Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West is a powerful story that explores some heavier topics with trauma and domestic violence while weaving a mystery with a family saga that spans over decades, bonds and loyalty through friendship and gives a voice to racial injustice.

Through the voices of a few characters, Catherine Adel West tells us what it is like for a black community of faith living on the South Side of Chicago while painting a clear picture for us. She writes with empathy, grace and gives hope while exploring redemption and forgiveness. At times this picky reader struggled to connect with the characters and preferred to have been shown through their actions more allowing me to feel with the characters rather than for them.

I enjoyed the narrative of the chapters by the Calvary Hope Christin Church that perfectly reveals some turning points to the story that added some suspense to the story for me.

I enjoyed the twist to the mystery that came as a surprise for me. The built-up to the reveal was overshadowed by some excessive drama, however, everything wrapped up well for me and I appreciated this insightful story that left me feeling the author’s voice shined through. I highly recommend

“There is a time for war, but peace that’s the real prize.”
“You need to figure out when to fight and when to be still”

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.