MAJESTIC HILLS

4 stars out of 5

I enjoyed this book, but it’s far more of a relationship/social inequality story than the mystery or nail-biting adventure that I expected based on the description. The story revolves around married couple Langdon and Josephine Blaque (oddly appropriate since they’re Black); she’s a hot-shot partner in a downtown Chicago law firm and he’s a new physician who longs to leave their mid-town high-rise condo in favor of the way more laid-back rural area so he can come home from work to peace and tranquility. Getting her to switch gears, though, has been a hard sell.

Then he finds Majestic Hills, a relatively new, custom-designed remote suburban community, and falls in love. Alas, his wife isn’t feeling that love at all; it takes quite a bit of convincing on Langdon’s part – and a compromise to give it a year before deciding to return to the city or not (he, of course, prays it will be the latter). They sublet their condo and, albeit with more than a little reluctance on her part, off they go.

Needless to say, it wouldn’t be much of a story if everything went smoothly (or, conversely, so badly that even Langdon is ready to return home). To be sure, the new place has benefits; the house itself – and all those surrounding it – is quite nice, and the neighbors (mostly white) seem far more friendly and welcoming than Josephine expected. But all too soon, things begin to unravel; what is touted as an idyllic community begins to fall apart. Prime among the revelations is the discovery of a secluded community of near-destitute people – mostly Black – upon whom Majestic Hills developers and community leaders turn a blind eye. But thanks to recent events, awareness of that neglected section of town, so to speak, is turning neighbor against neighbor and exposing the undercurrent of racism.

The rest of the story follows what happens, and it’s not pretty. Details, I’m afraid, are not for me to provide, nor will I reveal how it ends (though I will say I was a little disappointed, but mostly because I felt most sorry for a couple of characters who don’t even play a role in the story but who drew the short end of the stick through no fault of their own). Anyway, it’s a well-written tale, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering me a pre-release copy to read and review.

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner (Scribner, August 2026); 336 pp.