An exciting mystery that both enthralls and challenges…
Gerts’ gritty sequel to Too Dark City is a taut, electrifying novel that masterfully blends a gripping murder mystery with the harsh realities of 1960s America. With age slowing him down and a family to care for, retired investigator Moses Webb reluctantly returns to the field, taking on a decades-old murder case at the request of his foster son, Marvin, now a civil rights lawyer. As Webb digs deeper, he confronts not only a corrupt legal system but also the Ku Klux Klan and the affluent white elites of Kalamazoo’s south side.
Webb’s struggle against the tide of prejudice and corruption is relentless, particularly in the courtroom scenes, where the weight of societal bias presses down on every verdict. These moments are unflinchingly raw, exposing the brutal consequences of an unequal system. Brian’s relationship with Michelle adds a deeply personal dimension, while family loyalty brings even more complexity, as characters wrestle with their own moral obligations, forced into impossible choices under crushing societal pressure. Set against a vividly portrayed 1960s Kalamazoo, the novel immerses readers in an era of upheaval, with racial tensions and cultural clashes rendered in stark, unsettling detail. Gerts’ precise depiction of these dynamics not only anchors the narrative but also draws clear parallels to contemporary struggles, from racial profiling and police brutality to the ongoing fight for equality. It’s a gripping story that forces readers to reflect on how much progress has been made—and how much further we have to go.
An exhilarating read that grips you from the first page and leaves you questioning long after the final verdict.
Dark Double Cross
Murder in Black or White? Kalamazoo: 1963
John Gerts
John Streg Publishing
ISBN 978-1-7326034-9-3
Coming soon
