David Baldacci lays it out for the reader:

“I wanted to make this a story of two people from divergent life experiences who come together to tackle a problem as difficult as any America has ever confronted. I wanted it to be an unwieldy, fractious partnership ….. I wanted each to learn from the other, and for them to eventually find mutual respect and empathy for one another.”

Baldacci nailed it and then some. This is a powerful, demanding, frustrating and horrifying story that was made more difficult by baggage that I brought to it. Having seen it first hand as a northerner attending a Virginia college exactly during the period in this book, the hate, fear and division of blatant racism was front and center every day in every way. His writing perfected all the emotions I was channeling even as he was spinning an enormously well crafted story.

Extraordinarily written, upsetting for its undeniable truth and hard look at what we only wish was in the past. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the amazing book. ( )

The novel is set in Virginia in 1968 at the height of racial tension in the aftermath of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Jerome Washington is a driver and handyman for a wealthy older couple. He comes into the house to get his pay for the week and finds them dead. Almost immediately the police appear, cuff him, and beat him. The police, powerful people in the State of Virginia, and influential people in the US at the time, attempt to railroad him for the murders. Jack Lee, a lawyer, is asked by Miss Jessup, the maid from across the street, to represent Jerome as he is her relation. The citizens, police, and other powerful allies do not want him to represent Jerome and try many violent things to stop him, eventually burning down his home and killing his sister, Lucy. He is aided by the arrival of Desiree DuBose, a black lawyer from Chicago who travels around the United States furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. The story sets the stage for an epic struggle between the lawyers championing Whites and the lawyers championing the Blacks and trying to get equal justice for all. In order to free Jerome and his wife, who is also charged, Jack and Desiree must discover who actually did the killings. ( )

a book I think that everyone should read. I laughed, cried, and was furious, shocked, and sad. The saddest thing is that this still is evident in today's world I am ashamed to say. We need to change and do so much better. Thank you David Baldacci for writing this story and bringing it all out in the light again. ( )

Very good book except for all the extra writing added to the story that did not need to be included. Just seemed to go off on different information that pertained to the people in the book but was not needed in the story. Seems to just be what I call "fill page fluff." Once the book got back on track it was excellent. I would recommend but if you like not wandering off the main story it will be a long read. ( )

Set in 1968 Freeman County, Virginia A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci revolves around a racially charged murder case and the lawyers representing the young Black man, a Vietnam War veteran, accused of murdering the affluent white couple who were his employers.

Representing Jerome Washington is criminal defense attorney, thirty-three-year-old John Robert “Jack” Lee, a White man and resident of Freeman County. Jack, despite being brought up to be respectful of everyone irrespective of the color of their skin or social class, has never done anything to raise his voice against racial discrimination and believes that this would be his chance to do the right thing – not an easy decision given the instant backlash he faces from his own community- both on the professional and personal front- and the threats directed toward him and his family members. Despite having Jerome’s best interests at heart, he is clearly out of his depth. He is approached by Desiree DuBose, an experienced Black lawyer from Chicago whose reputation precedes her. Desiree provides Jack with a much-needed reality check, helping him navigate the machinations of the prosecution who resort to every trick in the book to prevent Jerome from getting a fair trial. The narrative follows Jack and Desiree as they fight for justice for Jerome in the face of much adversity including personal threats from a racially divided community, political bigwigs who want to send a strong message to further their own agenda, and a corrupt criminal justice system that would readily convict an innocent Black man instead of searching for the real killer.

A long time in the making and a departure from his fast-paced action-packed thrillers, A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci is a brilliantly crafted, deeply thought-provoking novel that combines elements of literary fiction, legal and family drama, historical fiction and suspense. Though the premise might not strike you as completely new or original, the strength of this novel lies in its execution – the rich historical context, realistic characters, and intriguing murder mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the final reveal. The author does a commendable job of establishing the setting – the racial tension in years after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the volatile socio-political landscape and a legal system conveniently manipulated by those wielding political and judicial power. Several sub-plots featuring Jack and his family members are seamlessly woven into the narrative, allowing us to get to know Jack as a person and follow his personal journey throughout the events described in this novel. Both Jack and Desiree are well-defined characters, as are the supporting characters, each of whom has a significant role to play. Jack and Desiree’s partnership isn’t necessarily an easy one. They are from diverse backgrounds and despite being motivated to do the right thing it is expected that they would be wary of one another initially and I loved how the author addresses the differences in their convictions and life experiences and as they gradually grow to respect the other’s perspective even though they might not always agree with one another.

Please note that this is not light reading. The author captures a time and place where racial tensions are high and needless to say, which features several nasty characters, racially motivated violence and upsetting dialogue, heavy with racial slurs. Some moments will break your heart and some will leave you seething with anger. Despite the length of the novel and the large cast of characters, at no point does the narrative become repetitive or difficult to follow. Relatively slower paced but intense and immersive, this is an exceptionally well-written novel.

David Baldacci is a master storyteller and this novel will definitely be considered among his best works - the kind of story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. I promptly ordered a personal copy for my collection as soon as I finished reading the ARC.

Do read the Author’s Note where he discusses his inspiration for this novel and the autobiographical elements that he incorporated into the narrative.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )