Bad Americans: Part II is the third book in The Human Tragedy Trilogy by Tejas Desai that begins with book one, Good Americans, followed by book two, Bad Americans: Part I. Bad Americans: Part II concludes the basic narrative of Bad Americans: Part I while launching into a new set of individual stories. Set in the summer of 2020, following the end of the COVID pandemic, a reclusive millionaire invites a smorgasbord of individuals from diverse professions and life experiences to his mansion. All expenses paid, the guests meet and mingle, getting to know each other during the day. In the evening, an individual is selected to relate their experiences during the pandemic. The stories generate discussions, some heated debates, and some expressions of sympathy or compassion that often lead to a change in the storyteller's sense of self-worth.

Having read and reviewed Bad Americans: Part I, I was eager to read Bad Americans: Part II. Primarily eager because author Tejas Desai had captured my attention as only the likes of a King or a Koontz have done over the decades. That statement is not to compare (other than all three are best-selling authors), but rather to highlight a particular writing style that is, in my many years of reading, often missing. In fiction, regardless of the genre, I want to read fast-paced stories that "force" me to keep reading even when I can barely keep my eyes open. I want stories full of verisimilitude, a sense of reality, stories full of "show" rather than page after page of narrative "tell", and characters that are "real" in every sense of the descriptive. Tejas Desai expertly utilizes each of these writing techniques to perfection, and I look forward to reading more of his books.

Tejas Desai’s Bad Americans: Part II returns to a secluded Long Island estate during a global pandemic, where technology founder Olive Mixer gathers a group of guests and staff for a private retreat built around nightly storytelling. As he confronts a terminal diagnosis and weighs the future of his fortune and companies, Angela Diaz's accusation against security guard Darnell Brown divides the household and changes the purpose of the gathering. Each participant must step forward to tell a story that reveals ambition, loyalty, and hidden history, while votes determine the influence in Olive’s inner circle. Alliances form behind closed doors as debates over race, gender, immigration status, and power intensify. When a sudden tragedy unsettles the retreat, the final days become a contest of persuasion to determine who is closest to Olive as he decides what comes next.

I had the pleasure of reading the first installment of Bad Americans. I really like how this second one goes even further in reclaiming the loaded connotation behind the title as accusations and power collide with stories that bite harder with each word. Olive is the show-runner, fully fleshed out and distinguished by both wealth and self-scrutiny. He has a legitimate fear of legal exposure that steers some controversial decisions, but carries on convening collective votes even when they threaten his preferred outcomes. I love Sylvania, and her command of a room through theatrical intelligence practically dances off the page. Her Tristan to Tristania performance is beautifully executed, but it is a shocking admission that completely sets her apart. Tejas Desai makes the meals and settings tactile in their details, from a wine cellar where an eighteenth-century Château Lafitte is uncorked around maritime antiques, to a Sag Harbor cider mill complete with local musicians and pressed apples. Well written and linked to real-world issues, readers who enjoy ensemble fiction with plenty of social debate will find it all here. Very highly recommended.