Book Shorts. Reviews in a Nutshell.
FEATURED REVIEW
Cool Machine
by Colson Whitehead
Cool Machine is the third and final novel of Colson Whitehead's Harlem Trilogy. The story centers around Ray Carney, devoted family man, successful entrepreneur... with a bent towards larceny and criminal endeavors.
The backdrop is the 1980s in NYC when the City is recovering from economic decline and corruption is rampant. Carney gambles his future in order to help his wife start her business after she is denied credit from banks. He joins a criminal mastermind, Uncle Rich, to achieve this goal.
Whitehead brings back the violent character, Pepper, Ray's father's former crime partner, a stone cold “enforcer,” who protects Ray and his family. Whitehead’s writing talent is on full display as he deftly crafts three separate yet intertwined stories. Cool Machine is a fast-paced, highly entertaining read. I recommend it!
Review by Barry Novick
August 21, 2026
So many books, so little time. Right, right - we’ve all heard it many times. Hummingbird's BOOK SHORTS will present book reviews you can read in a minute and capture the essence of the story, thumbnail reviews that hopefully will entice you into your next read. I read constantly. My tastes vary, so I’ll review books that I love, not necessarily current books. Other HB contributors will review books that follow their interests, both newly published and past. All in all, we’ll review books we think are captivating, compelling, unputdownable. If you’re looking for a good book to take to the beach, make that long commute shorter, or curl up with, hopefully our reviews will help you find it. Lynda Bernard
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