Percival Everett: The Trees, Picador,,Uk, paperback and ebook

After reading Percival Everett's masterpiece " James" , I wanted to know more about his work and downloaded "The Trees"  for which he was also shortlisted for the Booker in 2022. 

Money, Mississippi:  a place predominately populated by white racist trash, becomes suddenly the center of attention when 3 male bodies are discovered brutally murdered, 2 white men, one black man holding the testicales of the others in his hand. All hell breaks loose, quickly two black detectives are dispatched to investigate but they are soon confronted with the violent past of the south, a history of lynchings and soon a number of copycat killings. Add to that some goofy, eccentric characters and Everett pulls off the impossible. 

It is hard to believe how such a serious subject can be comical but I found myself laughing a few times at the absurdity and grotesqueness of situations, the language and the behavior of the protagonists. How to sum it up? A cross between mystery, comedy and horror show digging into histoy,  this is a fabulous book, loved it!