Attica Locke is a genius. Her writing style is wonderful and captivating. Her stories always come from unique places. It is always a pleasure to sink into one of her books.

Unfortunately, I tried to read this book three times but couldn't get past the first act. The author is a wonderful writer, but I just don't think I connect with the hero or the story enough to continue. I don't want my inability to complete this story to impact the author's overall rating.

Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke is a masterful work of literary crime fiction that showcases the author's immense talent and confirms her status as one of the genre's leading voices. As a longtime fan of Locke's work, I can confidently say that this book is one of her finest achievements to date.

One of the things that sets Locke apart as a writer is her ability to create richly drawn characters that are both complex and relatable. In Heaven, My Home, the protagonist, Texas Ranger Darren Mathews, is a flawed and nuanced character who is struggling to balance his personal and professional responsibilities. Locke's portrayal of Mathews is both empathetic and honest, and the reader cannot help but become invested in his story.

Another strength of this novel is the evocative and immersive sense of place that Locke creates. Set in the swamplands of East Texas, the book is steeped in the history and culture of the region, and the author's descriptions of the landscape and atmosphere are vivid and atmospheric. The result is a novel that feels both timeless and immediate, a snapshot of a particular moment in American history that feels all too relevant today.

It is worth noting, however, that in order to fully appreciate this novel, familiarity with the first book in the series, Bluebird, Bluebird is essential. While Heaven, My Home can stand alone as a novel, there are many references and callbacks to the events of the first book that will be lost on readers who haven't read it.

Overall, I highly recommend Heaven, My Home to fans of literary crime and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted mystery. Attica Locke is a master storyteller, and this book is a shining example of her talent. With a complex plot, richly drawn characters, and a sense of tension that never lets up, Heaven, My Home is a true page-turner that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Heaven my home is the second in a series/ interconnected set of murder mysteries. Darren is a Texas Ranger woth secrets of his own who’s involved in the hunt for a missing 9 year old. A great tread

This brilliant follow-up to Bluebird, Bluebird was every bit as intriguing, riveting, and rewarding as its predecessor. Ranger Darren Matthews is a complex character, fully developed by Locke's inimitable storytelling in this novel as she sets him in pursuit of a missing child. While this novel works a standalone, readers of Bluebird, Bluebird will be rewarded by the connections to that case and the background for why Matthews is in the place he is in... This novel covers so much more than the crime of the missing 9-year-old--it covers race, family dynamics, and psychological torment so well. Attica Locke is a genius storyteller and a darn fine writer. I loved it!

What can I say? Attica's books never disappoint me. I enjoy the character development, mystery and the social commentary/story that's told between the lines. Enjoy!

I ran an interview with the author of this book in our 11 newspapers and websites. I ran an interview with the author of this book in our 11 newspapers and websites.

This was such a well constructed and compelling crime novel, steeped in the rhythms of East Texas. We follow Texas Ranger Darren Mathews as he investigates the disappearance of a young boy, the son of an incarcerated Aryan Brotherhood member.

The Positives: The plot is really compelling and intricately woven. It was incredibly impressive how many threads Attica Locke intertwined into the narrative, which never strayed into confusion but remained lean and well paced throughout. Her sense of place is very firmly defined and the reader gets a real sense of Caddo Lake and the people who make their lives upon it. The characters were well drawn and felt authentic, with a layer of southern gentility covering a very murky underbelly, which I very much enjoyed. Locke writes about race and the American experience without sugar coating anything, which is painful to read at times but so important, particularly in a genre novel.

The Negatives: There were a couple of plot beats/reveals that I felt were a little predictable.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable and intelligent novel and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

"The thrilling follow-up to the award-winning Bluebird, Bluebird: Texas Ranger Darren Matthews is on the hunt for a boy who's gone missing - but it's the boy's family of white supremacists who are his real target."

Wow, wow, wow! I loved Bluebird, Bluebird and couldn't wait to read the follow-up Heaven, My Home.

See attached review on my Goodreads account. Link to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy for an honest opinion.

This one is a not the book it's me. I can't get into it.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Heaven, My Home has poetic descriptions of East Texas. Although this is a police procedural, the story is really more about Darren's life as an African American Texas Ranger than about any one case.

I recommend Heaven, My Home to anyone who enjoys character driven novels; however, it is necessary to read the series in order, otherwise this book will have quite a few things that don't make complete sense because story lines continue.

Content Warnings: many racist slurs

Few writers will actually cause you to take in your physical surroundings and then staple it to the moment in time like Locke, whose prose reads like Toni Morrison in that it never feels forced, the descriptions themselves feel organic, and you want to both hurriedly and lazily read the page.
The story, the characters, the ebb and flow of the land and water, I just so really enjoy reading her stories.
I think it's her deep understanding of the human condition that makes each tic, each movement, so vivid and real.
I really enjoyed this story and its main protagonist, Darren Matthews. I know anyone who reads this story will truly enjoy it.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
(read and reviewed on Goodreads 12/24/19)

I loved Bluebird, Bluebird, but I found this book disjointed and confusing. It jumped around.

Maybe I needed to go back and read the first book to get into it, but it's definitely not a standalone book. And for me, the case he's trying to solve in the present isn't compelling. Nor am I interested in the subplot involving his wife and his friend. I really found this book hard to finish.

I was late to the party with Attica Locke’s books but she has fast become one of my must reads!

This is the second book in the series and she does a fantastic job of building upon the first book but not being redundant (I read both back to back). The richness of her characters, the depth of the discussion of what it must be like to deal with every day racism was very eye opening to me. I didn’t love one of the subplots with the “best friend” but it’s a small quibble. I highly recommend this book, the series and, well, everything by the author!

I am a HUGE fan of Attica Locke (check out my review of Bluebird Bluebird and Q&A). I think she brings something so unique to the genre. Her novel are diverse, they are intelligent and she is certainly NOT afraid to tackle any form of prejudice (I salute you). I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second novel in the Highway 59 series. So here are my thoughts on Heaven, My Home…
The novel opens in Texas 2016 in Marion County. We are introduced to Levi King’s family. Mother Marnie, sister Dana, her boyf Rory Pitkin and his mother’s lover Gil. I took an instant dislike to this white trash family, but taking a moment to step back, it is not the children’s fault who raises them and therefore, I was intrigued to see how the story/family would develop. The novel will revolve around the disappearance of 9yur old Levi King. But who would take him and why?
The novel is ruthless is its tackling of the tensions caused by the 2016 election of he whom shall not be named. I applaud Attica Locke for saying what we are all thinking.
‘After Obama, it was forgiveness betrayed’
The King family dynamics hit further complexity as Levi’s father Bill ‘big kill’ King is an active member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT). He is currently 6yrs into a 20yr sentence for drug offences. In an unlikely twist of events, it is Bill that reaches out for help from Darren…
‘I’m begging you, sir. Find my boy’
The location and setting of the novel is fully explored. This really helps UK readers or NON-America readers such as myself. You get a feel for the town everyone and everywhere forgot….
‘It was a town that time had passed by’
There is also brutally honest descriptions of the family of the missing child…
‘Everything In Hopetown looked as mean and underfed as Marnie King’
The characterisation of the novel is outstanding and the author’s creation of ranger Darren Matthews is one she should be exceptionally proud of. He is just so perfect to carry a series. Almost like a diverse ranger version of Harry Bosch!
WE NEED MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES!
The family and namely Bill’s mother through in their two cents of theories into how the boy went missing. Almost no one apart from his incarcerated father seems to care where he is or if he is even alive. Darren does not give up that easily. Not even on a family who despise him…
‘Darren wasn’t sure Gil Thompson knew who Hitler was, let alone could explain the significant of the seminal text of Mein Kampf that was in his trailer’
This is a deeply layered exploration of racial hatred, the need for collaboration as citzens of the same county and politics when divides us all. 4.5*
I cannot wait to read what Attica Locke writes next!

In Heaven, My Home, Attica Locke returns with the second installment of the Highway 59 Series. Darren Matthews, the novel’s protagonist, jumps at the chance to investigate the disappearance of 9 year old Levi King, son of a convicted white nationalist, after being on desk duty since his last field case ended. Levi and his family live in Hopetown, a small area of a Mississippi town that used to belong to newly freed slaves and Native Americans given refuge by them. However, it has now been overtaken by members of the Aryan Brotherhood. Mr. Leroy Page, a descendant of the original freedmen inhabitants of Hopetown, quickly becomes a suspect in Levi’s disappearance, and as time goes by, his death. Darren believes in Mr. Page’s innocence, and sets out to prove it though without the support of local law enforcement and his fellow Texas Rangers friend, Greg.

Along the way, Darren continues to deal with the ghosts of his past regarding the murder of Ronnie Malvo and how best to keep his mother quiet about his involvement. And though he and his wife recently reconciled, the fragility of their relationship becomes more evident as Darren’s investigation continues. Darren forges doggedly ahead to get to the bottom of Levi’s disappearance, ultimately putting himself in harm’s way.

Fans of Attica Locke will enjoy her latest installment. I am never disappointed by this author’s work and cannot wait until the next book in this series.

Implicated in the murder of a white supremicist Texan Ranger Darren Walker is happy to accept a desk job to keep his marriage intact. However when the son of an imprisoned member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas goes missing Walker is forced to join the investigation. The boy's family is big in Jefferson Texas and as Walker investigates he realises that there are bigger forces at play.
As ever with Locke's books there are layers upon layers. On the surface is a straightforward procedural about a missing boy with the undercurrents of corruption. However what sets these books apart is the treatment of racism in everyday life in the Deep South, here also intertwined with the treatment of Native Americans. Nothing is ever completely solved, there aren't any neat finishes and this confidence is marks Locke out as a special writer.

This is a sequel to Bluebird, Bluebird, and while I think this could be a standalone novel, there are so many references to the prior case covered in book 1, that I think it is probably beneficial to have read book 1 in this series. We pick up with the opening scene being that of a young boy trying to get home and just cannot make it. The search is on, and Darren Matthews is called in to help.

Matthews cannot shake the effects of his prior case, and his other issue is there are still ramifications coming back to haunt him from the prior case that he has not been completely cleared from. His mama has something over him, and she is trying to blackmail him to make things right, as one does.

Add to that the fact that this new case seems to be linked to the prior one, race is a huge factor where he is trying to solve the new case, and oh, Darren is having problems in his marriage.

Sounds like a lot, but he slowly tries to work through what he can, and takes a methodical approach. Overall I enjoyed this book, and Attica’s writing is superb, she works in mini history lessons for you as a bonus. However, I felt there was a little too much of a tie in to the previous book, I would have liked to have moved onto some new material and left the past in the past, but that may all be part of the grander plan for this series that I just cannot see yet. It moved a little slow for my liking, and took a while to get going, but once it picked up the pacing was steady until the end, which I appreciated.

This is still a phenomenal series, and I cannot wait to read Book 3 next, but also do not want this to be over, I am enjoying it very much.

Heaven, My Home is a very timely tale set in the rural backwoods of Eastern Texas. Texas Ranger, Darren Matthews, finds himself temporarily reassigned from desk duty to an active missing child case out of the remote Caddo Lake area. The missing child in question is a special case since his father is currently incarcerated for crimes commited while serving the Aryan Brotherhood. Seeing an opportunity to expose evidence of his involvement in a previously unsolved homicide, the Rangers send Darren to snoop around for possible links to the unsolved case, with the solving of the child abduction being second in priority. As the days draw on without any sign of the child, the list of potential accomplices and or criminals attached to the case growing by the day. In the middle of it all, Darren balances his obligations to his job, with a fractured marriage, and a exploitative mother who seeks favors from Darren while simultaneously threatening to expose his darkest secrets.
This story has a lot of depth. I found the perspective of Darren, as a black Ranger entangling himself into the world of white privilege and blatant racism, a unique point of view. I recommend reading the first novel in this series first, just for clarity. This can be read as a stand alone story also, but it might make the details more clear to cover the first story first. Should appeal to fans of the series, and mystery/ drama reads.