The Case Of The Insufferable Slave (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
In a world where the “War Between the States” has never really ended, the meaning of being a slave has changed, but slavery is still a very large part of the society. Flint is a private detective (think along the lines of a Dashiell Hammett character), but in this society a respectable PI has a slave. Flint doesn’t really want a slave, but when Friday “Day” shows up on his doorstep they both have to make it work. This book is full of wonderful characters and an intriguing mystery. Brilliantly done! Alternate realities have always fascinated me, especially the ones that are cleverly done. In “The Case of the Insufferable Slave”, set in the Atlanta of a very-different-from-our-reality 1960s, the American South has won the war, and slavery has been incorporated into modern society. Businesses are run by using slaves instead of employees, so is the police force. Basically anyone in an “assistant” capacity is more likely to be a slave than a free person. Many people used to be slaves but have earned (or bought) their freedom, and slavery is not tied to any particular skin color. This world is dark and gritty, and detective Flint, while one of the main characters, is not a “morally unambiguous, clean hero”. He is, however, a fascinating and complex man, as is his newly acquired slave named Friday.Flint, who also goes by several other names, depending on who you’re talking to, has recently established himself as a PI, and is looking for business. A mysterious and powerful man sends him Friday “since severe detective needs a salve”, but Flint is oddly resistant. As the story progresses, and I better understood what Flint’s issues are, Flint and Friday develop an odd relationship where Friday tries to prove his worth and Flint tries to prove he is better off without Friday’s help or companionship. As it turns out, Flint is the one with the bigger problem.Friday has a mysterious past, but some of it was clearly abusive. He is very quiet about who he is or what he wants, but as the story progresses it becomes clear he is involved in some very shady machinations. Twist after twist follows, and Flint’s current case turns out to be far more than either Flint or Friday expect.If you like alternate realities and are a bit of a history fan, if you enjoy detectives trying to solve murky cases, and if you’re looking for a gritty mystery with a touch of romance, then you will probably enjoy this free novella.
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