Mireille Ravencroft

I think what sets To Sing Like a Mockingbird apart is the way it balances big themes with intimate storytelling. Yes, there’s crime, politics, and cartel influence, but at the heart of it is a man trying to stay true to himself in a world that keeps asking him to compromise.

Justin Kopechne isn’t always likable, but he is believable. His passion for rehabilitating young offenders is admirable, but the way it blinds him to his family’s needs made me feel both empathy and frustration.

The sheriff’s descent into corruption worked well as a foil, showing what happens when someone makes the opposite choice.

I loved how the Texas setting mirrored the themes barren, isolated, unforgiving. It gave the book a heavy, almost oppressive mood, which heightened the tension. This isn’t a quick read or an escapist one, but it’s an important one if you like stories that challenge your thinking about justice, loyalty, and personal cost.