Yet another outstanding debut novel, this highly engaging story is timely given the current state of democracy and race. While the theme is honesty between family and friends, the core element is racial divide and correlation of crime with race. Torn by loyalty and seeking truth the protagonist is taken through the wringer of life as the author immerses the reader into his journey. Anger gives way to compassion and truth rises to the surface. Hard to put down, you'd never know this was a first effort. I look forward to sequels from this author! ( )

Gritty Urban Noir
Review of the Dreamscape Media LLC audiobook edition released simultaneously with the original Agora Books hardcover edition (September 2019)

This reading was part of my investigation of the novels nominated for the 2020 Edgar Awards by the Mystery Writers of America. Three-Fifths is a nominee for Best First Novel. The winners are expected to be announced April 30, 2020, which may be postponed due to the current world pandemic situation.

Three-Fifths is not so much a crime mystery as a character study. Bobby Saraceno, of mixed race parentage, has passed for white his entire life and most especially with his childhood friend Aaron. Aaron is convicted with drug-dealing and serves a prison term where he joins a white supremacist group for jail yard protection. When released from prison he is a virulent racist who nonchalantly commits a race murder while accompanied by Bobby. Bobby has been living with his single parent mother Isabel who has lied that Bobby's father Robert is dead until Robert accidentally re-enters her life and eventually Bobby's. The characters and conflicts are in place for the revelation of lifetime secrets and a tragic conclusion.

John Vercher produces a strong first novel here and I would even say that he is my front runner for the 2020 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. I have yet to read 2 of the 6 nominees though.

I listened to the Audiobook edition and the narrator J.D. Jackson was excellent in all voices.

Trivia and Links
Three-Fifths is the first title from Agora Books, a new imprint of independent publisher Polis Books which will be "a diversity-focused imprint devoted to crime and noir fiction." Other initial releases from Agora Books are Remember (October 2019) by Patricia Smith, The Ninja Daughter (November 2019) by Tori Eldridge,Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (February 2020), Matthew Henson and the Ice Temple of Harlem by Gary Phillips (February 2020), Line of Sight by James Queally (March 2020), Both Sides: Stories From the Border ed. Gabino Eglesias (April 2020). Watch for further releases from Agora Books at the Polis Books website. ( )