3.75 stars

Interesting series debut featuring the unlikely investigative combo of Clementine Baldwin, a female Black ex-cop, and her White partner Dixon Hicks, a Vietnam vet. The Meridian, Mississippi Reagan-era setting is masterfully portrayed.

Clem is a complex character. She has experienced just about every kind of sexist and racist behavior in her hometown and considers herself a pragmatist, with the help of a little bourbon to ease her way. The partners' relationship is nicely drawn and doesn't fall into any trite or expected lines.

They are hired to investigate the death of local Turnip Coogan, who fell off the roof of the jail where he was residing after an arrest for murder of a local real estate tycoon. Allegedly he was hired by the wife, then called off. The novel is populated with all kinds of local characters of various ethnicities and demographics.

The author is sometimes wordy but personally I enjoyed his descriptions and use of language. I would gladly spend some more time with Clem and Dixon. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Set in the South, 1980s, we are following the investigation lead by a woman of color, our FMC. As she solves this case, we dive into some important issues such as racism and femininity, and how those judgements and notions effect our FMC.
I did not enjoy this writing style at all. There were some odd comparisons and sentence structuring that left me questioning what the story was indicating. With that said, some people may enjoy this type of writing.

Overall, the story lacked excitement and thrills that I look for to keep me hooked. I did DNF this about halfway in so I do not have an opinion on the end of the story.

Set in 1980s Mississippi, Snowden Wright's “The Queen City Detective Agency” is a razor-sharp Southern noir that invites readers into a world where greed, corruption, and racism simmer beneath the surface.

Meridian, Mississippi - once known as the Queen City - now grapples with decline. Enter a murder mystery: real-estate developer Randall Hubbard lies dead, and the Dixie Mafia’s shadow looms. Lewis “Turnip” Coogan, an affiliate of the Dixie Mafia, claims that he was hired by Hubbard’s wife for the hit. Later, Coogan is found dead under suspicious circumstances while in custody for the murder. Coogan's grieving mother hires cop-turned-private investigator Clementine "Clem" Baldwin to find her son’s killer. As Clem’s investigation peels back layers, long-buried secrets are revealed.

Clem is no cookie-cutter detective. Her history, scars, and determination make her relatable and we are given glimpses into her past throughout the story, which makes for a poignant exploration of identity and redemption.

While the story moves languidly, the plot offers many twists that are sure to keep readers engaged. Suspects multiply, alliances shift, and Clem finds herself on the edge of danger. The Dixie Mafia’s reach spans far and wide, and every revelation adds tension and intrigue to the plot.

Overall, “The Queen City Detective Agency” is an enjoyable slow burn mystery. Wright’s evocative prose immerses us in a Mississippi where secrets fester and justice is elusive. For readers craving an atmospheric noir with a dash of Southern charm, this novel truly delivers.

Set in the still racially charged 1980s Mississippi, this book follows a Black private investigator and her white partner as they get embroiled in a tricky case involving murder, potential suicide, and the shadowy Dixie Mafia. It's an excellent Southern crime novel.

After Dixie Mafia member Lewis "Turnip" Coogan falls or jumps to his death from the roof of the Meridian, Mississippi courthouse, Clementine Baldwin and partner Dixon Hicks are hired by Coogan's widow, who is convinced he was murdered, to find his killer. Turnip was accused of killing prominent real estate developer Randall Hubbard. Still, as Clem and Dixon begin digging into Turnip's death, they begin to untangle a web of shady characters, all of whom could be involved with the deaths. It falls to Clem and Dixon to follow the strands of the web to uncover the truth.

This is an atmospheric book with interesting characters and a complex plot. It illuminates what it means to be Black in the South, including the subtle and not-so-subtle digs and racist attitudes. Clem is a strong character who deftly tap dances her way through the societal layers and political intrigue to solve the deaths of the two men. Written with wit and compassion, it takes a magnifying glass to the 1980s South. 4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 13, 2024.

I love Clementine Baldwin so much I wish she was starring in a movie or TV show! She was so well written and I enjoyed the entire cast of characters in this town. I was waiting for the twist and it didn't disappoint. I hope this book begets a series and if you like police procedural/crime thrillers, you will like this one! Give this a try!

The Queen City Detective Agency comes out next week on August 13, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

From Clem's beat-down, soft-top Jeep, which she'd inherited after her father took on crop shares at Parchman Farm and which she now drove, Clem told herself, out of spite more than sentiment, Clem watched stock footage of her past life. It still hurt to see the police department on Twenty-Second Avenue, where, during her rookie year and maybe three of the five subsequent ones, she'd genuinely believed the boys in blue could be man enough to accept a woman. It hurt worse to see Highland Park, site of her career-making and, ultimately, career-ending collar, a serial killer the papers relished calling the Dentzel Carousel Strangler.

Fans of strong female characters will want to make the acquaintance of Clementine Baldwin. Owner and principal investigator of the Queen City Detective Agency, Baldwin is a native of Meridian, Mississippi, and knows most of its secrets. The daughter of a white man and a black woman, she has a love-hate relationship with her home town. Never quite fitting into either black society or white social circles, she has learned to navigate along the edges of both.

Set in January 1985, against the backdrop of the approaching inauguration of Ronald Reagan for his second term as president, Baldwin is retained by the mother of a man convicted of shooting a local real estate developer. Mrs. Coogan is convinced that her son was murdered despite plenteous evidence to the contrary.

The local authorities found the death of Coogan convenient and the resolution of the death of an unpopular real estate developer along with it, so they were increasingly forceful with their attempts to discourage Baldwin from asking awkward questions. Some of the best parts of the book is watching their attempts backfire, sometimes spectacularly. Lurking in the shadows of Baldwin’s investigation is the Dixie Mafia, that organized crime mob headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi, operating throughout the South with ties to the Ku Klux Klan and the white male hierarchy.

Unexpectedly dark in places and just as unexpectedly funny in others, this book is a strong piece of Southern noir, highlighting as it does the push to bring new ways to the South and the resistance offered by the long-time power structure, unwilling to loosen its iron grip on the status quo. Followers of Ace Atkins’s Quinn Colson books set not far away in northeastern Mississippi will want to read this one, as will those interested in stories about people of color pushing to force change from within the South.

Starred review from Booklist.

I had read and enjoyed the author's prior novel and enjoyed it, but this one was a little lackluster for me. The characters felt very one-dimensional.

4.5 stars.

Taking place in 1985, The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright is an engrossing mystery set in Meridian, Mississippi.

Private Investigator Clementine “Clem” Baldwin has a complicated past and present. She and her partner, Dixon Hicks, work on variety of cases but their current one goes in very unexpected directions. Their client, Lenora Coogan, wants to know exactly what happened to her son Lewis aka Turnip. As Clem and Dixon quickly discover, nothing is as it seems as they investigate Turnip’s death.

Clem is highly intelligent with excellent instincts. Dixon is a Vietnam vet who is well suited to working for Clem. Although she sometimes takes unnecessary risks on her own, Clem tries to be more careful when Dixon is with her. Although the two are good friends, Clem is not always forthcoming with personal information.

The investigation into Turnip’s death leads back to the murder he is accused of committing. Local builder Randall Hubbard’s murder is rather complicated and Clem knows there is more to his death than meets the eye. As she attempts to figure out who murdered him, Clem and Dixon find themselves tangled up with the legendary Dixie Mafia. Despite the danger surrounding their investigation, Clem is determined to unearth the truth about what has been going on her hometown.

Despite an air of nostalgia, The Queen City Detective Agency is a timeless mystery with a complex storyline. Clem is an intriguing character with a fascinating past. Dixon is often the voice of reason throughout their investigation. The investigation takes many twists and turns that are absolutely stunning. With an eclectic cast of characters and well-drawn setting, Snowden Wright easily sweeps readers into this clever mystery that is fast-paced, entertaining, and educating.

I review a lot of books at a given time, so when people write to me to ask me a question about something I’ve read — which happens quite a bit due to my e-mail address being at the bottom of my review work here — the answer usually is, “I don’t know.” The reason is that I read in such a volume that I don’t remember much about what I’ve looked at after a particular review has been filed. This is not the case with American novelist Snowden Wright. I distinctly remember reading his first novel, American Pop, with great clarity. I even vaguely remember how it ends, which is the most striking thing about the book. (Which is not a criticism. I recall that American Pop was a mostly enjoyable read throughout.) Five years later, Wright has dropped his latest novel, The Queen City Detective Agency, which aims to marry two distinct genres: the Southern Gothic and the hard-boiled detective yarn. Though the work is not without its faults, this is an almost-as-enjoyable piece of fiction that has an explosive ending. By its final pages, the book is hard to put down. Despite its genre tropes, the book is also a work of literary fiction. It begs the question, was the Reagan years of the American presidency just as bad as the Trump years? It also asks if anything has changed.

Set in January 1985 in Meridian, Mississippi, the story centers on a biracial and somewhat alcoholic private eye named Clementine or Clem, who runs the titular detective agency with her white partner Dixon. They are hired to investigate a possible murder that has been dressed as the suicide of an inmate awaiting trial for another murder: that of a real-estate mogul. However, the wife of the mogul also hires out the detectives to see who murdered her husband as well. Life insurance money is usually involved in these investigations. In any event, as is the case for the hard-boiled genre, there are crosses and double-crosses and multiple assassination attempts (things get crazy down there in the southern U.S., it seems). By the end, numerous people are involved in setting up various crimes, all against the backdrop of the second inauguration of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. As people like to say, the plot thickens by the end of this tumultuous novel.

I like Snowden Wright’s singular voice. The tone of American Pop and this novel is similar. When he has a few more novels under his belt, I’ll bet that we’ll talk about him as a prominent American novelist of subjects of note to the southern United States. Wright has talent and drive and knows how to weave together complex plot lines. The Queen City Detective Agency is a slow burn of a novel, gradually and slowly turning up the heat until we get to multiple climaxes: one of them is set in a cockfighting tournament. Fans of many genres may find much to be charmed by here. But do I have complaints? Well, yes, but they are the same ones I have about the mystery genre: there’s too much complexity for something of this nature to be pulled off in real life. To that end, Wright succeeds wildly with this novel as he has written the prototypical hard-boiled book. However, the story’s start is hard to read because the characters and their motivations are introduced before the detectives run into them and start questioning them. You’ll have to stick with this novel to receive its rewards. But, before I forget, Wright has a good sense of humor, too, so some of this will lead you to smirk as you read, which may mitigate some of the novel’s complexities.

The book’s mid-section does lag as Wright tries his hand at character development for major and minor characters. Thus, much is crammed into these pages; some could have been pruned back. However, this is all minor quibbling because The Queen City Detective Agency has one of the best endings for this type of novel I can recall (which isn’t always easy for me, given how many books of note I read). So, while the pacing could be smoother, the book’s conclusion more than makes up for it. So, stick with this one if you need help with it first. Chances are you’ll be charmed by this one as it goes along.

All in all, while I may be more partial to the literariness of American Pop, The Queen City Detective Agency is no slouch either. It’s an excellent mid-summer beach read that tries to move beyond the usual tropes of the detective genre. This comes highly recommended, as this is a book I won’t forget any time soon. The book is masterful and colorful, and, if my prediction comes to pass, Snowden Wright is a writer of some renown that we’ll be talking an awful lot about based on the sheer quality of his craft. This one is a keeper. Please go out and buy this one and put it on your bookshelf. Trust me on this.

"Following an unforgettable cast of characters and a jaded female P.I. enmeshed in a criminal conspiracy in 1980s Mississippi, The Queen City Detective Agency is a riveting, razor-sharp Southern noir that unravels the greed, corruption, and racism at the heart of the American Dream.

Meridian, Mississippi - once known as the Queen City for its status in the state - has lost much of its royal bearing by 1985. Overshadowed by more prosperous cities such as New Orleans and Atlanta, Meridian attracts less-than-legitimate businesses, including those enforced by the near-mythical Dixie Mafia. The city's powerbrokers, wealthy white Southerners clinging to their privilege, resent any attempt at change to the old order.

Real-estate developer Randall Hubbard took advantage of Meridian's economic decline by opening strip malls that catered to low-income families in Black neighborhoods - until he wound up at the business end of a .38 Special. Then a Dixie Mafia affiliate named Lewis "Turnip" Coogan, who claims Hubbard's wife hired him for the hit, dies under suspicious circumstances while in custody for the murder.

Ex-cop turned private investigator Clementine Baldwin is hired by Coogan's bereaved mother to find her son's killer. A woman struggling with her own history growing up in Mississippi, Clem braves the Queen City's corridors of crime as she digs into the case, opening wounds long forgotten. She soon finds herself in the crosshairs of powerful and dangerous people who manipulate the law for their own ends - and will kill anyone who threatens to reveal their secrets."

There's something more gritty and real about crime set in the 80s.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I was excited to read a book with a female PI as the main character, but this just did not deliver. The character development wasn’t great and the stakes just never felt that high. It was also glaringly obvious who the killer was as soon as he was introduced in the book, so there was virtually zero tension or mystery. This was a miss for me.

Randall Hubbard, a wealthy white real estate developer in Mississippi in the 1980s, is murdered in his home. His business mostly centered on building strip malls in low income Black neighborhoods. Hubbard’s wife is accused of hiring Turnip Coogan to set up the hit on Hubbard. Coogan, who allegedly has ties to the Dixie Mafia, dies under suspicion circumstances while in jail for the murder. Clementine Baldwin, a former cop turned private investigator, is hired to investigate Coogan’s death. Being a Black female PI in Mississippi isn’t an easy job. When Clem’s investigation keeps leading her to the Dixie Mafia, the job quickly becomes deadly.

I loved the 80’s vibe of this Southern noir mystery. Race plays a big part in this story-not only in Clem’s investigation, but also her personal life and family dynamic. Her search for answers forces her to confront painful truths and pits her against powerful and dangerous men. The setting is atmospheric filled with a myriad of characters. The pace flows at a brisk and steady pace. I liked the relationship Clem has with her investigative partner Dixon. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me on my toes. I hope we see Clem again in the near future.

This follows a female PI in the 80s in rural Mississippi. She is hired by a grieving mother to prove her son was murdered by the Dixie Mafia.

I liked this concept especially with the character in the setting, but the writing style was not really for me. It didn't really draw me in to the mystery with the way it was structured and written.

This was pretty much your basic whodunit and why, following a Black female private investigator and her partner in 1980s Mississippi. I was initially attracted to this story because of the setting, which plays a major part in the story. I was a little concerned about whether the author would be able to pull this off without being downright offensive, but he did. I really enjoyed this story, though I’m not sure how I feel about the writing style. It was quirky but at times came across as over the top. Either way, I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Historical mystery - basically detective procedural set in Meridian, Mississippi in 1984. Hired to solve the murder of a jailed man originally thought to be a suicide, Clementine soon finds herself and her partner Dixon embroiled in a finding the hitman responsible for the murder of a local property developer, and all signs point to the "Dixie Mafia." Soon into the power behind the DM's control becomes apparent, and her own safety is at risk. Well crafted and enjoyable.

I was excited to read a crime noir about a bad ass black detective in 1980s Mississippi investigating a murder that the Powers That Be didn't want her involved in, but The Queen City Detective Agency just didn't get there for me.

To start with, nobody really gets in Clem's way. Sure, there are a few half hearted assassination attempts, but those are from criminals, not The Law. Clem narrates a big game about the racist townsfolk, thinks about it on every page, but we never see much manifestation of that. Even the racist baddies are just kind of like "grr, black people, they suck." In fact, one of the villains, an active member of the KKK, is anti-racist. The stakes are too low to keep the plot really moving, so it slows down and doesn't pick up until the second to last chapter.

Queen City misses the chance to prove its point about racism and that really drags down the plot. I was hoping this would be a book I could buy several copies of and recommend, but it's just not that.

I really liked this story, and I think it would make a great series. I was drawn to it because I like the time and setting. This book did not disappoint. I really liked the characters, and the storyline. Kudos!

Such an interesting era to place a mystery.....1985 Mississippi. Tightly plotted, great characters and dialog and I learned a lot about our country during the Reagan-era.

It's Jan. 1985 and the country is waiting for Ronald Regan's second inauguration which is all over the news channels. Only the local news in Meridian Mississippi seem to care about the murder of real-estate developer Randall Hubbard. It seems his wife hired a hit man but called off the hit at the last minute; so who killed him and why? Then the go between for the hit is murdered. The mother of the go between hires The Queen City Detective Agency to find her son's killer. Clam and her partner Dixon start investigating and soon find themselves the target of someone. Is it the murderer or someone else? Can they stay alive and solve the case they have been hired to do...

Snowden Wright's 'The Queen City Detective Agency' transports readers to Meridian, Mississippi, in 1985—a city grappling with its faded glory and economic decline. Once known as the Queen City, Meridian is now overshadowed by more prosperous cities like New Orleans and Atlanta. This decline has attracted less-than-legitimate businesses, including those enforced by the near-mythical Dixie Mafia, while the city's powerbrokers, wealthy white Southerners, resist any change to the old order.

The plot kicks off with the murder of real-estate developer Randall Hubbard, who exploited the city's economic downturn by opening strip malls in low-income Black neighborhoods. His death by a .38 Special sets off a chain of events that plunges the city deeper into chaos. Things take a darker turn when Lewis 'Turnip' Coogan, a Dixie Mafia affiliate who claims Hubbard’s wife hired him for the hit, dies suspiciously while in custody.

Enter Clementine Baldwin, an ex-cop turned private investigator, hired by Coogan’s bereaved mother to find her son’s killer. Clem, wrestling with her own troubled history in Mississippi, navigates the treacherous landscape of Meridian’s criminal underworld. As she delves deeper into the case, she unearths long-buried secrets and finds herself in the crosshairs of powerful individuals willing to kill to protect their interests.

Wright masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, painting a vivid picture of a city in decline and the complex social dynamics at play. 'The Queen City Detective Agency' is a gripping narrative that explores themes of power, corruption, and resilience, with Clementine Baldwin emerging as a compelling and tenacious heroine. As she confronts her past and the dangerous forces at work, readers are drawn into a world where the stakes are high and the quest for justice is perilous.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.