Lost in the Woods

In the dusky woods near the Chattahoochee River, Lady Josephine, a tough but aging homeless woman, struggles to find her camp after drinking with strangers. Disoriented and haunted by memories of her past as a call girl, she follows the river's sound, humming "Sweet Love." Her journey is interrupted when she slips into the water and, while recovering, spots something red caught in the rocks. As she approaches, she realizes it's a body—an arm breaking the surface. Overwhelmed, she vomits into the river, her survival instincts clashing with the trauma of being unseen and uncared for. This discovery sets off a chain of events that will ripple through Atlanta's underbelly, connecting the fates of women who have vanished without a trace.

Audition at Boom Town

Lyriq, the dance manager at Boom Town, watches as Damaris Wilburn auditions for a spot in the club. Damaris's performance is out of place—more ballet than striptease—but her raw talent and uncanny resemblance to a former star, Felice "Lucky" Carothers, convince Lyriq to hire her. Despite Damaris's inexperience and naivety, Lyriq feels compelled to mentor her, seeking redemption for past failures with Lucky. Damaris's rapid improvement and willingness to learn make her a standout, but her innocence and the club's predatory environment foreshadow trouble. The club's legacy, built on the chemistry of the "Lovely Ladies," is about to be tested by new blood and old wounds.

Ghosts of the Past

Felice "Lucky" Carothers, once the club's star, recalls the night a mysterious white man, Thomas "T" McIntyre, first entered Boom Town. His presence disrupts the usual dynamic, and his fixation on Lucky sets off a dangerous game of power and desire. Lucky's partnership with Lyriq, both onstage and off, is strained by jealousy, unspoken love, and the pressures of survival. The club's Town Hall Tuesdays, where new music is launched and legends are made, become the backdrop for Lucky's internal unraveling. The past, filled with love, betrayal, and trauma, refuses to stay buried, shaping the destinies of everyone in Boom Town.

The Lovely Ladies' Legacy

The legendary duo of Lyriq and Lucky once made Boom Town the hottest club in Atlanta, but illness and heartbreak have driven them apart. Lyriq, now dance manager, struggles with her own health and guilt over failing Lucky. The club's fortunes wane as new dancers fail to capture the same magic. When Damaris arrives, her resemblance to Lucky is both a blessing and a curse, reigniting old rivalries and unresolved feelings. The club's culture of secrecy, exploitation, and fleeting fame is exposed, as the women navigate loyalty, ambition, and the ever-present threat of violence from men who see them as disposable.

A New Dancer Arrives

Damaris, barely twenty-one, juggles her job at Boom Town with a more innocent life as a nanny and fruit stand worker. Her relationship with Dejuan, a kind-hearted young man, offers her a glimpse of normalcy, but the club's darkness seeps into her soul. She is haunted by past abuse and the pressure to provide for herself and her cousin Tink, who runs a safe house for trafficked women. Damaris's naivety makes her vulnerable to manipulation by Thomas McIntyre, whose interest in her echoes his obsession with Lucky. As Damaris becomes entangled in the club's web of secrets, her disappearance becomes inevitable.

Dangerous Connections

Thomas, a wealthy and powerful white man, becomes a regular at Boom Town, using his money and charm to manipulate the dancers. His fixation on Lucky and later Damaris blurs the line between patron and predator. He offers Damaris an escape from the club, hiring her as a nanny for his daughter Felicity, but his motives are far from pure. The business cards he gives to both Lucky and Damaris become ominous tokens, linking their fates. As Thomas's influence spreads, the women around him are drawn into a dangerous game, where survival depends on secrecy and sacrifice.

The White Man Returns

Lyriq is unsettled by Thomas's return to the club, especially as Damaris goes missing. The discovery of his business cards among both Lucky's and Damaris's belongings raises alarms. Lyriq's investigation into their disappearances is hampered by her own trauma and the club's code of silence. Bones, the club's owner, is complicit, prioritizing profit over the safety of his dancers. The past and present collide as Lyriq uncovers the extent of Thomas's involvement in the women's lives, realizing that the club's darkest secrets are tied to his predatory power.

Secrets in the Locker

Lyriq searches Damaris's locker and finds a trove of business cards, a coin purse, and photos linking her to Thomas. The parallels to Lucky's disappearance become undeniable. A flip phone hidden in Lucky's belongings contains cryptic messages and evidence of her relationship with Thomas, as well as a pregnancy. The club's culture of exploitation is laid bare, as Lyriq confronts her own complicity and the limits of her power to protect the women she cares about. The search for answers becomes a quest for redemption, as Lyriq vows to uncover the truth behind the disappearances.

The Disappearance

Damaris's sudden absence from the club and her home alarms Dejuan and Lyriq. Rumors swirl among the dancers, and Bones pressures Lyriq to resolve the situation before the authorities get involved. The threat of legal consequences looms, as Damaris's underage status and the club's illegal practices come to light. Lyriq's investigation leads her to Tink's boarded-up house and a network of women living on the margins. The sense of danger intensifies, as it becomes clear that Damaris's disappearance is not an isolated incident, but part of a larger pattern of violence against vulnerable women.

The Flip Phone Clues

Through Lucky's journal and the messages on her flip phone, the story of her relationship with Thomas unfolds. What began as a transactional connection becomes a nightmare, as Thomas's obsession turns violent. Lucky's pregnancy, her attempts to escape, and her ultimate fate are revealed in fragments. The club's VIP rooms, meant to be sanctuaries for high-paying clients, become sites of trauma and betrayal. Lyriq pieces together the evidence, realizing that Thomas's power extends far beyond the club, and that justice will require breaking the silence that has protected him for so long.

The Jade VIP Incident

In the infamous Jade VIP room, Thomas assaults Lucky, shattering any illusion of safety within Boom Town. Lyriq, hiding nearby, witnesses the aftermath but is paralyzed by her own pain and fear. The club's complicity is exposed, as Bones covers up the incident and fires Lucky, erasing her from the club's history. The trauma ripples outward, affecting every woman who remains. The lines between victim and survivor blur, as the women grapple with guilt, shame, and the need to protect themselves in a world that refuses to see their humanity.

The Price of Survival

Damaris, on the run after stealing money to help Tink, is manipulated by Thomas into hiding at his lake house. Isolated and drugged, she realizes too late that she is a pawn in his game. Her attempts to reach out for help are thwarted by Thomas's control over her environment. Meanwhile, Lyriq, haunted by her own survival and the women she couldn't save, risks everything to confront Thomas and seek justice. The cost of survival is high, as the women are forced to choose between silence and resistance, knowing that either choice could be fatal.

The Lake House Trap

Trapped in Thomas's remote lake house, Damaris endures psychological torment and the constant threat of violence. Her only solace comes from reading Lucky's journal, finding strength in the words of a woman who faced similar horrors. As Thomas's paranoia grows, Damaris seizes a chance to escape, using her wits and the tools at hand. Her journey through the woods is a test of endurance and willpower, as she battles fear, exhaustion, and the ghosts of those who came before her. The lake, a symbol of both beauty and death, becomes the stage for her final stand.

The Final Confrontation

Lyriq, determined to end Thomas's reign of terror, lures him into the woods using the clues from Lucky's messages. Armed with evidence and resolve, she confronts him in a brutal struggle. The fight is raw and desperate, with both parties pushed to their limits. In the end, it is the collective strength of the women—living and dead—that tips the balance. Thomas's body is left to the river, a final act of poetic justice for the lives he destroyed. The cycle of violence is broken, but not without cost.

Bodies in the River

Lady Josephine, once again at the river's edge, reflects on the events she witnessed and the choices she made. The discovery of Thomas's body and the media frenzy that follows bring a measure of closure, but also highlight the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered women. The community's response is ambivalent, torn between relief and indifference. For the survivors, healing is a slow and uncertain process, marked by small acts of kindness and the hope for a better future. The river, both witness and participant, carries away the evidence but not the memory.

Aftermath and New Beginnings

In the wake of Thomas's death, the women of Boom Town and beyond begin to rebuild their lives. Lyriq, finally free from the club's grip, pursues reconstructive surgery and a new sense of self. Damaris, with Dejuan's support, seeks reconciliation and a fresh start. Lady Josephine is offered help and shelter, a rare moment of grace in a hard life. The legacy of Lucky and the other missing women endures, inspiring acts of resistance and care. The story ends with a sense of hard-won hope, as the women claim their right to be seen, heard, and safe.

Characters

Lyriq (Micah Michelle Johanssen)

Lyriq is the dance manager at Boom Town, once half of the legendary "Lovely Ladies" duo with Lucky. Scarred by illness, trauma, and guilt over failing to protect those she loves, Lyriq is both tough and deeply vulnerable. Her relationship with Lucky is the emotional core of her journey—marked by love, jealousy, and regret. As a mentor to Damaris, she seeks a second chance at redemption, but is haunted by the club's culture of exploitation and her own complicity. Lyriq's psychological arc is one of survival, self-forgiveness, and the courage to confront evil, even when the cost is high.

Felice "Lucky" Carothers

Lucky is the former headliner at Boom Town, whose beauty, talent, and intelligence made her a legend. Her partnership and romance with Lyriq are central to the club's golden era, but her life is derailed by Thomas's obsession and violence. Lucky's journal and flip phone reveal her inner strength, vulnerability, and longing for love and safety. Her pregnancy and disappearance become the catalyst for the story's central mystery. Lucky embodies the struggle of women to claim agency in a world that commodifies and discards them, her legacy inspiring those who come after her.

Damaris Wilburn ("Charm")

Damaris is a young woman fleeing a troubled past, seeking independence and belonging in Atlanta. Her naivety and talent make her both a target and a hope for renewal at Boom Town. Damaris's relationships—with Dejuan, Tink, and the women at the club—reveal her longing for connection and safety. Her entanglement with Thomas exposes her to the darkest aspects of exploitation, but her resilience and resourcefulness enable her to survive. Damaris's journey from victim to survivor is marked by hard choices, betrayal, and ultimately, the reclamation of her own story.

Thomas "T" McIntyre

Thomas is a wealthy, powerful white man whose obsession with Black women drives the story's central conflicts. His charm and generosity mask a deep-seated entitlement and capacity for violence. Thomas's relationships with Lucky and Damaris are transactional and predatory, blurring the lines between patron, lover, and abuser. His ability to evade consequences is enabled by the complicity of those around him, including Bones and the club's management. Thomas's psychological profile is one of narcissism, control, and a desperate need to possess what he cannot truly understand.

LaBrettney McIntyre

LaBrettney is Thomas's wife, a successful businesswoman and mother to Felicity. Initially portrayed as a background figure, she emerges as a complex character—aware of her husband's infidelities and capable of decisive action. Her relationship with Lucky and Damaris is marked by empathy and a desire to protect, even as she navigates her own survival within a marriage built on secrets. LaBrettney's psychological strength lies in her ability to adapt, strategize, and ultimately, to choose solidarity with other women over loyalty to a destructive partner.

Dejuan Taylor

Dejuan is Damaris's neighbor and eventual boyfriend, offering her kindness, stability, and a glimpse of a better life. His innocence and decency contrast sharply with the predatory men of Boom Town. Dejuan's persistence in searching for Damaris after her disappearance is a testament to his love and integrity. He represents the possibility of healthy masculinity and genuine care in a world rife with exploitation. Dejuan's presence grounds Damaris and provides a path toward healing and hope.

Bones

Bones is the general manager and part-owner of Boom Town, a figure of authority who prioritizes profit over the well-being of his dancers. His complicity in the club's culture of exploitation is both self-serving and a product of his own survival instincts. Bones's relationships with Lyriq, Lucky, and the other women are transactional, marked by manipulation and occasional moments of vulnerability. His psychological arc is one of denial, rationalization, and eventual reckoning with the consequences of his actions.

Lady Josephine

Lady Josephine is an older homeless woman whose discovery of the body in the river frames the novel's mystery. Her perspective offers a window into the lives of those rendered invisible by society. Josephine's resilience, humor, and moral code make her a memorable figure, even as she struggles with addiction and trauma. Her interactions with the other characters highlight the interconnectedness of survival, kindness, and the cost of being forgotten.

Tink

Tink is Damaris's cousin and the operator of a safe house for trafficked women. Her past as a survivor of exploitation informs her fierce commitment to helping others escape. Tink's resourcefulness, street smarts, and willingness to bend the rules make her a vital ally. She represents the power of community and the importance of creating spaces of safety and solidarity for those most at risk.

Felicity

Felicity is the daughter of Lucky and Thomas, raised by LaBrettney. Her existence is a living testament to the resilience of the women who came before her. Felicity's presence in the story is a reminder of what is at stake—the possibility of a future free from violence and fear. She embodies the hope that the cycle of violence can be broken, and that new beginnings are possible.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Multiple Perspectives

The novel employs a structure that alternates between past and present, as well as between the perspectives of Lyriq, Lucky, Damaris, and others. This device allows the reader to piece together the mystery of the disappearances, the trauma endured by the women, and the complicity of those in power. The use of journals, flip phones, and found objects as narrative tools deepens the sense of discovery and the unreliability of memory. The shifting viewpoints create suspense, empathy, and a mosaic of experiences that reflect the complexity of survival in a hostile world.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The recurring imagery of the river, the woods, and the club's neon lights serve as symbols of both danger and possibility. Business cards, locked drawers, and hidden phones foreshadow the connections between characters and the secrets that bind them. The motif of missing women, both named and unnamed, underscores the novel's themes of invisibility and the fight to be seen. The use of music, dance, and performance as both empowerment and exploitation adds layers of meaning to the characters' struggles.

The Unreliable Narrator

Many characters, especially Lucky and Damaris, experience gaps in memory, dissociation, and the blurring of reality and fantasy. This device reflects the psychological impact of trauma and the difficulty of reconstructing the past. The reader is invited to question what is real, what is remembered, and what is deliberately concealed. The unreliable narration heightens suspense and mirrors the uncertainty faced by survivors seeking justice.

The Cycle of Violence and Redemption

The novel explores the cyclical nature of exploitation, betrayal, and resistance. Characters are forced to make impossible choices to survive, often at the expense of others. Acts of betrayal are balanced by moments of solidarity, care, and redemption. The narrative structure, with its echoes and parallels between characters, reinforces the idea that healing and justice are collective endeavors, requiring both individual courage and communal support.

Analysis

Nic Stone's Boom Town is a searing, multi-layered exploration of survival, exploitation, and the search for justice in the shadows of Atlanta's strip club scene. Through its interwoven narratives and complex characters, the novel exposes the intersecting forces of race, gender, class, and power that shape the lives of Black women in a world that profits from their bodies while erasing their humanity. The story's emotional arc is driven by the women's resilience—their ability to find connection, meaning, and hope even in the face of violence and betrayal. Stone's use of multiple perspectives, unreliable narration, and symbolic settings invites readers to question whose stories are told, whose pain is acknowledged, and what it means to be truly seen. The novel's ultimate message is one of hard-won hope: that solidarity, truth-telling, and the refusal to be silenced can break cycles of harm and open the door to new beginnings. In a world where missing women are too often forgotten, Boom Town insists on their visibility, their agency, and their right to survive.

Last updated: January 5, 2026