4.5 stars rounded up

I feel like this could turn into a YA mystery series! Set in Washington D.C., Up in Smoke follows a Black teen boy who has gotten in over his head when agreeing to help friends loot during a protest for money results in his friend Jason is arrested for murder. Cooper doesn't think Jason would have killed anyone, and Jason's sister (Coopers crush) agrees. Together they embark on a dangerous quest to clear Jason's name and uncover what really happened. But Cooper has secrets that could damage this burgeoning relationship...

The start of this is a bit heavy and feels realistic - it's tackling very real and complicated issues involving systemic injustice and how people respond to that. But it's also a great YA mystery with characters finding clues and uncovering the truth, even if they have to put themselves in danger to do it. (As a parent this sometimes stressed me out, but that's kind of the deal with this genre!) Nick Brooks is doing great work and I would love to see his mysteries take off. The audio narration for both character POV's is excellent. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Promise Boys! So, I was excited to see Nick Brooks had a new book coming out! I enjoyed this story, but I struggled to connect to the characters. The narration was great! I really thought the characters were really brought to life!

Monique was the most enjoyable character! I appreciated her dedication to doing what was right and furthering a cause she believed in. I didn’t believe that Cooper was the right person for her, but their budding romance added a bit of innocence to an otherwise heavy book.

If you are looking for a murder mystery that deals with the struggles that BIPOC face, then I recommend listening to this audiobook. I look forward to more from this author in the future.