Nightcrawling: A novel

A sensational novel, recognized as a New York Times bestseller and endorsed by Oprah's Book Club, unfolds the gripping story of a young Black woman navigating the streets of Oakland, where she inadvertently confronts the shortcomings of the justice system. This debut work, characterized by an exceptionally original narrative voice, has been described as bursting at the seams with every page, engulfing readers in its depth (praised by Tommy Orange, author of There There).

Acknowledged as one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, TIME, and GOODREADS, the narrative revolves around Kiara and her brother Marcus, residing in the optimistically named Regal-Hi apartment complex in East Oakland. Both siblings have abandoned their high school education, grappling with a family torn apart by death and imprisonment.

While Marcus clings to his aspirations of achieving rap stardom, Kiara tirelessly seeks employment to cover their escalating rent and ensure the well-being of a neglected nine-year-old boy next door, abandoned by his mother. A seemingly innocent encounter with a stranger during a night of drinking transforms into an unexpected job opportunity for Kiara—nightcrawling. Her world expands even further when she finds herself entangled in an investigation, revealing her as a crucial witness in a major scandal within the Oakland Police Department.

Nightcrawling, rich with unfiltered beauty, intense energy, and profound vulnerability, marks the remarkable debut of a narrative voice that stands apart from anything previously heard.