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Reviewed: Jan 25, 2008
Be careful who you ask
DARKNESS AND THE DEVIL BEHIND ME by Persia Walker takes place in 1920s Harlem. Esther Todd, a very talented pianist, disappears without a trace and her family is devastated. Lanie Price, a newspaper reporter, tells the story in her column in 1923. About the same time, a major robbery of the society woman who gave Esther her chance for fame, clouds the issue. Was Esther somehow involved and simply disappeared to avoid prosecution? By Christmas 1926, her sister, Ruth, is desperate. Ruth’s desperation leads her to Lanie and asks her to write about her sister again. Lanie agrees and also begins to ask questions, attempting to find out what really happened to Esther. She even promises Esther’s young son that she will do everything she can. Lanie is sure someone knows what happened that dark and snowy night, however, no one is talking, but she is persistent. She is also having a bit of difficulty with her boss, who feels she should be writing something light and upbeat for Christmas, plus his bosses are on his case for letting her have her way. Will Lanie find Esther alive and ease the young son’s grief?
DARKNESS AND THE DEVIL BEHIND ME is a truly good mystery with lots of suspense, romance, fright and racial issues. Even if Lanie discovers what happened, will the high society white people involved let her tell the story without ruining the newspaper, which is a black production in Harlem? There are many characters and quite a few side plots, but they all blend together to make a coherent story that is easy to follow. I found the book to be delicious!
Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
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Alice Holman is an avid reader, a writer and a community activist. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband Ray and her little dog Boo.
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