" Drawing on rich research and extensive reporting, Rubinstein sets out to chart the social and historical forces that joined two men and a 9-millimeter automatic pistol on a late September day, in the neighborhood known as the Holly . By exposing the state surveillance, the crooked policing, the structural racism, the broken promises and the poverty that had plagued the Holly for decades, [Rubinstein] helps us realize that the problem of violence is far greater than two men and one gun." -- Marcia Chatelain, The New York Times Book Review "Rubinstein does not merely retell the events before and after [a] shooting but rather illuminates the dynamics that help explain the Black rage that has spilled into American streets over the past two years . Rubinstein artfully connects the dots between the rise of gangs, the long-ago shooting that put Roberts on trial, and the ongoing protests sparked by unjust police killings of Black citizens . For those of us who are suckers for telling details and character complexity in nonfiction narratives, Rubinstein delivers . It''s an important read." --Martin J. Smith, Los Angeles Review of Books " The Holly is a powerful, up-close look at the criminal, political, and economic forces that can erode a community .

It''s a complicated history, but Rubinstein makes it compellingly readable. If you want to understand the origins of the violence ravaging many urban areas and the challenges faced by one man trying to stop it, read The Holly ." --Kevin O''Kelly, The Christian Science Monitor "There are so many threads to this book and Rubinstein braids them together in a compelling multi-generational saga with a strong narrative and solid investigative reporting . For anyone who wants to understand systematic racism in tangible ways, Julian Rubinstein''s investigative work makes it undeniable." --Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "An explosive story that sheds light on the issues rarely seen or covered. Among the findings are the misuse of informants and the questionable operations of America''s premiere federal anti-gang and anti-gun program, Project Safe Neighborhoods. It also draws parallels between the civil rights movement and present-day America by asking whether activists in gentrifying communities are being targeted by those in power." --David Sirota, The Daily Poster " The Holly is a triumphant achievement that fully brings the iceberg of criminal justice issues to the surface and exposes it for all to see.

Not only is it one of the most important nonfiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein . has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shockingly, into how the criminal-justice industrial complex may be invested in systemic corruption designed to keep drug wars going. Dramatic and wrenching." --Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review) "[A to this book and Rubinstein braids them together in a compelling multi-generational saga with a strong narrative and solid investigative reporting . For anyone who wants to understand systematic racism in tangible ways, Julian Rubinstein''s investigative work makes it undeniable." --Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "An explosive story that sheds light on the issues rarely seen or covered.

Among the findings are the misuse of informants and the questionable operations of America''s premiere federal anti-gang and anti-gun program, Project Safe Neighborhoods. It also draws parallels between the civil rights movement and present-day America by asking whether activists in gentrifying communities are being targeted by those in power." --David Sirota, The Daily Poster " The Holly is a triumphant achievement that fully brings the iceberg of criminal justice issues to the surface and exposes it for all to see. Not only is it one of the most important nonfiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein . has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shockingly, into how the criminal-justice industrial complex may be invested in systemic corruption designed to keep drug wars going. Dramatic and wrenching.

" --Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review) "[Aiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein . has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shockingly, into how the criminal-justice industrial complex may be invested in systemic corruption designed to keep drug wars going. Dramatic and wrenching." --Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review) "[A to this book and Rubinstein braids them together in a compelling multi-generational saga with a strong narrative and solid investigative reporting . For anyone who wants to understand systematic racism in tangible ways, Julian Rubinstein''s investigative work makes it undeniable." --Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "An explosive story that sheds light on the issues rarely seen or covered.

Among the findings are the misuse of informants and the questionable operations of America''s premiere federal anti-gang and anti-gun program, Project Safe Neighborhoods. It also draws parallels between the civil rights movement and present-day America by asking whether activists in gentrifying communities are being targeted by those in power." --David Sirota, The Daily Poster " The Holly is a triumphant achievement that fully brings the iceberg of criminal justice issues to the surface and exposes it for all to see. Not only is it one of the most important nonfiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein . has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shockingly, into how the criminal-justice industrial complex may be invested in systemic corruption designed to keep drug wars going. Dramatic and wrenching.

" --Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review) "[A to this book and Rubinstein braids them together in a compelling multi-generational saga with a strong narrative and solid investigative reporting . For anyone who wants to understand systematic racism in tangible ways, Julian Rubinstein''s investigative work makes it undeniable." --Bonnie Jean Feldkamp, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "An explosive story that sheds light on the issues rarely seen or covered. Among the findings are the misuse of informants and the questionable operations of America''s premiere federal anti-gang and anti-gun program, Project Safe Neighborhoods. It also draws parallels between the civil rights movement and present-day America by asking whether activists in gentrifying communities are being targeted by those in power." --David Sirota, The Daily Poster " The Holly is a triumphant achievement that fully brings the iceberg of criminal justice issues to the surface and exposes it for all to see. Not only is it one of the most important nonfiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein .

has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shockingly, into how the criminal-justice industrial complex may be invested in systemic corruption designed to keep drug wars going. Dramatic and wrenching." --Connie Fletcher, Booklist (starred review) "[Aiction books to be published in recent years, but it should be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the extent to which this country''s criminal justice system is currently broken." -- Scott Neumyer, Shondaland "Rubinstein . has constructed a shattering piece of investigative journalism involving street gangs, race relations, and law enforcement . This is a gripping deep dive into media underreporting and too-quick judgment, and, most shock.