This is the second book I’ve read by Laila Lalami in two months and it is official: I am a Lalami fan girl. I will read any and everything she writes. The Other Americans is completely different from The Moor’s Account. Set in contemporary California, The Other Americans takes place in the wake of a hit-and-run, resulting in the death of a Moroccan immigrant. The book alternates between many different POVs, focusing on all the people that this death affects in some way, including Driss, the victim, and his daughter Nora.

The chapters here are short and the book moves quickly as a result. The overarching plot is the mystery of who killed Driss, but more important are the characters themselves. Lalami addresses a variety of themes: racism; anti-immigrant discrimination; homophobia; war and violence. Through the character studies in each POV, you see how each person’s preconceived notions and experiences influence their reactions to the hit-and-run. I was impressed by how seamlessly Lalami inhabits the voices of each character, making them distinct from one another. At times the chapters do feel a bit like “info dumps,” but this felt like an effective way to introduce each character. While the whodunnit aspect is certainly present through the book, I don’t think that’s Lalami’s main focus.

If you like books with glimpses into how people think and act, with a little element of mystery, definitely pick this one up.

TW: alcoholism; death; racism; homophobia; racial slurs; infidelity