The Mayor of Maxwell Street

De: Avery Cunningham

Narrado por: Bahni Turpin

"A debut novel everyone will be talking about", Avery Cunningham's epic love story is "a triumph" and "a tale of intrigue, racial tension, and class warfare, set against the glamorous and gritty backdrop of early 20th century Chicago".

When a rich Black debutante enlists the help of a low-level speakeasy manager to identify the head of an underground crime syndicate, the two are thrust into the dangerous world of Prohibition-era Chicago.

The year is 1921, and America is burning. A fire of vice and virtue rages on every shore, and Chicago is its beating heart.

Nelly Sawyer is the daughter of the “wealthiest Negro in America”, whose affluence catapulted his family to the heights of Black society. After the unexpected death of her only brother, Nelly becomes the premier debutante overnight. But Nelly has aspirations beyond society influence and marriage. For the past year, she has worked undercover as an investigative journalist, sharing the achievements and tribulations of everyday Black people living in the shadow of Jim Crow. Her latest assignment thrusts her into the den of a dangerous vice lord: the so-called Mayor of Maxwell Street.

Born in rural Alabama to a murdered biracial couple, Jay Shorey knows firsthand what it means to be denied a chance at the American dream. When a tragic turn of fate gave Jay a rare path out, he took it without question. He washed up on Chicago’s storied shores and forged his own way to the top of the city’s underworld, running Chicago's swankiest speakeasy, where the rich and famous rub elbows with gangsters and politicians alike.

When Nelly’s and Jay’s paths cross, she recruits him to help expose the Mayor and bring about lasting change in a corrupt city. But Jay also introduces a whole new world to Nelly, one where her horizons can extend beyond the confines of her ivory tower. Trapped between the monolith of Jim Crow, the inflexible world of the Black upper class, and the violence of Prohibition-era Chicago, Jay and Nelly work together and stoke the flames of a love worth fighting for.

Debut author Avery Cunningham’s stunning novel is at once an epic love story, a riveting historical drama, and a brilliant exploration of Black society and perseverance when the ‘20s first began to roar.

©2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc. (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

I loved the narrator!

So…Nelly, Nelly, Nelly! She is something else! I found myself going back and forth with Nelly both loving her and screaming at her all the same time. Her youth is what made her so recognizable. Nelly’s strength as a young woman is a reminder that we all eventually grow up. Life will do that. Some reviews had me not wanting to listen to this book, but after the prologue and the narrator’s ability to carry every accent, I was taken away. Avery Cunningham is a great storyteller. I’m looking forward to the next book!

An Amazing Debut

I rounded up to a 5 because overall I really really enjoyed the book. The writing is great, very descriptive. I love the time period and the overall premise of the characters being wealthy and intelligent because it did exist in the 1920s for AA’s and I believe those stories should be told just as much as the poor/slave/down trodden stories are told. The only thing I didn’t like was the ending.

*SPOILERS*

*SPOILERS*

Ok that should be enough distance for me to mention my spoilers. Who was Sam and why was there no story on him? I knew who the Mayor was from the start but I wish the author would’ve written more about him and why he did all that he did in the book. The devastating events with her parents were skimmed over. What happened to Sequoia? I wish there was more told in the last hour of the book to really wrap it up and it would have been perfect. That really is my only complaint.

this story kept me guessing the whole way through

I loves the story, the suspense and the narrator. Will be looking for more like this! I enjoyed traveling back in time, seeing black people thrive and a happy ending.

Slow moving, but great at parts

I feel like so much of this book was filler. I am glad I listened to it because I don't think I would have finished had it been a physical read for me.

Outstanding Historical Fiction

This is a well written literary work. The story telling is exceptional. The content delivery brings every element vividly to life. This is the best novel I have read in some time.

Amazing book!

Amazing book, it kept my attention through to the end. The narrator did an outstanding job voicing the characters and keeping me engaged.

Better Ending next time!

For a debut novel it was well done & the narrator (Audible) was excellent!

I knew nothing about the book except a small excerpt online so I had no expectations. I enjoyed the history, the insight and the character detail, however the plot fell very short for me.

Nelly is a wonderful character I enjoyed greatly, but her choices & plot line didn't line up for me. The romance she follows wasn't believable & the one in front of her that made the most sense fell flat.

I guessed who the Mayor was immediately & thought it would be fun to see if I could find clues throughout the story. Sadly I don't think any of them lined up once the Mayor is finally revealed. What should have been a major moment in the story left me so confused.
In addition the final chapter added further confusion & the epilogue which could have helped with the ending wasn't believable at all when it's not that it's only one year later.

All this to say, I would grab Avery Cunningham's next book and read it with an open mind. There was plenty of good in this book that I believe could be worked out with a second go around.

It was okay

It was a pretty okay book, I loved the story line of it but the ending of it was a bit disappointing for me.

Great Historical Read

This was a great story about class, wealth, and race and how each affects each other. This was a great story about how Penelope Sawyer persevered in spite of loss due to hidden secrets. In the end she was able to grow her wealth drastically and provide generational wealth for her family.

Descriptive details

Wow! I was hooked through the whole story. So many twists and turns! Really drew me in!