Gone Girl meets P-Valley in this debut adult thriller from NYT bestseller Nic Stone. (Her description of the book, but it’s apt)
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Lucky and Lyriq were the dream team at Boom Town, an infamous Black strip club in Atlanta. But one day Lyriq pulls away from their partnership, both on and off the pole, and then Lucky disappears. Months later a new girl comes to audition for Lyriq, the new hiring manager of the club, and she reminds her so much for Lucky, she’s hired immediately…only to go missing a few weeks later, eerily similar to Lucky. Lyriq can’t let it go this time and goes on a mission to find out what happened to the two women and if local regular, Thomas McIntyre, had anything to do with it.
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I can’t rave about this book enough! This is a departure from Stone’s MG & YA masterpieces, but I think we have a new thriller author superstar with Boom Town. I read it in one sitting—I was captivated. So many issues were highlighted in this story that will generate lots of discussions such as social commentary of racial and sexual power dynamics, the invisibility of Black women, and the societal judgments placed on professions deemed “unsavory”. I would LOVE if this gets turned into a movie! If you have an adult book club consider this pick when it releases October 14!

CW: human trafficking, violence, r*pe, s*xual assault, blood, emesis, pregnancy, s*x work, racial slurs, racism, alcohol, cancer, medical trauma, physical assault, adoption, death, car accident, adult/minor relationship, abortion, adultery

This was my first Nic Stone book, but it definitely won't be my last! I'm a fan of adult thrillers now especially those with a Black Twist.

This story was Criminal Minds, Law and Order: SVU, and P-Valley. I was completely hooked from the very beginning! The twists and turns in the plot were mind-boggling, but I couldnt put it down. I was so invested because I had always thought I knew everything about solving mysteries due to my extensive knowledge of Law and Order and other crime shows, but I was so wrong about almost all of my conspiracies. However, I was spot on about a major plot twist. I absolutely loved every second of this ride.

Boom Town was also very poignant because it brought light to some important issues that are happening in the world today, like the trafficking of women and children.

I want to thank NetGalley for sending over this ARC. I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy in October.