Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Pauper and Prince in Harlem by Delia C. Pitts.
Enter the Giveaway to Win 5 x PB Copies of Pauper and Prince in Harlem (Open to USA Only)
Delia C. Pitts is the author of the Ross Agency Mysteries, a contemporary private eye series including Lost and Found in Harlem, Practice the Jealous Arts, and Black and Blue in Harlem. She is a former university administrator and U.S. diplomat, who served in West Africa and Mexico. After working as a journalist, she earned a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. She has published more than sixty fan fiction titles under the pen name Blacktop. Pauper and Prince in Harlem is the fourth novel in the Ross Agency Mystery series. The fifth, Murder My Past, will be released in 2021. Learn more at her website, deliapitts.com/
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About the book
A vulnerable kid. A brutal enemy. An addled ally. Blood runs cold on Harlem's hottest summer night when Drive-by assassins shoot up a crowded playground, killing the teenaged friend of private eye SJ Rook. Only fourteen, the kid was smart, affectionate, and alive with potential. His sudden death strikes the cynical Rook through the heart. Was this boy the victim of a cruel accident? Or was he targeted by gang hit men in a ruthless display of power?
To find the killers, Rook must enlist the help of another teen, Whip, a mysterious runaway witness. Whip is a transgender boy whose life on the streets has drawn him into the realm of a violent mob kingpin. Damaged by his mother's rejection, Whip doesn't want to be found. Not by the cops or by community do-gooders. And certainly not by Rook, a resolute stranger with vengeance on his mind. Rook's search for the elusive kid becomes a dangerous trek through the meanest corners of his neighborhood.
Racing from desolate homeless camps to urban swamps, from settlement houses to high-rise palaces ruled by greed and corruption, the determined Rook pursues his quarry. An unexpected twist in the detective's relationship with his crime-fighting partner, Sabrina Ross, threatens to derail his mission. Noble tramps, vicious thugs, and a pint-sized trigger woman also complicate Rook's efforts to protect Whip. When a mob prince and a hobo hold the boy's life in the balance will Rook's grit and imagination be enough to save Whip and bring the killers to justice?
This is the fourth book in the Ross Agency Mystery series. I haven't read the others in the series, but absolutely feel this can be read as a standalone novel.
Rook is caught up in a drive-by shooting, which targets a crowded playground of all places. The shocking event is even more tragic because Rook sees someone he knows gunned down. There one minute gone the next. Simultaneously he sees something odd that makes him think that one person in particular knows more about the tragedy than they should.
Rook is determined to find out what Whip has got to hide, especially as it pertains to the crime and mystery he is trying to solve. Whip is just as determined to stay hidden and elusive.
It's contemporary noir and urban crime which combines the feel of cosy crime characters with important social topics of our era.
Pitts shines a light on the plight of transgender teens, who are more prone to experience violence, targeted abuse and become homeless. They often experience rejection by family and friends, which then leads them down some dark paths, especially when it comes to mental health issues. The lack of respect and acceptance can weigh heavily on their self-esteem and self-image.
It's a pacy series which delves into the uncomfortable areas society likes to gloss over and often tries to pack into little boxes full of misconceptions. The author gives Rook this element of helping the vulnerable and the rejected to feel recognised and empowered. I see you - I feel you, which in itself is a huge part of the story and character development.
Buy Pauper and Prince in Harlem ( A Ross Agency Mystery #4) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: BookBaby; pub date 18 Feb. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.
Enter the Giveaway to Win 5 x PB Copies of Pauper and Prince in Harlem (Open to USA Only)
*Terms and Conditions –Only USA entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*
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