As the Wicked Watch
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

A serial killer targeting young Black women in the city of Chicago, and a long-standing tangle of political and police indifference and/or blindness to crimes against Blacks, are what a Black journalist confronts in Hall's street-smart debut mystery, the first in a projected series. Jordan Manning is a TV reporter who specializes in covering violent crimes. The discovery of the body of a young Black woman in a vacant lot near the El tracks galvanizes Manning in a way that sends her from reporting to investigating on her own. The police are quick to dismiss the victim as a runaway, but the teen's background as an honor student from a solid home screams out otherwise to Manning. From the start, readers will be intrigued by the myriad skills that go into street reporting, from figuring out which calls to the TV station's tip line are credible to how to develop sources, how to set up shots and interview difficult or traumatized subjects on-air, and how to avoid being manipulated by sources with agendas. Manning's determination to find the killer behind eight unsolved homicides leads her down increasingly dangerous paths. A pulse-pounding story that also provides a fascinating and important look into the difficulties of reporting on and finding justice for Black victims.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Emmy Award--winning Hall's extensive background as a TV journalist, including reporting for NBC and anchoring for MSNBC, infuses a great deal of credibility and behind-the-scenes verve to her first crime novel.

Set in 2007 Chicago, Emmy Award--winning broadcast journalist Hall's outstanding debut and series launch introduces TV journalist Jordan Manning. A tenacious reporter, Jordan has been making a name for herself by arriving first at crime scenes. When the body of 15-year-old African American Masey James is found in an abandoned lot, Jordan refuses to believe the girl was a runaway, as the police insist. Masey had a promising future, having just been accepted into a prestigious STEM program at a distinguished high school. Jordan puts the demands of her job and her personal life on hold in her effort to discover who murdered Masey, and comes to suspect the girl was the victim of a serial killer. Hall brings insight and nuance to such matters as journalism ethics, police treatment of murder cases involving Black women, and competition among journalists and their reliance on those behind the scenes. Readers will want to see a lot more of intelligent, ambitious, and assertive Jordan. Agent: Eve Attermann, WME. (Oct.)

DEBUT Journalist Hall bursts onto the mystery landscape with the first in an exciting new series featuring Chicago crime reporter Jordan Manning, who prides herself on always being the first on the scene. Jordan has what other reporters don't--a master's degree in forensic science, which allows her to see what others miss when investigating crime scenes. When a 15-year-old Black girl is found dead in an abandoned lot, Jordan is unable to shake the feeling that there someone lurking on Chicago's streets is particularly targeting and killing young Black girls, even after three young boys are charged with the girl's murder. Jordan is an exciting lead for this series. She is tireless in her search for answers, isn't afraid to be the smartest in the room, and is determined to shine light on the missing and murdered Black girls that no one else seems to care about. Her perseverance leads to a heart-pounding and unexpected climax. VERDICT Hall's decades of field experience lend a lot of credibility to the story and provide a strong footing for an intriguing new crime series.--Siobhan Egan, Barrington P.L., RI

*Starred Review* A serial killer targeting young Black women in the city of Chicago, and a long-standing tangle of political and police indifference and/or blindness to crimes against Blacks, are what a Black journalist confronts in Hall's street-smart debut mystery, the first in a projected series. Jordan Manning is a TV reporter who specializes in covering violent crimes. The discovery of the body of a young Black woman in a vacant lot near the El tracks galvanizes Manning in a way that sends her from reporting to investigating on her own. The police are quick to dismiss the victim as a runaway, but the teen's background as an honor student from a solid home screams out otherwise to Manning. From the start, readers will be intrigued by the myriad skills that go into street reporting, from figuring out which calls to the TV station's tip line are credible to how to develop sources, how to set up shots and interview difficult or traumatized subjects on-air, and how to avoid being manipulated by sources with agendas. Manning's determination to find the killer behind eight unsolved homicides leads her down increasingly dangerous paths. A pulse-pounding story that also provides a fascinating and important look into the difficulties of reporting on and finding justice for Black victims.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Emmy Award–winning Hall's extensive background as a TV journalist, including reporting for NBC and anchoring for MSNBC, infuses a great deal of credibility and behind-the-scenes verve to her first crime novel. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Fresh from Texas, crime reporter Jordan Manning eagerly takes on Chicago, where she is often the only woman of color in the newsroom, always arrives first on the crime scene (in her trademark stilettoes), and frequently covers the murder of Black women. Sadly, these cases often don't get the attention they deserve, but Jordan plunges into the case of a 15-year-old discovered in an abandoned lot and follows it to the end. From Emmy Award—winning journalist Hall; with a 100,000-copy first printing.

DEBUT Journalist Hall bursts onto the mystery landscape with the first in an exciting new series featuring Chicago crime reporter Jordan Manning, who prides herself on always being the first on the scene. Jordan has what other reporters don't—a master's degree in forensic science, which allows her to see what others miss when investigating crime scenes. When a 15-year-old Black girl is found dead in an abandoned lot, Jordan is unable to shake the feeling that there someone lurking on Chicago's streets is particularly targeting and killing young Black girls, even after three young boys are charged with the girl's murder. Jordan is an exciting lead for this series. She is tireless in her search for answers, isn't afraid to be the smartest in the room, and is determined to shine light on the missing and murdered Black girls that no one else seems to care about. Her perseverance leads to a heart-pounding and unexpected climax. VERDICT Hall's decades of field experience lend a lot of credibility to the story and provide a strong footing for an intriguing new crime series.—Siobhan Egan, Barrington P.L., RI

Set in 2007 Chicago, Emmy Award–winning broadcast journalist Hall's outstanding debut and series launch introduces TV journalist Jordan Manning. A tenacious reporter, Jordan has been making a name for herself by arriving first at crime scenes. When the body of 15-year-old African American Masey James is found in an abandoned lot, Jordan refuses to believe the girl was a runaway, as the police insist. Masey had a promising future, having just been accepted into a prestigious STEM program at a distinguished high school. Jordan puts the demands of her job and her personal life on hold in her effort to discover who murdered Masey, and comes to suspect the girl was the victim of a serial killer. Hall brings insight and nuance to such matters as journalism ethics, police treatment of murder cases involving Black women, and competition among journalists and their reliance on those behind the scenes. Readers will want to see a lot more of intelligent, ambitious, and assertive Jordan. Agent: Eve Attermann, WME. (Oct.)