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CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 7 

Book Review: Dillard’s Promise by Gilbert Leslie 
Ian Joaquin Esparza 

Department of Sociology 
California State University, Los Angeles 

 
Crime, mystery, and generational justice, Dillard’s Promise by 
Gilbert Leslie, has it all as a very intriguing read that leaves the 
reader hooked, wanting to find out more about how the story pans 
out, which I felt when reading this great work of literature. This 
story follows the traumatic experiences of a family through the 
turbulent Jim Crow South to the modernized era of Los Angeles. 
Houston Jenkins, the story’s protagonist, is slowly exposed to his 
family’s history through the death of the women who raised him. 
Houston is unsuspecting until her dying words lead to a sequence 
of events that unravels a series of unsolved murders that happened 
decades prior and across the country. These events bring justice 
and closure but not in the way one might expect. The author of 
this thrilling novel is Gilbert Leslie, a current student at California 
State University-Los Angeles. He previously graduated from 
California State University-Dominguez Hills, obtaining a degree 
in Interdisciplinary Studies while minoring in Labor Studies. 
Dillard’s Promise is his first time authoring a book as well as being 
published. In addition to authoring this novel, Leslie was in the 
process of obtaining his Master of Arts in Political Science and 
will graduate in May 2025, with hopes to become a professor 
while concurrently having writing as a second career. Being a 
single parent at a young age, Leslie’s priority was raising his 
daughter, working in the life insurance industry while pursuing his 
degrees. Throughout all of this, Leslie has always been passionate 
about writing as a way to explore how to bring the experiences of 
criminal and societal justice reform into believable life stories. His 
dedication to justice is very much showcased within this story. 

Dillard’s Promise is a very educational read that provides 
context on both the historical and criminal justice fields of study. 
The book focuses on the struggles and traumas of a minority 
family trying to achieve their hopes and goals in a system that 
works against them. Throughout the story, we jump through 
different periods of time that shows the hardships specific to that 
respective era of America. Simultaneously, Leslie also shows how 



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CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 7 

crime solving has evolved over the years and how with the 
advancement of forensic technology, crimes can be solved that 
have been abandoned over the decades. From a little piece of 
Houston’s DNA from a traffic stop, the FBI were able to piece a 
murder suspect from a series of murders that occurred in the 
1970s. I do believe that the overall theme of this story is that 
justice will always be given, even after death. 

The sociological relevance that this book provides is easy 
to spot, while broader elements of criminal justice are also 
sprinkled in. Leslie does make it clear how each of the characters 
are influenced by their social spaces regardless of the time period, 
as well as how these societal factors affect these individuals. The 
characters undertake roles and responsibilities endeavor hardships 
that they face while also navigating the feeling of expectations that 
many of the characters hold over themselves. Members of the 
Jenkins family take on certain societal roles that they believe will 
raise them to a higher social status. In the 1960s-1970s portions, 
the characters join the military, not to serve the country, but to 
receive the benefits that enlisting provides, especially providing 
for the family. The book does graphically show the horrors of 
racial violence and displays how racist governments plague their 
communities with blind hatred toward those of a different race. 
Leslie shows are evil racism is and how dehumanizing it can 
become if it becomes too deeply rooted. The notable white family 
in this story is demolished because of the father’s lustful racism. 
The son learns to despise his father’s racism and strives to be the 
complete opposite from is hateful father, which leads the son on a 
path of self-perceived justice. Overall, the 1940s-1970s storyline 
shows just how horrible the Jim Crow South was to the Black 
population through the lens of the Jenkins family.  

There are also of course the criminological elements of 
the story that show the scientific possibilities highlighting how 
powerful DNA can be in solving a decade-old murder mystery 
crime. As well as critiquing elements of law enforcement which 
the reader can compare two enforcement agencies to one another. 
The two agencies that are showcased are a local police department 
that is shown in the past, while decades later the FBI brings back 
a cold case left unsolved by this small local department. By 
showcasing two law enforcement agencies from past and present 



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CALIFORNIA SOCIOLOGY FORUM VOL. 7 

perspectives, it helps the reader understand how law enforcement 
has evolved over time. A local department relied on the 
determination of investigators in the past while the FBI in the 
present day has access to state-of-the-art forensic technology. 

 The story of the Jenkins family over a half century’s time 
frame is well written and organized in a way that satisfies story 
arcs that are happening at different periods of time. As Houston’s 
story progresses, the ‘flashback’ portions provide much needed 
information or context for Houston’s dilemma and the FBI’s 
aggressive motives to solve the cold case. The periodic structure 
of the storytelling does not weaken the progress of the main 
storyline but compliments it. Revelations and connections are 
made in a rather satisfying way. Overall, it keeps you invested in 
each storyline and enables the reader to want to know what 
happens next.  

The only thing that I must remark on is that certain 
sequences may be too intense for some readers. There are scenes 
explaining the graphic nature of the murders, which are described 
in a very detailed way. Additionally, the use of profanity or 
derogatory words may be too intense for some readers. I argue that 
these are needed to convey a larger picture of the narrative within 
this story as well as showcasing the societal problems that have 
plagued our society. The story shows how these problems evolved 
and taken form over the years, which have adapted to the times. 

 Dillard’s Promise is a phenomenal read, it highlights the 
struggles and obstacles one faces in society and how they 
overcome these adversities. The novel is inspiring in the way that 
brings hope and relevance to the many issues individuals face in 
society. Justice is something that comes in forms one might not 
accept, while the perceived idea of justice stems from what 
institutions dictate justice to be. But this novel shows us justice is 
beyond the common definition conveyed by mainstream social 
institutions; it is not manufactured but a human ideal. In 
conclusion, I highly recommend this novel to any looking for a 
crime-based mystery, Dillard’s Promise is such a great read! 

 
REFERENCES 

Leslie, Gilbert. 2024. Dillard’s Promise. Cambridge: Pegasus Elliot 
Mackenzie Publishers Ltd. 


	Book Review: Dillard’s Promise by Gilbert Leslie - Ian Joaquin Esparza



