“It’s too easy, you know? It’s easy to forget that the system isn’t right. I’m not just talking about these particular homicides. I’m talking about the whole thing. The whole system. Too much power in the wrong hands. Everything out of order.”
———————-
This book was incredible, and I had never even heard of it until Riverhead gifted it. That seems wrong, somehow. Moore dealt with incredibly intense subject matter so well. She captured the subtexts of privilege and poverty, and how a childhood of grief and neglect could reverberate through adulthood. Moore showed how those who are vulnerable are often “easy” victims, and how wrong that is. 

The dialogue and pacing of conversations was brilliant. Additionally Mickey’s own progression and acceptance of how she was harmed and her unwillingness to see the truth led to further harm of those she loved. 

It was infuriating, but real, how many people knew about the abuses of power and did nothing to stop it. I think Moore also captured the realities of addiction so well- how that supersedes anything that could possibly be of importance and how that shame spiral keeps you trapped.

There were some really good twists here that weren’t obvious to me. I felt like the ending was perfect. We don’t get certainty about the future or any specific outcome, because there isn’t any.

I also loved the nod to help people of privilege feel entitled to both gentrify and reject the neighborhoods they are part of. An excellent book.