Review 4: Restoration Heights

Restoration Heights by Wil Medearis
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

As a placeholder my short review said: this is not your typical mystery, but then again that isn't my go to genre so maybe I miss out on what's out there.

What I meant by not typical was the infusion of other social issues: gentrification, white and black, rich and poor. There's this whole part of the book where Reddick, the main character, is justifying who he is and how he fits into this Brooklyn neighborhood. He's white but grew up poor and around other blacks. He's been told his grandfather was half-black so he tells people this, to give himself street cred? The guys aren't buying it either. And Reddick hates how his neighborhood is changing. So many more white people are moving in, and the crux is around this new project called Restoration Heights.

The main story is around this white girl who hit on Reddick one night in his alley while taking out the trash. She was very drunk, and Reddick didn't take it any further, besides the party she was at came back into focus and she went back inside. The next day at his art handling job he finds out that same girl is missing. The way the boyfriend and family reacts is very odd to Reddick. To make things more bizarre the neighbor, also filthy rich, hires Reddick to find out about Hannah and what happened. Then Reddick becomes obsessed!

Despite nearly losing friends, being threatened, and knowing he's going down dangerous roads, he can't stop searching and asking. He asks very uncomfortable questions and does some very awkward things. And some of this is where the book falters. It is odd interviewing. I know the guy is an amateur, his supposed to be an artist, but really it doesn't read well.

Overall there is a lot to like in the book. I got caught up in trying to figure out what happened to Hannah. There's different intricacies and revelations that come up, as you might expect in a mystery/detective type story. But there's so much more. I loved the part about persistent pursuit of your passion, it just might lead you to success. Okay, the book didn't say in those exact words, but it was the sentiment. Hopefully that didn't give anything away.

Book rating: 3.5 stars

Thanks to Harlequin / Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.