C.R.E.A.M.

Philadelphia politics and drugs complicate the fate of two star-crossed lovers in Jones's gripping new novel. Twenty-three-year-old Karima ""Cream"" Thomas is just out of prison, having served six months for taking the fall for Duane Faison, a notorious North Philly drug dealer who charmed Cream away from her safe life as a member of one of the city's influential political families. After hooking up with Duane again to say goodbye, she lands a job with Mayor Jeffrey Tatum's office through the connections of her aunt, Marilyn Johnson, who's president of the city council and Jeffrey's (married) lover. Marilyn decides to use Cream's past to manipulate the upcoming elections to her benefit, but things quickly escalate out of control after Duane's crew go on a killing spree. Jones (Ride or Die) deftly describes Philly's mean streets, the slippery slopes of City Hall and the rocky cliffs of Cream's redemption.