Author: Nina R. Schluntz
Publisher: MLR Press
Length: 173 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: I was thoroughly entertained by Not a Big Deal. If you’re looking for a quick read with an interesting plot, give this one a try.
Reviewed By: Maryann
Blurb: Conspiracies surface in the racist police department when Clayton, a white goody-goody cop, the police chief’s son, starts dating a black man from the projects.
Clayton’s hometown is full of white racist cops who enjoy targeting the dominantly black neighborhoods. His father, the police chief, has supposedly improved the situation.
After Clayton transfers to the department, he begins a relationship with a black man who lives in one of those neighborhoods. Clayton tries to keep his job and ties to the police force a secret from his new lover. It doesn’t help that his new love interest also has secrets, too.
Clayton has to decide who he should trust—his brothers in blue or the man sharing his bed.
Review: Trey is out making a pizza delivery to Mikey, his Tuesday and Thursday regular customer. Trey’s been doing this job for six years, making money to continue his education. When the door opens to Mikey’s apartment, Trey’s surprised to see a stranger standing in the doorway. Clayton Stanton is a cop, and Mikey’s best friend, and has come to help keep Mikey stick to a strict diet, so he’s more than surprised to see Trey with a pizza.
In keeping the delivery a secret, Clayton gets locked out of the apartment while explaining to Trey why the pizza cannot be accepted. When Clayton tries to get back in, Mikey carefully opens the door and catches Trey checking out Clayton. And then Mikey starts making deals on his weight reducing situation, such as “candy for dinner”.
Clayton begins to notice some suspicious activity within the police department and, eventually, brings it to the Chief of Police, who also happens to be his father. A father who uses poverty and the color of a man’s skin to gain popularity. When Trey and Clayton start dating, things don’t exactly turn out to well—they both have secrets that eventually come out.
Are the cops on the take? Will Clayton’s father do anything about it? Trey and his brothers, who have a very interesting business, also discover some shady goings-on, but will Clayton believe Trey?
I was thoroughly entertained by Not a Big Deal. It’s a fast and suspenseful read, packed with drama, and touches on the ways discrimination and poverty effect Trey and Clayton’s relationship. Trey and Clayton’s characters are well written, and the author gives us a really solid portrayal of both. Mikey is a great character; he’s somewhat of an instigator and definitely brings the humor to the story. If you’re looking for a quick read with an interesting plot, give Not A Big Deal a try.
You can buy Not a Big Deal here:
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