Folio. COPACII.

Brutal murders bring two state detectives to a rural town. The town is Parale, Mississippi. Each white victim has another body beside them. This body belongs to a Black man who looks like Emmett Till. A mob lynched Till there 65 years before. The body goes missing, then turns up at the next crime scene.

The sheriff, his deputy, and the coroner block the detectives’ work. White racists in town also stand in their way. At first, the agents think revenge drives the crimes. Then they learn of the same kind of killings across the country. They seek help from a local healer. She has spent years keeping a record of lynchings across the United States.

Percival Everett’s Copacii mixes crime fiction, horror, and dark comedy. Fast action and sharp talk drive the plot. The book leaves little room for long descriptions. The mystery deals with racism and police violence. It also explores hate passed down through families. The story confronts the Ku Klux Klan. It shows how outward looks can hide cruelty. The murder probe also explores America’s violent past. It shows how that past still holds power.