Susan Straight's Mecca was published in early 2022 by publishers Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. A work of historical fiction inspired by Straight’s fascination with the American West, Mecca tells the story of a man from California named Johnny Frías. Unlike many who came to the state, Frías' roots in California stretched far back, as his ancestors were part of California's indigenous population. For work, Frías is a highway patrolman. He pulls people over for doing things like speeding every day; he has little variation in his career, but he is still interested in it. Still, Frías must frequently contend with racist insults hurled by angry people he has pulled over and other less-than-desirable things. And for Frías, that action ultimately culminates in a showdown unlike any other.
When it was published in 2022, Mecca mainly received positive reviews. It was also considered to be one of the best novels of the year by several publications, including The New York Times and NPR. In their glowing review of the novel, for instance, The New York Review of Books wrote that Straight's novel is "A wide and deep view of a dynamic, multiethnic Southern California . . . Susan Straight is an essential voice in American writing and writing of the West."
