Genre Fiction
![Leila Mottley - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_leila_mottley.jpg)
Nightcrawling: A novel
A NEW YORK TIMES WRITER TO WATCH • A dazzling novel about a young Black woman who walks the streets of Oakland and stumbles headlong into the failure of its justice system-the debut of a blazingly original voice that "bursts at the seams of every page and swallows you whole" (Tommy Orange, best-selling author of There There)
Kiara and her brother, Marcus, are scraping by in an East Oakland apartment complex optimistically called the Regal-Hi. Both have dropped out of high school, their family fractured by death and prison. But while Marcus clings to his dream of rap stardom, Kiara hunts for work to pay their rent-which has more than doubled-and to keep the nine-year-old boy next door, abandoned by his mother, safe and fed.
One night, what begins as a drunken misunderstanding with a stranger turns into the job Kiara never imagined wanting but now desperately needs: nightcrawling. Her world breaks open even further when her name surfaces in an investigation that exposes her as a key witness in a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.
Rich with raw beauty, electrifying intensity, and piercing vulnerability, Nightcrawling marks the stunning arrival of a voice unlike any we have heard before.
Kiara and her brother, Marcus, are scraping by in an East Oakland apartment complex optimistically called the Regal-Hi. Both have dropped out of high school, their family fractured by death and prison. But while Marcus clings to his dream of rap stardom, Kiara hunts for work to pay their rent-which has more than doubled-and to keep the nine-year-old boy next door, abandoned by his mother, safe and fed.
One night, what begins as a drunken misunderstanding with a stranger turns into the job Kiara never imagined wanting but now desperately needs: nightcrawling. Her world breaks open even further when her name surfaces in an investigation that exposes her as a key witness in a massive scandal within the Oakland Police Department.
Rich with raw beauty, electrifying intensity, and piercing vulnerability, Nightcrawling marks the stunning arrival of a voice unlike any we have heard before.
Editorial Reviews
A New York Times Writer to Watch This Summer • Most Anticipated in The Millions, Oprah Daily, LitHub, Stylist, Nerdist, CrimeReads • An Elle Best Book of Summer
"Leila Mottley's commanding debut, inspired by the life events of one woman's struggle for body and soul against crushing exploitation, is fierce and devastating, rendered with electrifying urgency by this colossal young talent." -Ayana Mathis, author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
"Leila Mottley is a name to pay attention to . . . Nightcrawling will make you desperate, it will make you awed, it will make you read anything that Mottley should ever choose to write." -CrimeReads
"So compelling that one cannot put it down . . . Amazing . . . Unforgettable . . . Through Kiara, Mottley gives voice to countless Black women and girls who remain invisible, vulnerable, and dehumanized by a system that deems them disposable . . . We need Kiara's story, but more importantly, we need young writers like Leila Mottley . . . This isn't just a story about a survivor of sexual abuse or the myriad ways we ask Black girls to assume adult responsibilities. It is not a story of crashed dreams or grief or the impact of prison sentences, although all those things are here. It is, instead, a testimony to hope, resilience, and love." -Liber: A Feminist Review
"Fast money, crooked cops, and dire consequences are at the forefront of Mottley's electric debut novel . . . Striking prose and unforgettable characters-including a young Black woman in relentless pursuit of justice-make for a shocking page-turner and timely reflection." -Elle
"Stunning . . . Kiara is an unforgettable dynamo, and her story brings critical human depth to conversations about police sexual violence." -Booklist (starred)
"Nightcrawling is a scorching, incredibly readable book that takes seriously the task of readerly provocation on every page. Get ready. Or don't. It doesn't matter. Leila Mottl...
"Leila Mottley's commanding debut, inspired by the life events of one woman's struggle for body and soul against crushing exploitation, is fierce and devastating, rendered with electrifying urgency by this colossal young talent." -Ayana Mathis, author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie
"Leila Mottley is a name to pay attention to . . . Nightcrawling will make you desperate, it will make you awed, it will make you read anything that Mottley should ever choose to write." -CrimeReads
"So compelling that one cannot put it down . . . Amazing . . . Unforgettable . . . Through Kiara, Mottley gives voice to countless Black women and girls who remain invisible, vulnerable, and dehumanized by a system that deems them disposable . . . We need Kiara's story, but more importantly, we need young writers like Leila Mottley . . . This isn't just a story about a survivor of sexual abuse or the myriad ways we ask Black girls to assume adult responsibilities. It is not a story of crashed dreams or grief or the impact of prison sentences, although all those things are here. It is, instead, a testimony to hope, resilience, and love." -Liber: A Feminist Review
"Fast money, crooked cops, and dire consequences are at the forefront of Mottley's electric debut novel . . . Striking prose and unforgettable characters-including a young Black woman in relentless pursuit of justice-make for a shocking page-turner and timely reflection." -Elle
"Stunning . . . Kiara is an unforgettable dynamo, and her story brings critical human depth to conversations about police sexual violence." -Booklist (starred)
"Nightcrawling is a scorching, incredibly readable book that takes seriously the task of readerly provocation on every page. Get ready. Or don't. It doesn't matter. Leila Mottl...
