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:
