Three white teens looking for money to support their drug habits break into the home of an old black woman. But they don’t only rob her; the violent leader of the gang rapes and shoots her, leaving her for dead. Enter homicide detective Walter Robinson, the woman’s grandson. Hell-bent on finding the culprits who did this to the woman who raised him, Walter is horrified to find that his nephew, Cebo, has the same idea. A gang leader himself, Cebo threatens the police department and gears up to launch a race revolution of his own.

Shadow of Light begins in typical page-turner, crime-style fashion. However, the story often gets lost in the philosophical ramblings of its unlikable main character. Although I believe he is meant to be one of the good guys, his positive attributes are difficult to find between his casual infidelities and almost whiney personality.

James E. Cherry is obviously a gifted writer. In fact, in this debut novel he may have written too much. By trying to influence the reader with his own convictions, he distracts them from the plot. Sometimes less is more, and a subtle approach may have held greater impact and led to a more satisfying end.