The Justus Girls

Several friends recommended this book to me. With a lead like, Who killed Peaches, and the mention of a drill team, I didn't know quite what to expect. The Justus Girls turned out to be a tale of everlasting friendship and womanhood. But, it's not your run-of-the-mill read. There is mystery and intrigue interspersed throughout. It starts out in the present, in West Philadelphia, with the funeral of one of the original Justus Girls, a drill team that was created in the 60's. The story is told through the lives of the three remaining friends who come together to discover the murderer of their friend. It shows us how the drill team, as well as the enduring friendships were created. It shows what each of them had to go through to make them into the women that they became. They each had their own troubles. It shows how we all need friends to lean on at those times in our lives.Peaches' came up hard and made up for it by becoming a good-time girl/barmaid who loved to have fun. Roach is the spiritual one who turned to Islam. Mustang Sally is the not so silent type with the often biting tongue. Then there's always the one that is strong for everyone, and that one is Jan, but there is a time when that strength deserts her and her friends are there to bolster her up. I guess you'd say that it takes all kinds to make a world. In this case you couldn't be more right. There's also the old-time, one-legged pimp, Daddy-Baby, who I see as the godfather type, ghetto-style and his lady RedTop. There's Ursula, Peaches' mother and her friend Vaa, the gay savior.Pick it up, read it and you'll be recommending it to all of your friends too. I guarantee it!

As an author with my debut novel in its initial release that deals with social injustice in contemporary California, I found Slim Lambright's THE JUSTICE GIRLS fascinating. At the funeral of a murdered friend, three women are reunited. As a foursome, these women, then girls, grew up in working class Philadelphia during the 1950's and formed their own drill team that they named The Justus Girls. They were best friends then, and they promised to always be there for one another. As time passed, they grew apart. Together, the quartet experienced most of the diverse elements that impacted America in general and African-American women in particular over the next few decades. Through flashbacks and memories, Lambright allows the reader to experience the women's experiences. While they band together at the funeral to discover what actually happened to their murdered friend, they discover much much more. The reader does too. I recommend this book highly.

The Justus Girls by Slim Lambright is an impressive debut. The story includes all the ingredients of a wonderful read: suspense, drama, memorable characters, vivid imagery, sharp and witty dialogue, and strong writing. The Justus Girls were four African American girls from blue-collar families who resided in inner city Philly during the `50s/'60s. The Girls-Peaches, Jan, Sally and Rachel/Roach later known as Rasheda-- were so close and did everything together that they decided to form a drill team during their childhood and they made a vow that they would always be their for one another. Unfortunately, as they grew up they would also drift apart. As the story opens, three decades later, the remaining friends are gathered at the funeral of Peaches who has been murdered. They're surprised at how time and distance caused them to loose contact with one another but they promise to rekindle their friendship and find out the truth about who killed Peaches. But in the process they will also rediscover each other and learn that the bond they established years ago might have been slightly cracked but it was never really broken.The Justus Girls was a poignant and heartwarming read. I enjoyed how Lambright navigated us back into time and how we lived each girl's life via a series of flashbacks. We witnessed how their futures were shaped by alcohol, promiscuity, the husbands they choose, the dreams they pursued, and long-held secrets that each of them were afraid of being exposed. These characters truly jump off the pages and into your life. Lambright weaved a tale so revealing about friendship and supporting each other that for a moment I thought this was my life story she was talking about. The Justus Girls is probably one of the best written, best developed, best plot twists and turns storylines that I have had the pleasure to read by a new author in quite sometime. This novel just touched me on so many levels...and I liked that it wasn't overwritten. Lambright set up scenes and situations and gave you enough information to wet your taste and satisfy your need for details without going overboard. I think folks who remember growing up during the late 50s/60s will really enjoy this book cause it takes you back to when it was a different world from what you know today...when folks truly cared about one another and everyone in the community felt like your family. I look forward to more novels from this writer as this book was da bomb and off the hook good! I can't say enough good things about this book so I will just close by saying...pick up a copy today and curl up with it. I think you will enjoy the story immensely and if you like it as much as I did you will want to read it in one sitting. And Slim...I look forward to future books from you...you're an exciting and welcomed addition to the literary community. Ps...This review is not a paid endorsement...I just really enjoyed this book and wanted to let others know!

Lambright mixes the right amount of suspense, drama, and detail into this novel to make The Justus Girls a page-turner and easy read. Her storytelling ability is great--drawing us into their world, providing us insight into each of the four main character's background and watching them grow into adulthood.The story opens with the murder of one of the JG's, a childhood drill team that blossomed four friends, who reunite and rekindle their friendship as they vow to find the killer of their dear friend. The book takes them on a journey of self discovery and growth and their experiences strengthen the bonds of friendship discovered early in childhood.This is a well written novel with many interesting, colorful characters, and sub-plots. It moves and reads well. I'm looking forward to Ms. Lambright's next body of work.

Let's give this writer and these ladies a hand! I wish I had some ladies like the JustUs Girls holding my back. This is one heck of a story. I wanted to smack the heck out of Ursula, I feel that Elmo definitely got justice served, and sad to say, Peaches didn't get what she definitely wanted. The killer of Peaches will surprise you. May even sadden you, yet despite all this, this is one heck of a book, and it richly deserves the five stars it has got by me. Please read it, and if you have a girlfriend you've been neglecting, get back in her life before it's too late.