easy or comfortable to read is because it was very well written and for me perfectly captured the atmosphere that I imagine would be prevalent in a small town with not just hidden tones of racism but overt racism.as an outsider who has never visited the USA I can only sit back and watch the present presidential situation and wonder at the people who voted him into office, reading this book, I have a much better idea.I honestly think as horrendous as it is this must reflect the way it is in some of these small towns.I am not saying its perfect here in the UK it is not but this is truly chilling.Put into this mix a black law officer, and some of the characters both black and white that you would expect to find in a small town, and it is very small and throw in some murders and you have a melting pot.Not giving the story away but this is a fine book and is well worthy of a read.Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Attica Locke has written a superb novel that is bleak, compelling, atmospheric, with a strong sense of location of small town East Texas, that depressingly mirrors many parts of the USA today. It gives us the disturbingly unsettling everyday experiences of Darren Mathews that suggest nothing has changed since the days of an openly active KKK running rife, where lynchings were common, and where black communities lived in fear of their lives on a daily basis. Darren is a black Texan Ranger, suspended for going to the aid of Mack, whose granddaughter, Breana, is harassed by Ronnie Malvo, a diehard ABT racist. A few days later, Malvo is found shot dead, and Mack is seen as the main suspect. Darren tries to do his best for Mack to ensure he does not stand trial for murder, and this outcome hangs over Darren throughout the story. The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) is a strong and active presence in East Texas, additionally involved in meths production and the illegal sale of guns. Darren is a troubled man, his marriage to Lisa is threatening to splinter because of the dangers of him being a Ranger, his drinking, and the time he spends away from home.

Darren hears of two bodies recovered from a bayou in Lark, in Shelby County. One is a black lawyer, Michael Wright, from Chicago but with local roots and the other is local white girl, Missy, discovered two days later. Despite his suspension, he goes to Lark to investigate. He is in redneck country and discovers that it is impossible to understand the black grandmother Geneva, and her black community cafe without Wally's icehouse, a local ABT bar run by the repulsive Brady. Geneva lost her beloved husband, Joe Sweet shot in 2010, and her son was shot by his wife, Mary, in 2013. Wally is wealthy, although it is not clear where the money comes from, and he has plenty of clout with the local sheriff. Lark is not welcoming of Darren, he finds a dead fox left in his truck, and his life in deadly danger. However, he identifies with the dead Michael and feels for the widow, Randie, as he searches for the truth against all the odds. Neither the Texas Rangers nor local law enforcement will consider or allow for race as a motive for the murders due to political implications. As Darren trawls through the murky waters of local intertwined history, he finds that family, love, hate and jealousy have lead to murders in the past and present.

The title Bluebird, Bluebird is a reference to the highly symbolic John Lee Hooker's song, Bluebird, Bluebird, take this letter down South for me. I loved Locke's novel Black Water Rising, but this is superlative, it has her trademark beautiful prose. It is a compelling story with its insightful and pertinent social and political commentary on the incendiary issues of race and justice that continue to divide and threaten the US today. It chillingly explains just how strong the bedrock of support for Donald Trump is and why worryingly it remains undiminished. It is a complex tale with a central character, Darren, caught up in a fraught situation with personal reverberations that have him questioning his identity and if he should continue to serve as a Texas Ranger. This is the first of the Highway 59 series by Locke and I cannot wait to read the next. A phenomenal read that I highly recommend. Many thanks to Serpent's Tail for an ARC.

My first Attica Locke and what appears to be the start of a series, this is a blistering look at contemporary race politics in small town Texas - and could hardly be more timely in the wake of white supremacy and anti-fascist clashes across the country.

As a Londoner, I found this book profoundly shocking in its depiction of 'everyday racism': that a black man *today* should have to think carefully about how (or whether?) he speaks to a white woman in case he's accused of sexual harrassment (or worse); that a self-imposed apartheid might exist where the black characters eat in one place, the white in another; that descendants of the KKK can openly exist with the sickening initiation ritual of killing and skinning a black man; that, in effect, the old 'Jim Crow' south still exists in pockets - and one of the unspoken spin-offs is that Locke made me understand how a Trump could be voted in.

The vehicle for this incisive race commentary is the deaths of an out of state black lawyer and a local white woman - and Darren, a black Texas Ranger who grew up locally, comes to investigate. He's an attractive character, lightly troubled, and complicating the race schematics through his background and authoritative status.

The untangling of what really led to the deaths is somewhat unsatisfactory as it depends on dead characters who we never meet having a central role to play, and some of the characterisation feels flimsy at best. Nevertheless, Locke's exposure of the inner workings of this small-town (population: 170) southern town is compulsive and terrifying in equal measure. A writer I would certainly read again.

Trust Attica Locke to write something timely, urgent and true about troubled race relations in present-day America. Yet this is more of a personal tragedy and community drama compared to her previous political thriller offerings. The storyline is less convoluted and complex, but there are some memorable characters here.

Locke off her game is better than a lot of people on, but I couldn't help feeling that this wasn't on the same level as Black Water Rising or The Cutting Season (I haven't read Pleasantville). The central crimes are interesting enough, but there's a lack of coherence to the protagonist Darren's character arc, and what feels like authorial uncertainty about whether we're meant to find him sympathetic or not. The ending, which apparently punishes Darren, seems to be Locke coming down hard on one side, but because it happens so very late in the book (literally last page), it jolts the reader rather than feeling like a natural progression of events. Solid crime procedural, but the stuff that's really made Locke's name - her commitment to complex characterisation and interweaving of social factors - is missing or confused.

Bluebird Bluebird is one of those unique novels that slides inside your head, worming its way around your thoughts and changing the way you see things.

Although I saw the twist coming, my knowing didn't stop my heart from racing, my head from throbbing, when the ending was revealed. And Bluebird Bluebird doesn't rely on jumping out on you to make an impact. It delves into the racial tension that runs deep throughout America, and in places like Texas in particular. It dives into how racism impacts black people, but also how its history influences the white people in the town. You almost feel sorry for some of them, that they can't - either because of the people around them, or their standing in the community - look past the colour of one's skin.

A deeply affecting novel, Bluebird Bluebird is like the To Kill A Mockingbird or A Time To Kill of our time. With a deep, fascinating protagonist, and a host of colourful, fully-fleshed-out characters, Bluebird Bluebird is a novel of a generation.

Superb , timely contemporary thriller that keeps you reading.
Highly recommend & cannot wait for the follow up

I’d really felt moved and immersed in every single one of Attica Locke’s novels.This is a world I’ve never known and although she pens fictional stories they are not too far from the truth and reveal the segregation and the racial tensions which stain American towns. I always feel as if I’m in one of the most fascinating history lessons where you soak up the emotions, tensions, characters and nuances of the time but never feel overcome or tired by the detail. The devil is in the detail to use a worn phrase and this devil is working his way into the hearts of everyone around him.

Attica is passionate about her writing and it shows. There is blood, sweat and tears on every page, characters are drawn with such style and the sprinkling of Texan lingo, the ways in which the black characters talk and interact is fascinating as each word reveals a world apart, a history, a heritage and a culture.

The story encompasses all of that and more and brings the themes out in a way I’ve not read before. This is a unique way of storytelling, and I spent a while afterwards looking up some of the laws and terms used to understand even more of the time and place

Exquisitely drawn and a force to be reckoned with