Let me be clear from the start: if you’re looking for escapism, this is not the book for you. Duped in America is a deeply political novel, rooted firmly in 2017 America, and it wears its convictions on its sleeve. I’m not American, but I remember this period vividly (I followed the election closely), and it’s fascinating to encounter a novel actually set in this moment. I’m not sure I’ve read one placed in this specific timeframe before, but Hayes captures the mood of that era perfectly. This is the second book I’ve reviewed by R. E. Hayes, the other tackling similar themes.

The novel follows Holly Bagley, a young rookie police officer in small-town Indiana, still grieving her mother’s death and struggling with her relationship with her strict, Trump-supporting father. Her boyfriend Jimmy has just returned from Afghanistan, deeply traumatized by PTSD, barely recognizing her anymore. Meanwhile, Detective Garry Henderson, one of the few Black officers in the department, is shattered after his teenage son Denny is killed in a car accident caused by a police chase. When Black college students begin getting shot at night in what appears to be racially motivated attacks, the police chief pairs Holly and Garry together to investigate.

At the heart of the novel is the partnership between Holly and Garry, two people from vastly different backgrounds both going through different struggles, forced to work together in a town simmering with political and racial tension. As Holly observes, Henderson is “someone her dad could admire if he weren’t such a bigot.” Their relationship develops slowly, awkwardly at first, as Holly hopes he’ll see she’s “socially invested in BLM” and not like the older generation of cops. Their growing trust and mutual respect become the emotional anchor of the story.

Like I said, if you’re looking for a politically neutral book, this isn’t it. Nonetheless, I appreciate that the author isn’t afraid to embed his point of view into the writing, and as a European it’s hard not to agree with him. There’s even a Michael Moore quote at the beginning. The book describes how Holly’s father voted for a candidate “who had said Mexicans coming into this country were rapists and drug dealers and had boasted he could grab women between their legs.” Likewise, I particularly valued the inclusion of different characters showing different issues with the American political system, such as Jimmy’s character, a veteran suffering from severe PTSD. His trauma in particular is portrayed very well.

The writing itself is very competent but fairly bare bones, though not in a bad way. There isn’t excessive description; Hayes keeps things lean and functional. This suits a story that’s trying to say something rather than impress with its prose. The book feels to me like a more political version of the TV show The Rookie, following cops while examining their personal lives and the systems they work within. Hayes also powerfully portrays parental grief. The description of Garry identifying his son’s body is devastating. In addition, “Connie had arrived at the critical should-I-or-should-I-not move-in juncture” will be deeply relatable to anyone who has experienced sudden loss.

While the novel’s political views are unmistakable, Duped in America is not solely a political commentary. As the story progresses, it genuinely evolves into a gripping thriller. What begins as a character study of grief and division gradually tightens into a tense investigation that keeps you turning pages. As Holly and Garry dig deeper into the nighttime shootings, the procedural elements become increasingly urgent as the stakes rise, dangers multiply, and both detectives find themselves pushed into darker corners of Farmington.

Duped in America is not an easy read, nor is it meant to be. It’s a novel that demands you sit and dwell on how America came to this point of history. Hayes has written something deliberately confrontational, a book that refuses to look away at the ugliness of a particular moment in American history.

Be that as it may, in my opinion the novel’s greatest achievement is the relationship between Holly and Garry. Their partnership suggests that even in deeply divided times, human connection across difference remains possible. Overall, if you want to time travel back to 2017 and understand the period, or even 2025 America, Duped in America offers something genuinely worthwhile. Just don’t expect a comfort/beach read!

Final verdict: Politically charged and unafraid to take a stance, Duped in America is an immersive, page-turning look into the American psyche. For fans of the movie Eddington and authors like Michael Connelly, this book is an easy recommendation. The politics will be divisive to some, but the story and characters are probably worth reading even if you care little about American politics.

You can get your copy of “Duped in America” here!