Genre: Book
Grade: A-
Notable People: Steve Hamilton
Title: Let it Burn
Review: Hamilton gets better in every one of these installments of the retired cop-curmudgeon, Alex McKnight, now living in the remotest part of Michigan’s’ Upper Peninsula, on the shores of deep and dark Lake Superior. This one is a creative leap with McKnight telling his story in alternating chapters from a case from 20 summers ago and the revival of that same case during the current summer. Both stories take place back in Detroit. I figured this one out half way through, since I must be getting used to his style, but it’s still quite suspenseful. Missed some of the usual characters that McKnight pairs with home in Paradises, but still stands as a fine piece of the genre. His portrayal of the decline of Detroit, and the larger picture of race relations in that city, are quite potent. Another really good Hamilton read.