The Dying Ground

This outstanding first novel, set in crack-riddled Oakland of 1989, is one of the most accurate portraits of the friendships and conflicts of young black men in the inner city I've come across. Although the book is subtitled "A Hip-Hop Noir Novel" it doesn't really have much to do with either (the hip-hop mostly comes from a minor character who speaks in lyrics and a cameo by Too Short, the noir refers mainly to the importance of the past--a central theme in film noir and in the book), rather, it's a highly inventive twist on the traditional procedural.Cut from much the same cloth as Boyz N the Hood, and indeed greatly in debt to it, the book kicks off with an excellent (and highly cinematic) barbershop confrontation. The killing of local drug baron Billy, propels his two childhood friends, Maceo and Holly, into a quest to find his killer and Billy's missing girlfriend, Flea. Former high school baseball star and recent Berkeley dropout Maceo Redfield makes an unlikely, and very flawed, detective. Until now, he's always managed to stay out of the hustler's drug life, never having to pick sides due to his untouchable athlete status. However once his old friend is killed, he decides he must find Flea and avenge Billy as a matter of honour, even if it means getting involved with people much nastier than he can ever be.Tramble exposes the empty codes of honour for what they are through the outsider character of Alixe, who challenges Maceo to walk away from it all. And just as Maceo couldn't face a tough challenge in college, he can't face this one, "Despite my family, my talent or even myself, all any of us felt we had was the game.... invented manhood." Even though he's got everything to lose, and little to gain, one reads on, hoping Maceo will manage to squeak through against the odds and come out clean. This book (just like Boyz N the Hood) makes a vivid point about how even the those with solid upbringing and potentially bright futures can still get caught up in all kinds of nonsense.The book's biggest strength is Tramble's remarkable ability to reach into each character's head and come up with just the right voice and make that come alive on paper. Her skill is evident in that she accomplishes this across all ages and both sexes. The use of local slang and pronunciation is blended effortlessly in every conversation. The book's other real strength is the vivid depiction of time and place--Tramble makes Oakland come alive. If you like this book, check out Jervy Tervalon's "Living for the City" or pretty much anything by George Pelecanos. Tervalon's short stories about growing up in LA, and Pelecanos' D.C. crime novels have the same strengths in voice and setting as this book.

The writer rocked this book. I had a hard time believing it was a woman because she wrote the male characters (Maceo, Holly, Daddy Al)so well but she worked it out to the last page.Here's how the author describes Felicia Bennett, Maceo's unrequited love, "She wore a goold bracelet on her ankle and an upside down question mark tattooed just below it. I couldn't think of a single thing to add, and neither could God".Describing the main character's feelings about Oakland, "Alixe, as an outsider to Oakland and me, had exposed my shallow, insular world in one conversation. I resented that. If she opened me up what would she find? A map of Oakland where my heart should be. That's all the definition I had: my neighborhood, my city, the like-minded friends with our sticky web of unwritten rules. Despite my family, my talent or even myself, all any of us felt we had was the game. A sport with its own set of regulations. Invented manhood. Winner take death".The book is filled with pages like that. The writer got so far down into Maceo, I feel like there's nothing I don't know about this kid. What's next for my man Maceo Albert Bouchaund Redfield. When's the next book? The movie? Ice Cube, where you at, son? This book got your name all over it...don't sleep!

The Washington Post ran an excellent review of this book, and then it was assigned at my book club. It just blew me away. The characters were so detailed and thorough. The city of Oakland came alive, and somehow the author managed to weave humor into an otherwise dark story. The love story is just heartbreaking, and I thought about Maceo Redfield (the main character) for days after I finished this book. Apparently, the author is writing a sequel and I just can't wait to find out what happened to everyone. Good job, Nichelle Tramble and all the best with the new book. You have a new fan! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a generational story that resonates with sly social commentary. You're missing out if you miss The Dying Ground!!!

Nichelle did an excellent job of bringing us back to Oakland 1989. She tells a story that cannot be more real for the reader, whether you are from Oakland, down with hip hop, in the dope game or not. There didn't seem to be a detail missed (although I thought the earthquake was gonna be mentioned towards the end). Nichelle did her research because she got down and dirty with the drug/street game as well as hit home with some of the Bay Area/Oakland history lessons. So *did* George Lucas base the AT-ATs off the cargo cranes in Oakland or what?The language she used in this novel is real, a blend of Oakland slang mixed with a natural flow that was worthy of reading this book aloud. This book was a great read and much love to Nichelle for writing this well crafted book. Did I mention the suspense has you reading til the end and asking for more?

The Dying Ground is one of the best novels I've ever read. Nichelle D. Tramble's debut novel is hard-hitting and gritty and goes from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds with the suspense meter.THE DYING GROUND takes us to Oakland, CA...circa 1989, drug wars, crack and gun fire runs rampant in the streets, and we're introduced to Maceo Redfield, a young black man who has always been on the conservative side of ganging and slanging, opting for college instead of drugs and guns. Since slightly parted, Maceo laments over the break-up of his childhood friendship with Billy Crane and Holly Ford, two well-known men in the drug world. When Billy Crane is murdered, Maceo finds himself teaming with Holly to bring Billy's murderer to justice...and to find Felicia, Billy's girlfriend and his first true love. Maceo's decision finds him immersed in violence and drugs and dealers and the dark side, ultimately leading to a shocking, painful climax...he learns that there are ALWAYS prices to pay when you play on the dying ground.Tramble's description of the dark side of urban life - violence, drugs, death - were so vivid and sadly, true to life, that you're immediately drawn into the world that she creates. As much drama that ensues, this book is a wonderful suspense as well, and will leave you flipping pages with the swiftness to reach the end, because Tramble gives NOTHING away in this book...you want to know who did it...and why? Read to the very last page. This novel is a stark SHOCK of reality, a reality we rarely see between the pages of a novel, a reality filled with pain, but Tramble writes so deliciously through her characters, you make it through the pain to realize what a literary gem THE DYING GROUND is!