The Black Coats

Thea’s cousin Natalie, her favorite person and best friend, was killed, and her murderer remains at large. In her grief, Thea gave up running, something she and Natalie did together. When Thea is approached at school with a riddle, she sees something worth living for. The Black Coats has recruited her to help avenge women who have been wronged, usually by men. To earn the right to avenge her cousin, Thea must endure intensive training and complete missions. In the midst of this, Thea meets Drew, who could have been enough for her had she met him before joining the organization; however, she learns there are many hidden secrets, both within the Black Coats and within Drew’s family, that could end her chance to know what happened to Natalie.

With the #metoo movement and the current attention on women’s rights, this story was begging to be told. It combines justice and revenge, blurring the line to ask where one ends and the other begins. At times the dialogue may be a bit hokey, and the actions do not quite flow, but overall this is a book that will initially fan the fires of hate until it cools into acceptance, if not understanding. The Black Coats is a good contemporary read.