Night. Sleep. Death. Stars. Joyce Carol Oates. 2020.

The former mayor of a prosperous American city, a strong-willed, popular local figure, John Earle ‘Whitey’ McLaren precipitates a personal tragedy by attempting to intervene in what he perceives to be a gross injustice committed b y police officers.

In the wake of this encounter, which reverberates through the lives of the McClaren family, each of his adult children reacts in startling and unexpected ways and his grieving widow, Jessalyn in the most surprising way of all.

Stark and penetrating, Joyce Carol Oates’ latest novel is aa vivid exploration of race, psychological trauma, class warfare, grief and eventual healing.