This is a visceral, gut punch of a book, and its so perfectly written I can hardly believe it's a debut novel. Set in 1995, with the running thread of OJ Simpson's trial , the book reminded me of a Greek tragedy. Instead of hubris and capricious gods effecting a tragic denouement, however, you have the very real and sadly contemporary problems of race and identity. Here it's the hubris and caprices of all too human systemic racism that control your fate, no matter how hard you try to beat it. Bobby Saraceno, the main protagonist's life is thrown into disarray when his closest childhood friend, Aaron, is released from jail, and has completely changed from a diffident teenager to a bulked-up-on steroids Neo Nazi. There's just one problem-Bobby is biracial, and passing for white, and doesn't want Aaron to know, despite the childhood bonds of friendship. The story spirals out from this, and much as he tries, There are forces beyond Bobby's control.

All the characters are memorable, from Bobby's colleague Darryl to his conflicted mother, Isabel. I found the parts about Bobby and Aaron's childhood friendship quite poignant- they bond over a mutual love of comics, and it's a reminder of how much comics really mean when you're a misfit kid. It's easy to forget, among the money spinning behemoths they've become, that a lot of comics were written by kids who were outsiders themselves, and their fantasies of belonging, and being valued for the very things that set them apart. That ties in perfectly with the book's themes of identity, both real and assumed. The style of writing is excellent, with an edge-of-the-seat quality that emphasises how easily a situation can force a reaction from you, without you even being an active participant. And how much more dangerous some situations can be for Black people. We all tell ourselves that we would act honourably and bravely and do the right thing but when our backs are to the wall, self preservation is probably the path we would choose! There are parts of the book that are so profound, and so recognisable, that I had to put the book aside for a bit before getting back to it. This isn't an easy read-no Greek tragedy is, but it's beautiful and haunting, and a must read.