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BABY BROTHER’S BLUES
Pearl Cleage
One World, Mar 2006, $24.95
ISBN: 0345481100
Renowned R&B singer Blue Hamilton not only married communications expert Regina Burns (see SOME THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I'D DO), he quit the music industry to improve his neighborhood. The formerly run down West End of Atlanta has become a haven for blacks thanks to Blue and his top assistant General though some of his lethal tactics they employ upset those soft on criminals, as Blue defines what makes a crime. Whether it is raging hormones as she is pregnant, Regina fears someone will kill Blue when he takes cares of business his way as she believes he is righteously eliminating predators whose frightened females have come to the West End to escape.

Meanwhile US Army deserter named Baby Brother moves into the West End and quickly becomes a favorite of Blue as he seems to have the former singer’s back. However, Baby Blue is also extorting money from closet gay Kwame Hargrove, a married man with an infant; his mother is moving up the political ranks as a favorite of the morally right crowd. General has a new girlfriend after seeing what he perceives is a sign from the woman he loves, Blue’s deceased mom, but Baby Brother makes moves on his squeeze. All comes to a head when someone kills Baby Brother whose corpse is found in Kwame's loft.

This is a fascinating urban noir romance starring a charismatic hero who applies vigilante justice to clean the streets of his neighborhood. The story line is action packed with plenty of violence yet contains the message that it takes caring people to make a neighborhood a home. Though some readers will object to Blue’s style of justice, fans of his in your face methodology will enjoy this gory sequel.

Harriet Klausner


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