Books like Lightning men by Thomas Mullen

Set in a rapidly changing Atlanta of 1950, Lightning Men follows City Police Officer Denny Rakestraw and African American detectives Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith as they navigate escalating racial tensions. Black families, including Smith’s sister, move into former all‑white neighborhoods, sparking unrest. When Rakestraw’s brother‑in‑law attempts to rally the Ku Klux Klan to defend their community, the plan spirals out of control, forcing Rakestraw to choose between loyalty to family and duty to the law. Meanwhile, Boggs and Smith work to stop the supply of white lightning and drugs into their territory, confronting corrupt cops, former criminals, and extremist factions. The novel blends crime, mystery, and historical elements with intense police procedural drama set against the backdrop of mid‑century racism in Atlanta.

First publish date: 2017