A Kind and Savage Place
Prosperity, North Carolina in 1954 seems to be a small farming town from the outside, but its underbelly is rife with tragedy, cruelty, and secrets. Ev Howard just wants a job, but a Black man in a small town has a hard time finding one. When Arlo Pyle takes him on, Ev gives it his all, but is soon a victim of the manipulations of others. When a tragedy occurs, three popular teenagers—football players—are forced to take part in an unspeakable act of revenge. They remain silent until 1989, when a murderer decides to run for Congress.
This is a heartbreaking novel that takes us back to a time of extreme racism and vigilante “justice,” where there was no justice for the victims. Ev Howard, no matter how good a job he did, was always looked at with suspicion because of his skin color. The portrayal of Ev’s life and the small-town racism of the 1950s is so well done. The character of Ev just pops off the page, grabs your heart, and will not let go. The title, “A Kind and Savage Place,” is so on point. Prosperity appears on its surface to be a kind and friendly town, but underneath, in secret, lies savage hatred and murder. The politics of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s are discussed, and we see the effect that one event had on all three football players. Historical fiction meets politics and thriller in this sad but fair look at the history of racism in the United States.
