This book was excruciating to read at times because of the sheer pain of many of its characters. Here is my book review Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

As a beautiful 17 year old black women, Kiara should be living and loving her life. But circumstances have her nowhere near happiness. Her family life is in shambles with death, prison, drugs and poverty. Kiara has not where to turn – including to her brother who has been her one strength. Brother Marcus has his own demons, and is drifting farther away from Kiara.

In a desperate decision to try to earn enough money to not be evicted, Kiara turns to the streets. A chance meeting with a local prostitute and an unexpected moment in a bar, will hurl Kiara into the life of a Nightcrawler in Oakland.

The consequences of her choice will loose her friends but keep the rent paid, until she is caught up into a scandal inside the Oakland Police Department.

Gut wrenching, horrific and brutal – Nightcrawling is a story of the failure in our society to protect minors, deal with drug abuse and mental illness. It is also the story of powerful abuse and occasional police brutality hidden deep and overlooked by the justice system. Based loosely on a real life event in Oakland years ago, Mottley’s fictional tale will take your breath away even as a story of survival.

Thank you for reading my book review Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

Four stars for Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley

Read last week’s book review The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O’Farrell

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