Monday, June 17, 2024

Guide Me Home by Attica Locke

Guide Me Home is the third and final installment of Attica Locke's Highway 59 series featuring Darren Matthews.  I'm sorry to see this series end as Locke is one of the best at characters, setting, and plot.  

Darren has so much on his plate.  He's juggling his guilt, a possible indictment, his hope for a commitment from the woman he loves, his drinking, and his justified resentment of his mother.

He hands in his Texas Ranger badge, which is unwillingly accepted, and plans on going home and asking Randi to marry him. To his chagrin, his mother is there and Darren can hardly bare to look at her, he is so angry.

His mother explains that she is sober, but Darren doesn't trust her, and when she says she's worried about a young black girl in a white sorority who has gone missing, Darren doesn't really believe her.  His anger about his mother combined with his drinking reaches the point that he may have permanently damaged his relationship with Randi, and she leaves.

Eventually, Darren realizes that he wants to know more about the missing woman and begins checking into her disappearance.

Locke is an exceptionably fine writer with a love of Texas that does not deny the problems of race.  Guide Me Home departs from her previous books in the series as it concentrates on Darren's drinking, his animosity toward his mother, and his concerns about whether or not he will be indicted.  He feels terribly sorry for himself, but discovering what happened to the young woman keeps him focused.

While Darren's self-pity is entirely human and understandable, it took up perhaps more time than needed.  On the other hand, his finally learning to open himself to new information about his family background made for genuine growth.  

There are uncomfortable truths about the rise of White Nationalism in Texas and elsewhere.  Despite Locke's love of Texas, the Aryan Brotherhood and similar groups have been evident in all three novels in the trilogy.  The characters are flawed and complex, and Darren is far from perfect, yet one can't help cheering for him, hoping for the best.

Recommended, but appreciation of the novel may depend on your political leanings.

 Publication date:  Sept. 3, 2024

Thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books

Previous books in the series:

 Bluebird, Bluebird 

Heaven, My Home

12 comments:

  1. Darren sounds like a character I would like. And I'm always sad when a favorite series comes to an end.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Attica Locke's writing is exceptional. If you ever have the chance, start with Bluebird, Bluebird!

      Delete
  2. I do like Locke's writing, but I think my appreciation of this one will have more to do with my experience with self-pitying alcoholics than any political leanings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The self-pity was justified, as Darren's life was in free-fall and had its place in the plot. That and his anger made me want to give him a reality slap at times, but it felt realistic. One of those things like when you hit the bottom, there is no place to go but up. :)

      Delete
  3. Some authors manage political topics better than others. Some get too preachy, and beat the reader over the head with their stick. It sounds like this author is able to include the issues without bearing down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Locke's take includes the political, but concentrates on Darren's dealing with his own mistakes and guilt. The Highway 59 trilogy is worth reading in its entirety for the prose, descriptions, characters, and plots! Guide Me Home is a good conclusion to the series.

      Delete
  4. I read the first two books in this series and enjoyed them. I had heard that this would conclude the series and I'm sad for that. Will hope to get to read it at some point after publication.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The series has been a good one, and I'm a little disappointed to see it end, but can't help but look forward to what ever Locke gets up to next.

      Delete
  5. I need to check out this series. I am glad you enjoyed this last installment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Locke's love of Texas, particularly East Texas, is evident, but she doesn't shy away from difficult topics. :)

      Delete
  6. I still need to try Locke ... so I should start at the beginning. I'm curious what she will do next as well. Nice review.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Start with Bluebird, Bluebird. It's really good!

    ReplyDelete