Tracy Brown crafts a tale about a master manipulator and serial survivor, who will scorch earth to get what she wants. The question isn’t who murdered her; the question is who wouldn’t? Brooklyn Melody James has finally gotten the punishment she deserves after leaving a web of lies, heartache, and betrayal behind her. As her life slips away, Brooklyn remembers the events that shaped her into the cold, calculating creature she became. Brooklyn learned the art of hustling from her parents who used the church to get money. Idolizing her father and despising her mother, Brooklyn’s determined to be the type of woman who makes her own rules. When her back’s up against the wall, she sacrifices her family, takes the burnt offering that remains, and runs away. In NYC, young Brooklyn charms her way into the inner circle of hustlers and stick-up kids, learning tricks along the way. She catches the eye of a major player in the drug game, Hassan, and they have a breathless love affair. Brooklyn becomes integrated into his operation, earning the trust of Hassan and his associates. But when she gets the keys to the kingdom, driven by unfettered ambition and a ruthless desire to survive, Brooklyn snatches the pot of gold, leaving bitter retribution promises behind her. From DC to Maryland, Brooklyn burns bridges and breaks hearts. What she doesn't realize is that someone is prepared to end her reign of terror. As she faces her killer and her fate, Brooklyn’s stunned that justice comes from the least likely place.
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I just finished Brooklyn by Tracy Brown and here are my musings.
Brooklyn lives a repressed life. Devoutly religious parents stifle her so much that she dreams of the day she can escape. She finds some reprieve after bumping into her best friend's cousin. A hustler and much older than her. They start a secret relationship and he pays her to run drugs for him. Her best friend calls her and tells her that her cousin plans to get married. To someone else. Anger pulses through her and she confronts him. This is when her life spirals.
She ends up fleeing her family, stealing from their church and getting into the game for herself. When she meets Hassan and they start a relationship. Running drugs and making plans but things don't go as planned for Brooklyn .
Have you ever started a book and not had a clue what it is about because the title gives away nothing? That was me on this book. I went in totally blind and it did not disappoint me!
Brooklyn wanted a life free from constraint. She hated watching her parents live their hypocritical lives. I started off liking Brooklyn but towards the end of the book... I didn't like her anymore. She was selfish and cruel. She reminded me of her mother. She was the same.
I don't know much about the subject of drug trade but it seemed like the author knew what they were talking about. It felt real and I enjoyed the hustle. It was well paced and I was hooked right in. The ending was great, I wasn't expecting it. I was blown away to be honest.
I don't read many thriller dramas but this one has me thirsting for more.
4 stars!
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my gifted copy
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