Today, I’m thrilled to be sharing my stop on the blog tour for The Black Queen by Jumata Emil. Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for organising this tour and you can check out the other amazing stops here.
Tinsley McArthur was supposed to become homecoming queen, just like generations of McArthur women before her. But in a bid for diversity, Lovett High wants a black queen this year and the top contender is the bold and beautiful Nova Albright. Though Tinsley tries to convince her to drop out, Nova isn’t about to step aside for some rich white girl. On homecoming night, drunk and enraged, Tinsley is caught on camera declaring she should have killed Nova. The next morning Lovett High’s first Black homecoming queen turns up dead. Would Tinsley do anything for the crown? Nova’s best friend Duchess certainly thinks so. So when Tinsley asks Duchess for help to clear her name, she agrees. She’s determined to get justice for Nova, even it means befriending a murderer to find proof against her. But their investigation begins to uncover secrets about Nova’s past and one big secret that could change everything in their small town.
TW: racism, death, murder, institutional racism, sexual assault, police brutality, cancer, homophobia, cheating, spiking, grooming, teacher/student relationship
My Review:
The Black Queen is a book that you need to have on your radar. Emil takes the classic small town mystery setup and ramps up the tension and atmosphere to the max.
This is a tightly plotted, well constructed mystery with so many twists, turns and layers. I raced through the pages, letting the story unfold around me. Emil dials up the claustrophobia and paranoia to eleven. You constantly feel on edge and the tension is unimaginable. The accompanying characterisation gives the story emotional hooks to really pull you in. Nova is a character that stays with you and her spirit burns bright. Her story is heart-breaking and all too real. Duchess is a passionate, smart and fiercely loyal friend that I related to so strongly. Her experiences of grief and helplessness are so nuanced and realistic, allowing for emotional vulnerability. Her quick thinking really brings the story together, and she also brings Nova’s story to life. Tinsley was another complex character, with a growth story arc that felt naturally paced and did not completely give her redemption.
The book also acts as a vehicle to explore institutional racism, privilege and the exploitation of power to keep the status quo. The power structures of race and privilege are on full display, particularly through policing and crime. There is a lot of discussion around police brutality in an unfolding case that forms a backdrop to the story, as well as discussion around the idea of the ‘perfect victim’. The stereotypes and vile racism on display are picked apart and the history surrounding these painstakingly laid out.
The Black Queen is a twisty, highly engaging thriller that delves into social commentary and racial injustice.
About the Author:
Jumata Emill is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his BA in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and a member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the author of The Black Queen and Wander in the Dark.
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