Nelson George

George's (Lost Treasures of R & B; The Plot Against Hip Hop) fourth crime novel finds a grieving D Hunter traveling from New York to Los Angeles for his grandfather's funeral...

An emotional and exciting portrait of evolutionary creativity: the success of one is a success for us all.

Older readers recalling the golden years of Motown and Hitsville USA will nod in agreement when George (The Hippest Trip in America: Soul Train and the Evolution of Culture and Style) demonstrates his extensive knowledge and admiration of old-school music icons such as Marvin Gaye, Booker T and the MGs, Tammi Terrell, Sam and Dave, and Steve Cropper. Still, this is a fine mystery and D Hunter is as world weary, yet steadfast, as Philip Marlowe, Spenser, Dave Robicheaux, or Easy Rawlins. A definite yes to purchase for both mystery and African American collections.

The author of Hip Hop America certainly has the chops to write about hip-hop culture, and his street cred shines in his descriptions of Harlem and Brownsville's mean streets. Although this is more of a procedural crime novel, street lit fans will migrate to George's solid urban story.