M. P. Wright's A Sinner's Prayer is a wild ride of a read, filled with dangerous characters and more than a little violence (though Wright doesn't linger on the specifics on overly graphic ways). I picked it up because I was interested ion the novel's context: Bristol in 1970, with overt racial tensions. JT, a Black former private detective, originally from the Caribbean, is forced into an investigation by a white police superintendent. Haunted by deaths resulting from his earlier work, JT has no desire to return to his former career, particularly because he is now raising his sister's young daughter.

JT quickly finds himself investigating corrupt, powerful men. He unwillingly accepts the help of a cousin who's a gang boss, with his own scores to settle with the suspects. The racism is ugly and pervasive, and the reader experiences a great deal of it through JT's eyes.

This is less a mystery novel than a novel of suspense. Wright makes it clear pretty early on who is responsible for the death that triggers JT's reluctant return to detective work. The suspense comes in as a result of the number of dangerous individuals involved and the uncertainty about which characters will remain alive at the novel's end.

Wright has a wonderful ear for language, including accents and dialects, that makes his characters vivid. When they speak, we hear their varied voices and quickly develop a feel for their individual personalities.

If you like a who-dunnit that relies on character and action more than complex mystery, you'll find this a deeply satisfying read. ( )