Darren Mathews

Darren is the protagonist of the novel and in many ways fulfills the noir archetype of the hardboiled detective. As a black Texas Ranger, Darren's existence straddles two often opposing fronts, law enforcement and the black community in Lark, Texas. Darren is self-assured and competent, but also melancholic and questioning of his position as a Ranger. Throughout the novel, Darren battles with the choice to either give up being a Ranger and return to law school, as his wife Lisa wishes, or stay on the force and stay true to his values as he clashes with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.

Darren is married to his high school sweetheart, Lisa, though for much of the novel the two are in the midst of a fight due to Darren’s occupation and the time it demands of him. He maintains that it is his duty as a Texas...