I loved this startling and astonishingly well-written debut novel! Avery Cunningham is truly an artist with words and story, an author I hope to see much more of in the future. The narrative is complex and contains a multitude of characters, yet I felt comfortable and cognizant at all times while reading.
The Mayor of Maxwell Street is set in Chicago during the early 1920s, the beginning of the Prohibition Era and a time of corruption and gangsters. This time was also a time of increased opportunities for Black people in the North. Nelly, the book’s protagonist, comes from a wealthy Black family who made their fortune breeding racehorses in Kentucky. Chicago offers social opportunities, and Nelly is to be presented at a debutante ball with the hope of finding her a suitable husband. Nelly is an intelligent, independent woman with other ideas for her future. That future is jeopardized by Nelly’s investigation into the underbelly of Chicago crime.
The novel is described as “an epic love story,” but I think this is an egregious disrespect for the depth of material in the book. True, love interests and attractions exist, but the book is significantly more than a tale of love. The history of Chicago, the discrimination and menace shown to Black people, the segregation and hatred between people of varied ethnicities, the inner workings of high society, and the gangster underworld are convincing and powerful. Avery Cunningham’s prose is polished and stimulating. The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a breathtaking debut novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC of this book. ( )