The 1920s is known as the Golden Age, the time of flappers, booze and parties, but few think about problems that occurred in the 1920s like racism, sexism and gang violence. The book “The Mayor of Maxwell Street” by Avery Cunningham focuses on these issues.
The story begins with the main character, Penelope “Nelly” Sawyer, who is going to Chicago for her brother’s funeral. Set in the year 1921, America is mixed up in Jim Crow laws and Prohibition. In the author’s words, “The year is 1921, and America is burning.” Nelly Sawyer is a young black woman who is originally from Kentucky and the daughter of the wealthiest African American in America. But, even with a well-known family, Nelly is still invisible.
For a year, Nelly has been secretly writing for the Chicago Defender under the name Ira Brown. Now, she is ready to write under her real name and to be known for more than her property or wealth. Nelly wants her life to be more than a debutante or somebody’s wife. She wants to tell the stories of everyday black people that no one sees.
The only way Nelly will get her real name in that paper is to write about the Mayor of Maxwell Street, a shadowy spirit who controls most of Chicago. On her dangerous mission, Nelly implores the help of Jay Shorey, a sharp-dressed man who can charm his way out of anything.
Nelly Sawyer is a very relatable character on most fronts. She is determined to follow her dreams and find a meaning for her life. While she does not care for her wealth or popularity, she is not above using it to further her goals. She is willing to do whatever it takes to complete her mission, even when it puts herself and others in danger. While her determination is admirable, Nelly seems to be oblivious to the repercussions of her actions. Her recklessness and fixation on her goal make her character somewhat unlikable.
Jay Shorey is a man of many secrets and one of Nelly’s love interests. Throughout the book Jay seems to do his best to protect Nelly and keep her out of the danger she puts herself in. Jay’s character is very complicated and almost impossible to truly understand. He lives a life of danger, with his charm and ability to pass for white being the only thing that gets him by. While Jay may be frustrating at times, he is easily one of the more likable characters.
Part of what makes the characters seem more relatable is their actions when facing the prejudice of others. Nelly has to constantly deal with the racism and sexism of the time period she was born in, something that sadly many still deal with today.
The tense scenes that the author writes between Nelly and Jay are very well written. The strong connection and the undeniable attraction between the characters only make their relationship more complicated.
The story had many unexpected plot twists, with the author keeping the reader second-guessing the outcome of many situations. While the book is long -totaling 508 pages- it is worth reading. Once started, the book is hard to put down. It is a perfect read for anyone who loves a historical mystery.
by Haley “Kat” Shepherd
