Noir Atmosphere, Racism, and Crime in Thomas Mullen's Darktown

Darktown, a novel by Thomas Mullen, published by Polis Books and translated by Hilda Papadimitriou, is set in the American South after World War II.

The story follows two of the first African American police officers in Atlanta, Georgia, during an era of intense racial discrimination. Racism is central to the narrative, influencing the investigation into the murder of a black girl and the challenges faced by the officers.

The novel explores the obstacles, dangers, and corruption faced by the protagonists, as well as the difficulty of trusting those who seem to deviate from the racist norm.

Mullen combines the requirements of a crime novel with a critical approach to social reality, highlighting the depth and extent of racism in America before the civil rights movement.