Chemistry and anatomy teacher Austin Enriquez recently read “Natchez Burning” by Greg Iles.

“It is kind of raw,” Enriquez said. “It does not hide things that a lot of history books would hide about the American past.”

“Natchez Burning” is about a former prosecutor turned mayor Penn Cage as he goes about defending his father who was accused of murdering an African American nurse in the 1960s. Many conspiracies arise and force Cage to fight for justice that ends up exposing racial hatred and corruption in the south during the Civil Rights Movement.

“I was not really in need for a feel-good book at the time, so it was the one that I picked up, and just because of the way it read, I stuck with it,” Enriquez said.

Author Greg Iles is best known for this book and the rest of the books in the series. The books have thrilling plots with southern settings and explore issues like race and class.

“Every part of me would recommend this book to somebody that is stuck in the mud with their ideas because it kind of exposes some things, not only about where we are, but about yourself when you are reading it,” Enriquez said.

“Natchez Burning” is a book that explores themes of violence, racism, family secrets, political corruption, and the Civil Rights Movement in a heavy way.