i am… hooked. this is the second book by this author that i’ve read and it officially marks an auto-buy author. the way emill writes characters that feel so real needs to be studied because everything the characters did, said, and thought felt like it was happening. i think the reason i liked this book so much is that it celebrates black men who don’t fit the stereotypes often portrayed by the media. the main characters, Amir and Marcel, are unlike any character i’ve read before and i really liked their development as brothers and as men through the book. 
** there are potentially triggering messages located in this book around the time they begin talking about “The Game.” these messages are graphic, racist, and include the use of slurs. be careful, take care of yourself, be kind to yourself**

WANDER IN THE DARK is a chilling, young adult mystery centered around themes of privilege and entitlement, blended families, family drama, social and racial injustice and minority stereotyping. Author Jumata Emill does an outstanding job of interlacing these themes into the plot line of an agonizing murder mystery rendered through the points of view of a Black boy, Amir, who stands accused of the brutal murder of a white girl from a wealthy family and his estranged half-brother, Marcel. From the time the hand cuffs are snapped on him, Amir knows he hasn't a prayer of proving his innocence and is going down for something he didn't do. No one believes him except Marcel who refuses to abandon him to a certain death sentence without a fight as he dives into his own investigation. What Marcel uncovers puts everything he knows and believes in question - and his life in jeopardy. Can he unmask a murderer in time to save his brother?

Set during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, WANDER IN THE DARK is a highly atmospheric, raw murder mystery with all the right ingredients to keep readers enthralled from beginning to end. Two estranged half-brothers carry the heavy load of this family drama when one steps up to fight for the other's life despite years of hurt and resentment festering between them. The revelations that surface as the story progresses are deeply disturbing on every level as the blinders come off, and Marcel’s forced to face hard truths that change his life forever. While both boys are the sons of a famous chef, it's Marcel who’s blessed with the benefits of having been raised as a privileged minority and accepted as a member of the in-crowd by white friends . . . or has he? As the son left behind with a poor, single mother, Amir is bitter, resentful and filled with anger over having been deserted by his father who moved on and up without him. At least Amir's eyes are wide open, and he's accepted the hard truths he's forced to live with . . . or has he? Things come crashing down one dark night when Amir’s arrested for the murder of a white girl from the other side of the tracks. Unfortunately, he has no memory of what went down that night and is unable to defend himself against the accusations. As an underprivileged Black teenager, he's the perfect scrape goat for New Orleans's elite who'll do anything to keep their dirty little secrets buried.

WANDER IN THE DARK is an intense, highly atmospheric, heart-breaking murder mystery that highlights the ugly results of the profiling of minorities when the innocent is NOT presumed innocent until proven guilty. The author does a brilliant job of weaving family drama and racial inequalities into a mesmerizing tale of horror where anything can be bought for a price, even lives. New Orleans during the Mardi Gras where you can never be certain what's real and what's an illusion is the perfect backdrop for this story as it unfolds. The increasing intensity of Amir's situation as the danger escalates drives a torrid pace toward an explosive climax. Readers may need a chapter or two to settle in with the social and young adult slang utilized by the author to deliver an authentic story, but I found it highly effective in raising the bar of believability of both characters and plot line. It's a bit of a stretch of the imagination that teenagers can solve a murder mystery that leaves authorities baffled; however, I contribute it to the fact that in the eyes of the adults, this is an open and shut case from day one. WANDER IN THE DARK is a totally consuming, eye opening, young adult mystery that I highly recommend to fans of mysteries, suspense and family dramas.

When I saw this was available on the app, I immediately put everything else aside and started it. After reading Black Queen last year, I knew this would also be good. And actually it was even better. It went places I wasn’t expecting and I was not ready for it lol So basically, go read this!

Ok so boom, this book was so good. I couldn’t stop listening. I think I listened to the first chapter the night before and then the next day I binged the entire thing while I was working. I usually get nervous when there’s more than one POV because there’s usually something that doesn’t gel, whether its one POV isn’t fully fleshed out or the POVs are too similar or whatever. But this one didn’t have that problem. Both the characters had me fully enthralled and I just had to figure out what was going on. The best thing about this being dual POV tho is seeing the two of them solving this in their own way. Because they are very different. And the way Emill did the character arc between the two of them? It just felt authentic and I loved that.

The mystery part of this was crazy af tho. I was not expecting this book to take the turn it did. That game was absolutely disgusting. I was hooked. I wanted to see them burn it down to the ground. I did think that the way this went was so much better than the Emill’s last. I hate when the teens can get clues or info too easily. And that was one of the things I complained about last time. This time there were no easily obtained clues. They just basically used logic and all the things they were given.

The writing style was ok again. I can’t lie, I got a bit worried about having another yte girl in the book. But this time it’s not even close to what happened in his last book. I was I know there was a bit of controversy about it when it was released last time. But this one is completely different. Don’t let it put you off when you first start reading it in the beginning. Trust me, it has a twist.

I hate writing reviews for thrillers because I don’t want to say too much due to spoilers. But if you want to know about specifics or want to know more about it later, drop a comment and let me know. I can tell you a more in-depth explanation of what happened. What I can say for now tho? It’s very good!

When I saw a post from Jumata Emil on Instagram about Wander in the Dark, I knew quickly that it was a story I wanted to read. While the book is a work of fiction, I felt that it would be a very true telling of navigating the world as a young black man. From the synopsis, we know that one of the main characters is a prime suspect in the murder of a Chloe Danvers, a young white woman. It’s quick and easy for the community to assume this is “case closed” without concrete evidence. Amir knows he’s innocent, but he also knows that it ultimately doesn’t matter if it can’t be proven. His half-brother Marcel refuses to give up until he finds the real killer.

I wasn’t prepared for a few things: the impact that a murder investigation would privately have on his family, the reveal of the true villain, and just how terrible young secrets could be.

Marcel and Amir grew up in vastly different circumstances. Amir is the older brother that was figuratively left behind when his dad remarried his mistress. Marcel is the baby brother who grew up a little spoiled and guilty of being the “new son” of their father. Marcel does eventually try desperately to connect with Amir; however, it’s unfortunately the pending murder charges that draw them together.

Chloe was murdered for knowing a dangerous secret.

For most of the story, Amir is reluctant to rely on Marcel for help. Even so, Marcel proves through actions that he’s going to continue to have his brother’s back. He doesn’t let his white peers at their prestigious private school intimidate him from finding the truth. The more Marcel digs into their preppy social circle, the closer he gets to uncovering what it was that Chloe Danvers. Suddenly, Marcel and Amir become targets.

Wander in the Dark was a smart thriller that kept me turning the pages through the night. I admit that a woman pushing 40 might not be the target audience here, but I still found it to be an insightful read. I appreciated the diversity of characters, and the light this story shines on how money isn’t a unifier of people. Coming into money can elevate your economic status, but it doesn’t eliminate existing prejudice.

I think that among many things, Wander in the Dark drives home that family is everything, and true friendships aren’t made by your social class. Friends are made with shared experiences, understanding, and respect. I recommend this book for anyone who’d like to see into the troubles of teenagers and how twisted people of all ages and color can be when it comes to greed.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital arc of this novel! This is a solid YA thriller that deals with themes of race, privilege, class and power. Filled with red herrings and plot twists, this book kept me engaged throughout its entirety. I found myself rolling my eyes and suspending belief a few times over some unrealistic plot points, character interactions and the whole teen detective trope.... but since I'm not the target audience I'll let it slide! I would recommend this book for teens 16+.

As I am a middle school librarian, this is unfortunately a title I won't be able to purchase. With that said, if I could, I absolutely would. This is exactly what my students ask for! And Jumata Emill delivers, which is no surprise. The pacing and plot don't feel like you're reading a 400 page novel, even after finishing it.

I continue to be amazed at Emil's way of weaving the most plot twists into a story that, at it's heart, is a story about family. Like Black Queen, I had no idea who our murderer was, and even at the end, when I realized Marcel knew, I still wasn't entirely sure myself.

My only criticism is how implausible the handling of the whole situation is--I mean, leave it to the adults, guys! Marcel and Amir's hesitance to involve police is wholly understandable given the current state of the U.S., but at the very least, involve your parents and the lawyer.

Thank you to netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this book. I wanted to give Emill a second chance after reading the first book and once again I was a bit disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I loved The Black Queen, so I had high hopes for this book. I don’t think it is quite as well-executed as The Black Queen, but overall I still enjoyed it. I loved Marcel and Amir and the relationship they developed. I thought some of the mystery was pretty obvious and the social justice commentary was a tad clunky throughout. I will still gladly check out anything Emill writes in the future.

Very intriguing story. Kept me at the edge of my seat. It has complicated family dynamics and exploration of race. Would recommend to people who like thrillers.

3.5 rounded up!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked Marcel and Amir - both as characters and with their dynamic with each other. Marcel sometimes frustrated me with how he’d do things quickly and without any real backup, but I appreciated his intentions and I loved how earnest and real the bond between him and Amir was and grew.

I do think the killer was pretty obvious from the start and I don’t loveeeee how one of the big twists in the book feels almost like a red herring for the obvious killer? The dialogue sometimes felt a bit clunky and there were moments that felt like I was reading a PSA - there were great messages in the book but I think they could have been delivered in a smoother and more natural way. This book had a lot of heart though, and ultimately I did enjoy reading our characters.

Amir only goes to his estranged half-brother’s birthday party because a certain girl, Chloe, will be there. But by the next morning the party is over and Amir is waking up on Chloe’s couch only to find Chloe stabbed to death and him the prime suspect, the only one that believes he is innocent from the start is his half brother Marcel. In New Orleans money is king but can someone dethrone the king.
This is a good book about families, and how on the edge they can always be. It is about how can money truly run things and how secrets always want to be told by someone. This book has lots of action but the suspense is off the charts. The book will grab you and not let go until it is ready.

I think this was an improvement from his first book. The author is a crime journalist, and that experience shines through in this story. I think that at some places it became a little predictable, but he did well including a good amount of misdirects and twists. The duo dynamic plays well with a good supporting cast.

I enjoyed the journey I was on with Amir and Marcel specifically, and while I had a clue who the real perpetrator was early on, I was enthralled with the twists and turns to get to the conclusion. This was my first book by Jumala Emill, and I hope to read more from him in the future.

What do you do when the first time you hang out with a girl you wake up to a murder scene?

Amir? He runs. He knows he didn't murder Chloe, but he also knows that as a young black male with a record, his chances of getting blamed if he sticks around are high. What he doesn't anticipate is the doorbell camera across the street catching him running away and sealing his arrest warrant anyway.

Wander in the Dark follows fictional teen brothers, Amir and Marcel, as they fight to prove Amir's innocence and find justice for Chloe. What they uncover along the way is worse than they could have ever expected.

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I did love this novel. It kept me interested and on my toes, and though I predicted who the real perpetrator was, I did not know quite how many twists there would be. The characters are likable and leave a lasting impact on readers. I definitely recommend it!


Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for gifting me and advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Amir and Marcel are not close. So, Amir going to Marcel’s party is surprising. Even more so is when Amir leaves with Marcel’s best friend Chole. In the morning when Amir wakes up in the house with Chole stabbed to death Marcel knows his brother is not to blame. Can the brothers set aside past hurts to find out why Chole was wanted dead in time before Amir is put away for life?
I enjoyed this book. I am extremely saddened by the secret Chole was keeping. I am so glad that she was willing to stand up and help try to make it come to light. That something like this still exists today just makes my soul sad. Yet I am sure this is something that teens of color might face within their schools. I think this book is raw. Raw in its truths and raw in its vulnerability of lived experiences. I am glad that this book was written, and I hope that teens learn from what they see within this story.
Thank you so much to Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I really wanted to give this book a chance after hearing mixed reviews bout The Black Queen, but it just didn't hit me for me like I thought it would have. Maybe I'm just over the black man defending his name trope.

When Amir shows up to his half-brother Marcel's birthday party, it's not for Marcel - it's to meet a rich, pretty girl from their fancy New Orleans private school who has unexpectedly hit him up. Even more unexpected, she asks him to drive her home after a run-in with her ex-boyfriend, and asks him to stay with her because her parents are away. So it looks really bad when he wakes up the next morning to find her dead.

A nicely done thriller that deals with race, class, family dynamics, along with the central murder mystery. There were definitely parts where as an adult I was thinking "why are the children dealing with this! Tell a grownup!" and people do seem to move on fairly quickly on an emotional level from the really big secrets that get discovered. But the multiple viewpoints are done well - all of the family members feel like distinct characters, and even their frustrating "delay the plot" antics seem organic.

A YA mystery set in New Orleans. Who murdered Chloe?
We see the world through the eyes of the teens as the story unfolds.
Entertaining.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Wander in the Dark. Amir and Marcel's story was so much more than the murder mystery I thought it was going to be. This look into the way social media and our society treat people accused of crimes, as well as the way race plays into every aspect of life, is deftly handled alongside the twisty-turny mystery that brought me to the story in the first place.

My students will devour this one and be surprised, I think.

I loved this novel! The characters felt realistic and I thought the pacing was amazing. This was an easy five-star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte press for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!