CANNABIS & KILLING: KELLI STANLEY'S THE RECKONING

In The Reckoning, Kelli Stanley deals in secrets on both micro and macro levels. It begins is classic noir fashion, in 1985, with its protagonist Renata Drake, coming into town on a Greyhound bus, miles away from her mysterious past. However this is no normal town. Garberville, California is supported by its cash crop of marijuana. There is an understanding of local law, but outside agencies have it under surveillance to bring their business down.

Cannabis isn't the only crime going on. A teenage girl, recently disappeared, adding to two that have in the past three years. Whatever Renata is running from connects her to these girls and drives a need to get them justice. She uses an assumed name, gets a janitorial gig at the local hospital, and goes to sleuthing. She uncovers secrets that put her between the locals and those outsiders wanting to arrest them.

Stanley creates the story's mood organically, Most of this is done with her protagonist clashing with the setting. She brings out the color and detail of Garberville more through it's citizens than descriptions of rain and wood panelled taverns. There is also the situation Renata is in. Stanley has enough faith in her story to mine the suspense and mood out of the small town wat of everybody in your business being a necessity of survival.

Suspense also comes out of Renaa and her mysterious background. Stanley often introduces us to women who hold a lot of femme fatale traits that you learn over the story are survivors due to their attitude and actions and by the end heroines in their own right. Much of the tension in the book comes from her building relationships where she needs to get people to show their cards while avoiding to reveal as little of herself.

The Reckoning is a perfect example of protagonist against society. What makes it work so well is that you end up having an understanding and compassion for bot as they end up with the same enemies and we get what each has at stake. Each chapter opens with more risk to both. If you smoke anything while reading, make sure it's not something that makes you paranoid.