Representation: Black characters
Trigger warnings: Racism, physical assault and injury, death of a person by suicide and a child in the past
Score: Five out of ten.

Nightcrawling was a depressing debut from Leila Mottley.

It starts with Kiara and Marcus, but Kiara must be a nightcrawler, even though she is not fond of doing that. Soon, Kiara finds herself in a police corruption investigation where she is a witness.

The writing style is unique in that some parts are descriptive whereas others are more accessible and dialogue-heavy, which is most suitable for an adult audience.

As Nightcrawling is a literary fiction piece, it delves into themes such as racism and distrust. They were pervasive as Mottley explored them by writing about how Black characters live underprivileged lives in America and their distrust of police. However, some readers may miss that because Mottley left it up to them to interpret her story, meaning she could have explored those themes more clearly. Additionally, the tone and mood was appropriately depressing due to the heavy themes. The pacing is enough to keep Nightcrawling going swiftly at less than 290 pages, but an assault scene made some sickening.

Characters have sympathy and likability value but not relatability value, depth or development, and more would help. The conclusion was okay.

( )

Wow. Hard read but so powerful and raw. While the book is fictional, the story could belong to any marginalised person desperate to survive next to impossible circumstances using their body as a last resort and the vulgar people that use and abuse them. I'm left feeling Numb and helpless and full of quandry as to what to do? how to empower? who to lobby? who to change societal attitudes? ( )

"Silence starves us"

Brutal but well told. This is a tough story full of trigger warnings and real life. Kiara, our MC, tells her story and almost seems to dare you to hold eye contact with her while she does. She is growing up hard, her mother and father gone, it's just her and her brother Marcus. But she is still 17 and her brother is barely older than her and they are just barely keeping their apartment and food. A notice on the door lets them know rent is doubling and Kiara can already see - they can't pay more, let alone that much more.

But Marcus has fame and glory in his mind and can't do a minimum wage job. So it's on Kiara to keep a roof over their head. Being 17, she's struggling to find anywhere that will hire her. This is such a believable story. As each new low is reached, you can't help but want to flinch and stop watching but Kiara's story needs to be told, needs to be watched, and she needs eye contact. I'm glad I kept reading because the growth and turns at the end made the journey worth it.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. ( )

109000

17 year old Kiara's father, always in and out of jail is dead, her mother in a half way house, and her older brother chasing unrealistic dreams of becoming the next big name in the music industry. She's in charge of their home, and de-facto of her friend and neighbour's 9 year old child, whom she loves unconditionally. Under-educated and with no training, she has no means of paying the rent and eviction looms. Sex-working provides an answer, but soon she falls into the clutches of a ring of sex-seeking cops from whose grip she has little chance of escape. This is her story, that of a feisty young woman making the best of the rotten hand that life has dealt her. Told in her own words, Kiara paints a picture of a world where racism and poverty and lack of choice are normal and where the choices she must make are impossible. It's inspired by a true story of corruption in the police department. Kiara is bold, witty and tough, and Mottley gives her a rhythmic, new and exciting langage. An energising read. ( )