Alice King is killed in her home after returning from church, where she spent most of her time. What the locals know is that Ruby King was at her mother’s side as she died of a gunshot wound inside their home. As a Black family on Chicago’s South Side, police quickly believe they’ve solved the crime and just need to compile evidence. Her father, Lebanon, is well known for a murder he committed in his youth and is the chief suspect. While church folks talk, it becomes very clear that Ruby King is in serious danger. Told from multiple perspectives, local history shows that the case may not be as clear as expected. A previous generation holds dark secrets that may lead to the suffering of multiple generations.
Saving Ruby King at times can be tough to read; by this I meant that one of the big subplots involves incest and there is a lot to do with spousal and child abuse. Characters make multiple references to the fact that they feel like they are living in a cliche. Ruby’s best friend Layla talks about her insecurities of speaking differently with family and her white college friends. Older generations keep secrets that may have ended cycles of abuse, but fear how the community would appear. Author Catherine Adel West starts strong with her first novel, especially working with the complicated world of race relations, familial abuse, and murder.
Saving Ruby King is now available from Park Row Publishing.
