A Calamity of Souls

De: David Baldacci

Narrado por: David Baldacci, MacLeod Andrews, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy, Cary Hite

Duración: 14 h y 28 m

Resumen del Editor

Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially-charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully-accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.

Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

Over a decade in the writing, A Calamity of Souls breathes richly imagined and detailed life into a bygone era, taking the listener through a world that will seem both foreign and familiar.

©2024 David Baldacci (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci is the immovable object of history slamming into the irresistible force of truth. An examination of a fractured place and time where the mores of the past were confronted by the implacable ferocious tenacity of justice. A Tour de Force."—S. A. Cosby, bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED and RAZORBLADE TEARS

“A Calamity of Souls, the story of a murder in southern Virginia in the mid-1960’s, may be the best novel David Baldacci has ever written, which is saying a great deal. It has a gripping plot and a shocking ending, and even better than that, is also a perfect evocation of a difficult time in America’s history, propelled by deep and moving characters and beautiful writing. It captured me completely from the very first page.”—Scott Turow, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"This is David Baldacci at his best. Using the law and the courtroom as the stage for a searing parable on race and the cost and courage to do the right thing."—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A very special novel

I see that Shelley of Raleigh NC has already written a superb review of the newly released A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci. Shelley has been my favorite Audible reviewer of novels of the mystery/thriller genre for well over a decade. Please read her review.

With 52 David Baldacci novels in my Audible library it's safe to say I'm a fan. A Calamity of Souls is one of my favorites. I recommend it without reservation.

This novel is set in rural Virginia in 1968. The theme is whether a innocent poor black man who is accused of murdering a wealthy white couple can receive a fair trial in very rural southern Virginia. I grew up in the rural south during the Jim Crow era and I celebrated my 25th birthday during 1968. I was 11 years old inn 1954 when the Supreme Court in the Brown v Board of Education decision said that schools must be desegregated. When my oldest child entered kindergarten in 1974, 20 years after Brown, our local schools were not desegregated.

Sadly, the plot of this novel is entirely credible in the 1968 rural south.

Hard But Excellent

This is a hard book to experience but worth the discomfort. Many varied characters that ring true to any of us who lived in the south in the 60s and 70s.

The narrators were absolutely fabulous-- among the best I've heard. I detest poor imitations of the various southern accents and dialects but each of these was dead on.

Baldacci Scores Win!

Move over HARPER there’s a new Lee in town. Well done!

I felt as though the characters were so real. The ending was not what I expected. It was better. I want to turn around and listen to it again to pick up the things I missed. I have been a fan for years, but this is simply his best.

satisfying

great storyline, deeply relevant issues delivered by well-developed characters. all the twists and turns you expect from baldacci, but I would argue this one has more meat on the bone than his other novels. context is, in many ways, just as relevant today as it was when the story is portayed. this book moved me, and hopefully, it will move you too. well done, mr baldacci!

History Revisited....

This was a revisit of my "coming of age". It reminds me of our progress of acceptance. However, it saddens me that we are not farther along. And the concept of U.S. of A. united is still very much in the future.

History of Discrimination

A tale of horrible discrimination in the South not so many years ago was laid out in a murder trial. Two lawyers, one white male and one black female worked together to defend a black man and his black wife for this crime. The ending is not predictable. The sorrow I felt for the ultimate end to this tale is indescribable.

Another gem written by Mr. Baldacci. A book well worth reading.

Excellent story and excellent narration.

Characters were very believable and the twists and turns made it hard to put down.

The historical relevance

In a very few words, this book is powerful, and EVERYONE should read it. It will take your breath away.

Best yet

Love Baldacci’s books. This was the best one yet. Excellent characters, storyline and narration. Thanks!

Imitation

This story felt like the author tried to replicate TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and A TIME TO KILL. It came across as a poor imitation of both.