[Subdue] The Trees by Percival Everett - 4+ stars

[Jen K]

The local police in Money, Mississippi are perplexed when they are called onto the scene of two brutalized dead men, one white and one black, with no clear clues on how they ended up together or both so dead. Yet the case gets strange when the black corpse disappears from the morgue, as if he rose from the dead and walked out, but is then found with another dead man in a similar scene. Two agents from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations are called in and find themselves into something bigger than expected when linked to Emmett Till.

The humor is appropriately dark and witty and somehow manages to lighten up a heavy topic. Everett brings light to the thousands of deaths due to lynching in the US with most finding no justice, formally written up as impossible suicides and accidents. Should there be consequences? Will the ghosts of the victimized rise up and take revenge? I truly hope that the language and views of the local folk in Money are exaggerated for the story. I quite enjoyed the approach even when it got a bit absurd in the end.

[Peacejanz]

Good review - reminds me of when I first discovered Percival Everett. This is a good book but he has others that are better. peace, janz

[KateNZ]

Spot on review, Jen. The sardonic humour was fabulous - I’d be giggling and then I’d turn a page and find myself on the edge of tears. It did get a little bit overblown toward the end though!

This is the only Everett that I’ve read and I liked his style a lot so I must go and find some others.

[Jen K]

KateNZ wrote: "Spot on review, Jen. The sardonic humour was fabulous - I’d be giggling and then I’d turn a page and find myself on the edge of tears. It did get a little bit overblown toward the end though!

This..."

Agreed, if this wasn't his best, I would very much like to try more of his work.

[Peacejanz]

Be careful - 'Wounded" may tear your heart out. I want to read it again - but do not have the emotional strength to do it right now. It is on my nightstand for a reread. peace, janz

[Joy D]

Nice review, Jen! I felt similar. I can also recommend Percival Everett's So Much Blue, which I read a couple years ago and really enjoyed (one of my rare 5 stars).

[NancyJ]

Great review. He’s on my list of authors to try this year, but I haven’t picked out a book yet.

[Jen K]

Joy D wrote: "Nice review, Jen! I felt similar. I can also recommend Percival Everett's So Much Blue, which I read a couple years ago and really enjoyed (one of my rare 5 stars)."

Thanks Joy for the recommendation! I will try this one next. I don't need my heart torn out right now so will wait on Wounded.

@NancyJ, will be interested to see what you think.