WINNER OF THE HARPER LEE PRIZE FOR LEGAL FICTION
Wall Street Journal BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION
From Attica Locke, a writer and producer of FOX's Empire, this
sophisticated thriller sees lawyer Jay Porter--hero of her bestseller
Black Water Rising--return to fight one last case, only to become
embroiled in a dangerous game of shadowy politics and a witness to how
far those in power are willing to go to win.
Fifteen years after his career-defining case against Cole Oil, Jay
Porter is broke and tired. That victory might have won the environmental
lawyer fame, but thanks to a string of appeals, he hasn't seen a dime.
His latest case--representing Pleasantville in the wake of a chemical
fire--is dragging on, shaking his confidence and raising doubts about
him within this upwardly mobile black community on Houston's north side.
Though Jay still believes in doing what's right, he is done fighting
other people's battles. Once he has his piece of the settlement, the
single father is going to devote himself to what matters most--his
children.
His plans are abruptly derailed when a female campaign volunteer
vanishes on the night of Houston's mayoral election, throwing an already
contentious campaign into chaos. The accused is none other than the
nephew and campaign manager of one of the leading candidates--a scion of
a prominent Houston family headed by the formidable Sam Hathorne.
Despite all the signs suggesting that his client is guilty--and his own
misgivings--Jay can't refuse when a man as wealthy and connected as Sam
asks him to head up the defense. Not if he wants that new life with his
kids. But he has to win.
Plunging into a shadowy world of ambitious enemies and treacherous
allies armed with money, lies, and secrets, Jay reluctantly takes on his
first murder trial--a case that will put him and his client, and an
entire political process, on trial.
