This gorgeous book cover perfectly captures the era this novel is set in.
Chicago 1921
Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, the daughter of Ambrose Sawyer, whose horse breeding empire in Kentucky catapulted his family into Black High Society, is in town to attend her older brother’s funeral. Now that she’s the sole heir to her family’s wealth, she is forced to remain in Chicago and do a proper coming out. But Nelly isn’t interested in cotillons. She dreams of becoming an investigative journalist for the Chicago Defender, and her next assignment is to expose the notorious Mayor of Maxwell Street, the suspected leader of an underground crime syndicate.
Jay Shorey is the son of murdered bi-racial parents. He fled rural Alabama to escape an angry mob and reinvented himself in Chicago. He manages a speakeasy and has connections to the underworld Nelly wants to infiltrate; she is a member of the society Jay desperately wants to be a part of. The chemistry in undeniable whenever their paths cross, but he is an enigma. The way he sheds his old life, adopts a new identity, and is involved in organized crime is giving Jay Gatsby. Nelly has no idea for whom she is falling.
In this story, the glitz and glamor of the roaring 20’s is mingled with the underbelly of Prohibition-era Chi-town. Speakeasy passwords, illegal champagne, gangstas, mafiosos, shady politicians, and the mystery surrounding this Mayor of Maxwell Street, who people paint as a boogeyman, make for an entertaining read. Side note: he didnt seem like such a bad guy to me. No worse than the other hoodlums. He just wanted them to stop fighting over turf and focus on getting bread together.
I liked Cunningham’s biting commentary on how Black wealth and being respectable Negroes is never enough for racists; how poor Blacks who migrated from the south had their aspirations dashed when they realized the arms of Jim Crow stretched north; and how Jay “passing” for white gives him access to different societies despite no one really knowing his background.
My only criticism was how passive Nelly is. Okay, yes, I understand she is Black and could face repercussions for retaliating against racists, despite her family’s wealth, but I needed her to show some bravery when faced with everyday racism. POSSIBLE SPOILER: There is a scene in which she visits a potential suitor. He’s loaded, so a white maid answers the door. Naturally, she assumes Nelly is the cook they desperately need. This bitch talked down to Nelly and reprimanded her for using the front door and at one point nudges her with her foot. I forgot why, but it doesn’t matter. Nelly should have mopped the floor with her. Instead, she chooses to play along. Goes around the back, because she wanted to see the look on the maid’s face when she left through the front door. I get it. She plays the long game, and in those times it was safer to play along and show racists how wrong they were. But, this is fiction and a heroine should put racists in their places IMMEDIATELY, because there were Blacks who didn’t take shit from racists back then. Plus, Nelly took a lot of risks to get the scoop on the Mayor. You’re going up against gangstas and can’t check this maid? I couldn’t relate to Nelly here, because I wasn’t going through anybody’s back door. Either fetch your master or fetch these hands. But, Nelly isn’t scrappy, so I get it. She’s a respectable Black and respectable Blacks don’t let people get the best of them, choosing to go high instead. Even today. Let Michelle Obama tell it. But I guess the look on the maid’s face when she realizes who she was messing with is worth it. I would’ve still gotten her fired though. Tuh!
That being said, this is a worthy read. Speaking of reads, there were scenes that made me laugh out loud because of the shade being thrown between Nelly and her “friend” Sequoia and Jay and Sequoia. Sequoia and everybody, basically. I put friend in quotes because she comes off as more a frenemy. Someone who makes it her job to know everybody’s business. People like that you have to keep at arm’s length because you don’t want them to know what you have going on. So, Nelly isn’t forthcoming with Sequoia about some things. Anyway, I enjoyed the witty banter. See below for an example.
As you can see, Jay gave as good as he got 🤣
I got this ARC from Netgalley. The Mayor of Maxwell Street will be released January 30th. This is Cunningham’s debut novel. Congratulations to her. This is a strong start. The writing is smart and a breath of fresh air. Over 500 pages, and she had my attention to the end. I furiously swiped the pages, because I couldn’t wait to find out who this Mayor is.
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