Kings of Broken Things, Theodore Wheeler’s historical novel, is worth a read in the context of race relations today.

Set in the Omaha, Neb., at the end of World War I, amid racial tension, machine politics and, yes, broken things, the world is seen mostly through the eyes of immigrant teen refugee Karel Miihlstein, who becomes something of a monster from the self-confidence and swagger he learns playing baseball, but the author weaves his yarn through the deeds of a variety of characters from a chaotic time.

As painstaking described and thoroughly researched as it is, the plot bumps along a straight road without many unexpected turns. It struck me surprising that no one really paid for his or her misdeeds.

Kings ends with an epilogue needed mostly because of the lack of cohesion that preceded it.

For all that, the characters are interesting. The story breeds understanding of a mob mentality the likes of which still occurs today.

The fatal love of Jake Strauss and Evie Chambers doesn’t prove fatal. Karel learns the bad lessons rather than the good ones and succumbs to the lure of the mob. Yet he walks away, presumably with some lessons in tow.

Most, except for poor Will Brown, the black man lynched, hanged and burned, lived traumatized ever after.

Monte Dutton owns three sports websites in South Carolina and is the author of eight novels.