# Hard Times - Hardcover

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by **Jeff Boyd** (Author)

**An extraordinary crime novel from a rising star, that follows the ripple effects of a tragic shooting throughout a Chicago community from the view of the teachers, police officers, and students impacted**

**"A deeply satisfying story with as much, heart, grit and history as the city that it's set in." --Xochitl Gonzalez,** **_New York Times_ bestselling author of _Olga Dies Dreaming_**

Buddy Mack has been caught in the middle of two worlds at war.

As an English teacher at a South Side, Chicago, high school lauded for its football team, but at risk in every other way, he tries to instill a love of literature. While all of his students face challenges, he's especially concerned with a trio of boys who test him to no end but are full of promise and heart: Zeke, the football star; Truth, the sweet-talking charmer; and Dontell, Buddy's most promising student.

At home, his wife, Chrissy, a successful corporate lawyer, is ready to upgrade to a big house on the North Side and start a family, but Buddy's torn over the implications. And the closest person he has in his life to talk to is Chrissy's little brother, Curtis, a corrupt Chicago cop.

When the two worlds collide in a shocking moment that rocks the school, Buddy has to choose a side and fight for all he holds dear. _Hard Times_ takes stock of what it means to be there for your people whether you want to or not and unflinchingly confronts the American Dream--a moving, engrossing, and necessary read.

### Author Biography

**Jeff Boyd** is the author of _The Weight._ He is a former Chicago public school teacher and a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He lives in New York with his family.

**Number of Pages:** 352

**Dimensions:** 1.3 x 9.4 x 6.2 IN

**Publication Date:** March 17, 2026

## Details

- **Price:** 36.99 GBP
- **Vendor:** BooksCloud
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** African American & Black, Books, Crime, Fiction, Literary, Mystery & Detective, Price Written on Book, Thrillers

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 36.99 GBP | Out of stock |

## Images

- Hard Times

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> Source: [Somiibooks](https://somiibooks.com/products/hard-times-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-08-22