Little White Lies

Riley (Too Much Boogie) offers a powerful message in a scathingly pensive urban crime tale exposing the pathologies of unscrupulous stereotyped justice. Melvin is a typical teenager, who spends his days wondering how to use his basketball skills to better his future, thinking about his girlfriend, and trying to earn respect from his peers. After being played by his girlfriend and a disastrous basketball performance, all it takes is a little pressure from peers to convince Melvin to accompany them for a night of wild partying. As Melvin awakes from a drugged stupor covered in blood he finds himself pinned as the mastermind behind a heinously brutal crime against two white girls. Unsuspecting and ill-equipped to prevail against ruthless cops, treacherous friends, a politician father out for revenge and power, an inexperienced public defender, and a family without resources, Melvin's innocence and naivety spirals down a rabbit hole. Juggling around the prison system breaks his spirit leading to a frustrated suicidal act. Melvin's hope for justice fades until a diligent journalist gets at the truth. While the plot is rough around the edges with a mindless erotically charged beginning and slightly rushed ending, the subdued writing of the stream-of-consciousness thoughts as Melvin process his situation over the years is powerful and disturbing and will haunt the reader after the last page. Best suited for readers of social justice tales. (Nov.)