White Out

This is a gritty crime novel with an interesting premise. After a bar fight, a black cop kills a white supremacy member. It happens in a small town getting ready to host a major poker tournament. The white supremacy group is outraged and dangerously violent. The snowstorm adds to the complications of a small town hosting a large event, a funeral and dangerous, unwanted guests. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this interesting read!

I really felt for the police of this small town, Penn's River as they deal with a perfect storm, and not only the weather. Most of the experienced police officers have retired, leaving the small town mostly young officers who just don't have the seasoning. They are about to be tested. And there is a blizzard on the way, a blizzard that will take out communications and make many of the roads impassable. So many things happened quickly.

A young black policeman shoots a man after a bar fight who happens to be a white supremist. The policeman thought he had a gun but they can't find it. Other white supremists pour into the town for the funeral, and to protest the shooting.

The man who owns the local casino is having a high stakes game that has brought many gamblers to town. For some reason, he thought it was a great idea to require every player to bring 10,000 dollars in cash to the game, which he would count publicly as each player arrived. This was widely publicized, and guess who else was attracted by this? Thieves. I had to think - what was this man thinking? He practically put a red, flashing sign on his business that read 'Lots of cash here. Come get some.' There is a reason most businesses don't keep a lot of cash on the premises and he had it publicly displayed.

Meanwhile, the police are getting many more calls than usual, keeping them scattered, and the roads are becoming difficult to navigate when they aren't impassible. It is a perfect storm in more than one way.

I read this book in two sittings (would have been one but I had to sleep), as I truly did not want to put it down. If you are a lover of suspense and police procedurals, then this is the book for you. It also really highlights the solidarity that police have among themselves, as well as their internal politics.

I received a review copy of this book from publisher Down & Out Books via NetGalley. It was a real pleasure to read and review this book.

Thank you #NetGalley and Down & Out Books for the digital copy of White Out in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been a tough winter in Penns River and things aren’t getting any better. A major snowstorm looms as a police officer shoots and kills a man after a bar fight. “We’ve all heard the stories of White cops shooting and killing unarmed Black men. But what happens when the scenario flips?

White Out is a truly excellent read. Not to be missed.

I rated this 5 STARS

Dana King has written a timely book with White Out.

In Penn River a lot is going on. A local casino holds a high stakes poker game. The usual calls for police - domestic disturbance and the like - continue par usual.
But, a Black police officer has shot a white man at a nasty bar fight.. Not just any white man, a dyed-in-the-wool white supremacist. While the officer was sure the dead man had a gun, none is found on him.
The local supremacy organization combine with their national brethren and seek to make this a racial, highly-politicized, unjustified killing. Riot conditions are high and the detective seeking to clarify the shooting is rather new to the force.

With retirements and a lot of new recruits the going on in this town stretch the police department mighty thin.

As I said, a book for our times. Well written, this book will keep you turning the pages long after you should.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the book.