Shelf Control: Mecca, by Susan Straight

Shelf Control is a feature where bloggers pick an unread book from our shelves and talk about it a little. It's supposed to be a Wednesday thing but I have French Movie Mercredi on Wednesdays already, so. Shelf Control is hosted at BookshelfFantasies.com.

 This week's selection is Mecca, by Susan Straight.

Mecca came to my attention via the legendary Ron Charles of the Washington Post, who reviewed it just before I was going to take a trip to Southern California. Ron Charles is one of my favorite book humans and I definitely follow his reviews closely.

Johnny Frias has California in his blood. A descendant of the state's indigenous people and Mexican settlers, he has Southern California's forgotten towns and canyons in his soul. He spends his days as a highway patrolman pulling over speeders, ignoring their racist insults, and pushing past the trauma of his rookie year, when he killed a man assualtinga young woman named Bunny, who ran from the scene, leving Johnny without a witness. But like the Santa Ana winds that every year bring the risk of fire, Johnny's moment of action twenty years ago sparked a slow-burning chain of connections that unites a vibrant, complex cast of characters in ways they never see coming.

How and when I got it:

I bought it in April at Diesel Bookstore in Santa Monica.

Why I Want to Read It:

California is my happy place and I love reading fiction and nonfiction set there. This sounded like a great read and came recommended as I said by my favorite critic.

You can buy Mecca at Bookshop.org. I receive a small commission on sales.