Publishers Weekly
06/03/2024
A biracial PI unearths political corruption in this witty and insightful mystery from Wright (American Pop). In 1985 Meridian, Miss., Clementine “Clem” Baldwin and her associate, Dixon Hicks, are approached by Lenora Coogan, whose son, Turnip, has died trying to escape from the county jail where he was being held for the murder of real estate developer Randall Hubbard. Though witnesses saw Turnip fall off the jail’s roof, Lenora is convinced he was murdered; she also believes he was wrongly imprisoned, despite strong evidence that he carried out the hit on behalf of Hubbard’s wife. Lenora’s case is thin, but Clem and Dixon take it anyway, heading to the mansions of Hubbard’s associates and the trailer parks of Turnip’s peers as they slowly unravel a deadly conspiracy being perpetrated by the Dixie Mafia, whose members sit in the highest ranks of local government. Wright elevates his premise with wry humor (“Meridian, Mississippi... billed itself as the state’s ‘Queen City,’ but had, in recent decades, become more of a countess or a baronet”) and a keen awareness of the South’s racial dynamics. This has series potential. Agent: Eve Atterman, WME. (Aug.)Correction: A previous version of this review incorrectly identified the author as a journalist.
From the Publisher
A hilarious and edgy ride into the deepest of the deep south, The Queen City Detective Agency is an absolute blast. The book is chock full of more crazies than Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. But its hero, PI Clem Baldwin, proves to be a perfect guide into the cloistered and complicated world of 1980s Meridian, Mississippi.” — Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of Don't Let the Devil Ride
“Snowden Wright knows Meridian, Mississippi like my grandmamma knew her garden plot. The Queen City Detective Agency crackles with southern-fried banter that'll make you laugh, gasp, and cry, all on the same page. Here is a novelist at the height of his game.” — Eli Cranor, nationally bestselling author of Ozark Dogs and Don’t Know Tough
“In Snowden Wright’s latest novel, The Queen City Detective Agency, hardboiled ex-cop Clem Baldwin is drawn into a murder mystery that plunges her into the perilous underworld of Meridian, Mississippi, where organized crime and political corruption reign. Wright’s masterful prose and crackling dialogue drive this electrifying and high-octane Southern noir, making it a journey you won’t want to miss.” — Lauren Wilkinson, author of American Spy
“[A] scalding, shocking history-inspired mystery. . . . The mix of details about the omnipresent Dixie Mafia and an action-packed plot conveys a pulverizing atmosphere where everyone, including cops and city officials, share a secret, evil bond.” — Booklist (starred review)
“[The Queen City Detective Agency] evokes the atmosphere and tension of the 1980s American South, emphasizing the rage and emotions of a woman of color who’s faced with the political clout of ruthless white power brokers.” — Library Journal
“The Queen City Detective Agency is a remarkable work of Southern noir. . . . A disgruntled PI and a plot as wildly complicated as the history of the American South itself combine in this spectacular, darkly funny mystery.” — Shelf Awareness
“Mr. Wright’s imagined history of the rise and fall of the sugary drink empire is so robust and recognizable that you might feel nostalgic for the taste of a soda you’ve never had.” — Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal, on American Pop
“American Pop fizzes with the same energy as a freshly opened soft drink…. Snowden Wright’s lush depictions of the varied time periods and locales make it easy to envision it all. So, crack open a can and savor this story.” — NPR
"Witty and insightful. . . . Wright elevates his premise with wry humor and a keen awareness of the South's racial dynamics." — Publishers Weekly
“American Pop delivers a wondrously mosaic-like, multigenerational chronicle of a family that builds a soda pop empire from a Mississippi Delta drugstore.... A singularly original work.” — New York Journal of Books
“The fortune of the Forster family was built on fizz but sustained by grit, luck, and cunning. This spectacular novel blends history and lore as it follows the story of Houghton and Annabelle, who fall in love and, as they build a life together, build an empire. This is an American saga of one man’s ambition, the woman who stoked it, and the family whose complex identity it became. Snowden Wright takes us into the heart of the deep south with insight, sophistication, and humor. What a ride!” — Adriana Trigiani on American Pop
“You’ll be up all night reading American Pop; rich, Mississippians loose on the world, committing hi-jinks, and with a lovely satisfying ending. A great read.” — Paulette Jiles
