I’ve never read a Lovecraft book, and it’s definitely not necessary to enjoy this book. To start with, I love the references to Burroughs as these are books I read as a kid. The well-written connection to Jim Crow America sitting next to the supernatural was a fun connection. Here we have an almost all-black cast of characters who are rich in experience and detail. The sad part is the Jim Crow period wasn’t all that long ago nor are we completely clear of all the experiences in the book. We still have a ways to go in this country. In the end, this was a fast-moving creative story that did bounce around quite a bit but not at the expense of enjoying the story. A good mystery and fantastical tale with many tones of reality.