"A Calamity of Souls" by David Baldacci is an absolute must-read! Set in 1968, it's a gripping courtroom drama tackling racial injustice in southern Virginia.
When Black Vietnam veteran Jerome Washington is wrongly accused of murder, a duo of lawyers—white and Black—fight against a deeply unfair system. Jack Lee, a local attorney, and Desiree DuBose, a dedicated advocate, form an unlikely alliance to defend Jerome against overwhelming odds. As they uncover the truth, they face prejudice, danger, and unexpected twists.
Baldacci masterfully blends historical, legal, and family drama into a captivating story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. With well-developed characters and intense courtroom scenes, this novel is both timely and essential reading.
I couldn't put it down!

Taking over a decade to write, Baldacci crafts a beautifully written story of a lawyer who fights for racial injustices. This story is a standalone and unlike Baldacci’s other novels.
Set in 1968 southern Virginia a black man is accused of a heinous crime. Lee, an attorney who has never tried a case along with DuBose a black female attorney from Chicago team up to try and keep their client from the electric chair.
This is a gripping courtroom drama that will keep you reading until the last page. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC it was fabulous!

A Calamity of Souls
David Baldacci
April 16, 2024

Virginia, 1968, and an affluent white couple is found dead. The only person around is their black handy man/chauffer/groundskeeper, Jerome, covered in blood. He’s come in to collect his pay and found them murdered. Jerome is a family man, a decorated Viet Nam veteran, and yet, he is accused and found guilty in the eyes of the law – and everyone else - before they’ve even put him in the jail cell.

These are perilous times with little mind paid to the eliminated Jim Crow laws along with blatant and hateful racism at every turn. When Jack Lee, a white lawyer, is asked by Jerome’s Grandma-in-law to take on the case he’s at first hesitant but he knows this is his chance to do something about the racial discrimination and hate he’s seen and has often ignored throughout his life.

Jack, along with Desiree DuBoise, a black lawyer from Chicago, take on Jerome’s case which has exploded into so much more. The inclusion of Jerome’s family, the racial tensions, and the sheer danger it put everyone involve in was mind-blowing, tragic and at times, awe inspiring.

This is a tough book to read; it exposes a lot of hateful history but in turn, it shows the dedication and bravery of people who worked towards change, often at great peril to themselves and their families.

I know I didn’t even come close to reviewing this book in any manner that deems worthy of how much it deserves but I’m a little bit at a loss for words.

My thanks to @GrandCentralPub for this gifted DRC.

Master storyteller David Baldacci returns following series The Edge (The 6:20 Man #2) and Simply Lies (Mickey Gibson #1) with his latest riveting standalone, A CALAMITY OF SOULS. Set during the desegregation of the South, a gripping courtroom drama of racial injustice and suspense combined with a gripping family drama that will leave you breathless until the final page is turned!

I have been a long-time fan of the author—whether a series or standalone, A CALAMITY OF SOULS is one of my favorites. Baldacci at his finest! 5 Stars + and Top Books of 2024!

Set in 1968, in Virginia, as the book opens, we meet a hardworking Black Vietnam veteran, Jerome Washington, husband and father, accused and arrested for the murder of his white employers, Leslie and Anne Randolph.

They are two of the most prominent wealthy family members in the segregated Freeman County.

Jerome had been with the couple for many years and was washing their Buick. He entered the home to pick up his weekly pay when he found them covered in blood. He tried to help by moving them off the floor. Then, the cops arrived and handcuffed him immediately.

A setup? It appears he is taking the fall for someone; however, in this county, a Black man's word is no good. Who will believe him? He is beaten and already assumed guilty when he is innocent due to his color.

Miss Jessup (Black) was Ashby's maid, cook, and nurse (their lawyer neighbor), and everyone knew her. She was a relative of Jerome's family. Jack Lee remembered her when he was a boy delivering the paper. She reached out to Jack Lee to represent Jerome.

Jack Lee, who is just turning 33, is a young local white criminal defense attorney who agrees to take the case. He is unmarried, drives a Fiat, and is eight years out of law school. Lucy, his sister at 37, was born with a deformity after their mother was given a sedative due to an impacted wisdom tooth when she was unaware she was pregnant. He also had a brother, Jeff.

His family believed in kindness and respect, whether you're black, white, rich, or poor.

As Jack becomes engrossed in the case, everyone is against him with much prejudice, and he soon realizes he is out of his element.

However, his salvation came when Desiree DuBose, a Black lawyer from Chicago sent by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, arrived to assist Jack with the case. She is smart and has devoted her life to helping with the justice and equality of her clients.

The two lawyers begin working together to defend Jerome against an unjust and unfair town, fighting them at every turn. They work well together even though different. They have to put on their investigation hats and dig deep in a race against time when the local cops are not that helpful and want to hang Jerome.

However, they know he is innocent and has a family and daughters to get back to. Who is the real murderer, and why are they allowing an innocent man to take the fall? What was the motive?

Both Jack and Desiree are in danger, and the racists will stop at nothing to keep them from working on the case, even getting to the families. Jack learns to respect Desiree and admires her when he has barely left his state and has never flown. She has been everywhere representing those in need of a fair trial.

It is the two of them against an entire town of racial injustice and prejudice. After losing their office and other lives, rather than giving up, they are more determined to bring justice to the forefront and save Jerome.

Two lawyers, black and white, fight against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendant. However, there is a final twist and more surprises you do not see coming, which will leave your jaw dropping in this heartbreaking suspense.

A CALAMITY OF SOULS is a high-octane, action-packed, and moving legal thriller during the civil rights movement. Timely, critical, and essential reading. Even though fictional, the stories are real, then and now. I loved this book and its well-developed characters you care about and root for.

Gripping, character-driven, and plot-driven, with intense courtroom scenes, a stellar blending of historical, legal, psychological, and family drama. Baldacci fans will devour, as well as Grisham, Connelly, Turow, Eskens, Hart, and Dugoni fans.

Thank you, David, for telling this moving story, which has been a long time in the making. No one could have said it better. The author's expertise as an award-winning author. former lawyer, and growing up in the area during this period, shines through on each page, making the characters come alive.

A CALAMITY OF SOULS is exceptional and would make a superb movie or TV series. I hope we see more of Jack and Desiree in the future. Ideal for book clubs and further discussions. I highly recommend it!

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley, for a digital early reading review copy. I also pre-ordered the audiobook and cannot wait to listen with narrators MacLeod Andrews (favorite), Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy, and Cary Hite. The hardcover is a must for your home library! A classic.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: April 16, 2024
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This was a book that intrigued me based on the plot and the fact that I do not typically read a lot of books written by male authors.

I want to start by stating that this book was not poorly written by any means at all, it just wasn't written for me. As a person of color, reading a book where the white lawyer is really faced with the inner turmoil of how hard racism is to fight against is just not the journey for me in this capacity.

Seeing as this author is recommended for readers who enjoy John Grisham and Clive Cussler--neither of whom I have read, I personally think this book was for someone of an older age range than me. I would (and have) recommended this book to both my father and uncle in-laws who are both big fans of Grisham and Cussler.

Jack Lee, a young white lawyer in 1960s Virginia, takes on the defense of a Black man accused of a double homicide. This is a story that took David Baldacci ten years to write, but I finished reading this in just over one day because it was so hard to put down. From the opening scenes of Jerome Washington’s arrest to his trial and its’ aftermath, Baldacci takes you to the Old South with its’ racial divisions and prejudices. Lee is accused of being a traitor to his race and receives a beating to drive home the point. He considers dropping the case, but the arrival of Desiree DuBose strengthens his resolve to see justice done. She is a Black female lawyer offering her services as a co-counsel in a case that has gotten national attention. She and Jack have their differences in approaching the case yet make a strong team in the courtroom.

The Hanovers were a wealthy couple who employed Jerome as their handyman. When he is found at the scene of the crime he is arrested even though he has no blood on his clothes or shoes at a scene filled with blood splatters. He is beaten by the arresting officers and his wife is later arrested as his accomplice. The prosecutor feels he has a strong case, most of it is based on circumstantial evidence and questionable testimony. With a jury of twelve white men and witnesses forced to commit perjury, Jerome and his wife are facing the electric chair. It is not enough to just show reasonable doubt in his case. Time is running out as disturbing facts come to light regarding events leading up to the murder. At times this was a disturbing story. The treatment of Jerome was brutal and the attacks on Jack and his family, leading to the death of an innocent girl, brought me to tears. This story is a must read and will stay with you long after the last page. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for my review.

One of Baldacci’s most powerful books. He writes head-on and honestly about the racial issues, especially in the judicial system, in the 1960’s. This novel is not only of our past but it also rings loud and true today.

Set in Virginia in 1968, after the murders of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, racial tension is a fact of life in segregated Freeman County. Jerome Washington, a young Black married father who served in Vietnam is arrested for the double murder of Leslie and Anne Randolph, his wealthy, white employers. Jack Lee, a white criminal attorney with no experience at murder trials, is convinced by the accused man's family to represent Jerome. The local reaction to Jack's decision to defend a Black man of such a horrible crime puts him and his loved ones in danger. Realizing he may be in way over his head, he is approached by Desiree DuBose, a Black attorney from the Legal Defense Fund, to work together. The case takes on national attention with George Wallace's people trying to use the trial to bolster support for him. The prosecution rushes the case to trial where the lack of hard evidence doesn't seem to matter.

A Calamity of Souls is one of David Baldacci's most personal novels. The author, raised in Richmond, Virginia, notes that the book has many autobiographical elements and that he started writing the novel over a decade ago. It's quite a tour de force - perhaps his best. I'm a big fan of his entertaining, action-packed series work but this book is much different given the subject matter. Jack Lee is a great character. While a talented attorney, this case gives him the chance to truly stand for something. Desiree is a force of nature who is brilliant yet realizes she is fighting an uphill, exhausting battle every day of her life. This riveting story kept me glued and very angry.

I've been a fan of David Baldacci books since his first novel in the mid 1990s. I particularly like his stand alone novels like "Absolute Power' and "Last Man Standing". "A Calamity of Souls" is another stand alone and it could be his best book ever. Great characters, a fast paced plot, and the social commentary that informs some of his best books. It was a page turner and I read it straight through in two days. Highly recommended

Thanks to Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

Set in the south 1968, a racially-charged murder case brings a duo of white and Black lawyers against an unfair justice system to defend a wrongfully-accused Black man. A wealthy white couple is found brutally murdered in their home. Jerome Washington, a Black man, is found at the scene and immediately arrested.

Jack Lee, a white lawyer, has never handled a murder case let alone fought racism but decides to represent Jerome. Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago that has argued in the Supreme Court. She has the experience and attention of the media to partner with Lee in a legal battle against the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The stage is set and the hard-to-read novel really begins. What follows is a string of events and revelations far greater than the outcome of a murder trial. Baldacci revisits the Civil Rights era in this fictional mystery. Interestingly published during a sensitive time in real life.

David Baldacci is one of those authors that I will read whatever he releases. Auto-add to TBR! I know a good read awaits. I know the mystery will grip me from beginning to end. However, A Calamity of Souls is unlike his other novels. A little too To Kill a Mockingbird-ish.

Given the topic, I expected to feel empathetic toward the main Black character but never quite connected. The sub-characters were almost more developed. The courtroom drama was underwhelming. The ending way too predictable. I understand A Calamity of Souls was over a decade in the writing but it could have been fine tuned a bit more.

Happy Early Pub Day, David Baldacci! A Calamity of Souls will be available Tuesday, April 16.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

In 1968 Jerome Washington, a Black man is charged with brutally killing the elderly and wealthy white couple he works for. Jerome hires Jack Lee, a white lawyer also from Freeman County, Virginia to represent him. Jack realizes almost immediately he is in over his head, and it isn't long before he begins receiving threats. Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who arrives just in the nick of time to help Jack out with the case. Desiree, who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality, often butts heads with Jack over her methods and delivery, but the two work well together. Some of the people of Freeman County are not so pleased to have her there, and there was more than one attempt on her life. including burning down Jack's office and apartment where she was staying. As the pair fight for a fair trial and to get a not guilty verdict, the prosecutors are determined to get a guilty verdict and send he defendant to the electric chair, at any cost.

This book was excellent. At first I was overwhelmed at the sheer size of it - it is an impressive 496 pages. However, once I began to read, I was so engrossed, I couldn't put the book down. It was a hard book to read, because of the subject matter. It is always hard to read about such blatant bigotry as what went on back then, even after slavery had ended, but white people still looked down on Black people and treated them as less than. This book made me angry, as it should. Things are better now, but not as good as they should be. This would make an excellent book club read, as there is much to dissect and discuss. I loved it, and I think you will to. I highly recommend it.

Laws can be changed more readily than peoples’ minds.

In 1968, the same year which saw the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy, Leslie and Anne Randolph, an elderly white couple from the “good” part of town, are found savagely murdered. Standing over the bodies is Jerome Washington, a young black man recently returned from serving in Vietnam and who did work for the Randolphs. Since this is happening in Freeman County, VA, the two deputies who respond are more in line in their thinking with aspiring presidential candidate George Wallace than with the federal court’s rulings on civil rights. They have no doubt that Jerome is guilty, and no compunction in roughing him up and hauling him off to jail. The court of public opinion by and large sees things the same way that the deputies do, and there is little doubt that Jerome will be found guilty at trial. Jerome has one advocate, though, his wife’s grandmother Miss Jessup, who for years has been the housekeeper and ultimately nurse for a white family named Ashby. There is another family in the Ashby’s neighborhood, the Lees (no relation to the General), whose elder son Jack she has known since he was the local newspaper delivery boy and who has grown up to become a lawyer. Jack’s family is solidly blue color, and his degree didn’t come from any of the fancy colleges for those who have “connections”, but he passed the bar exam just the same. Miss Jessup asks Jack to defend Jerome, whom she swears is innocent, and while Jack is not overly enthusiastic about the idea….he’s never defended anyone for murder, among other reasons….he is also someone who doesn’t take kindly to being told what to do. When he becomes the target of threats and more, he becomes more determined to take the case. He receives a visit from Desiree DuRose, a young black woman lawyer who works for the Legal Defense Fund and has far more experience in handling major cases than does Jack. They form a defense team for Jerome, with Desiree’s technical expertise and political savvy combining with Jack’s knowledge of the local players and his roots in the community. The case attracts attention from powerful people in the state and beyond, and Virginia’s top prosecutor is summoned to mount the prosecution. Jack and Desiree will face increasing threats and other forms of intimidation as they fight to give Jerome a fair trial, and their commitment to justice may cost them more dearly than they could have imagined.
This is a novel that features the investigation and prosecution of a heinous crime, and is an enjoyable read on that level alone. It is also, perhaps more interestingly, historical fiction given the time in which it is set. The hearts and minds of Freeman County are not in synch with the legal decisions that have been made in Washington DC, and there are more than a few white people who continue to live their lives in accordance with the rules with which they were raised. Jack and his family are white and while they are not rabid racists, like many they are more concerned with the challenges that exist under their own roof than they are in fighting for justice for others. Desiree is fighting an ideological war, and while she hopes to help Jerome she is far more focused on the greater good than on any one small battle. The characters are well-developed, and Mr. Baldacci has done a fantastic job of showing what life was like in this part of Virginia at this tense moment in American history. In A Calamity of Souls, he has created a tale of flawed people doing their best to do the right thing in the face of steep opposition, and are facing some of the same thorny issues that continue to confront us today. Readers of legal thrillers by authors like John Grisham, Scott Turow and Lisa Scottoline should add this to their TBR pile, as should anyone who loved To Kill a Mockingbird (although to be fair, as even Jack himself admits, he is no Atticus Finch). Grab a tall glass of sweet tea or lemonade and find a sunny spot in which to sit and read…just be sure to carve out some time, because you are not going to want to put this story down till you get to the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for granting me early access to this fantastic read.

This is a masterpiece. I love all of David's books, but this one really made me think. It is a courtroom drama set in 1968 in Virginia where the lines between Blacks and Whites are still very clear. Despite the Civil Rights Act this part of Virginia goes by its own rules. When Jerome Washington is accused of murdering his White employers, the trial begins with Jack Lee representing him. He has never handled a murder trial before. Desiree Dubose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to justice and equality. Outside forces are at work within this trial. Together they fight for justice for Jerome and his wife Pearl.,

Thank you to netgalley and Central publishing for allowing me to read a copy of David Baldacci latest book. This book is a standalone novel. I am a fan of this author and have many of his books. This book is set in the late 1960s in the South a black man is accused of killing a white man. It was a gripping tail that was not easy to read. The characters were great but, I felt like this book can been a little shorter.

My favorite novel of the year so far! I loved everything about it including the beautiful title. A powerful combination of historical fiction, courtroom drama, mystery, and family relationships, but most importantly, an insightful look at racism in the Old American South, very reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

The story is set in Freeman County, Virginia, in 1968, the year Dr Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated. It's just four years since the passing of The Civil Rights Act but little has changed for the people, school busing is just beginning and racial tension is high.

It is in this uneasy atmosphere that local attorney, John Robert Lee, agrees to defend Jerome Washington, a black handyman accused of killing his wealthy white employers, Leslie and Anne Randolph. That alone is enough to set off any number of problems for 'Jack' and his family but the case also awakens the interest of some big-time politicians on both sides of the race issue, creating a media storm.

Into this mess walks a high-profile Black attorney, Desiree DuBose, an answer to Jack's prayers. She works for the Legal Defense Fund, goes where she is needed and has handled over two dozen capital murder cases, so she brings courtroom experience of this type where Jack has none.

It's hard to put this novel down--easily one of Baldacci's best works. Great characterizations with a stunning understanding of how good people can do such evil things. I'm looking forward to see where the author takes the team of DuBose and Lee next.

I received an arc of this new thriller from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

My first time reading a book by Baldacci. I have heard great things about this author, and I'm so happy that I finally got to one of his books. This book was excellent. I loved it. It was fast paced, suspenseful, and gripping. I flew through it. This one pulled on my emotions and had me rooting for justice. What a story!! Definitely recommend this one.

This is a legal thriller taking place in Virginia in 1968. Jack Lee, a white attorney, takes on a racially charged murder case of a black man that is being tried for killing the older white couple he worked for. He's never tried a murder case before, and he gets a large negative reaction from the community. He teams up with a black female attorney, Desiree, who's know for fighting for equality, and the unlikely duo work the case together.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes.

This book is nothing like any of the others that I have read by this author. It is a standalone that deals heavily with desegregation in the South during the late '60s. As we all know, this was a difficult time for America, especially in the southern part of the country. I find it interesting that Mr. Baldacci would publish this novel now when America is yet again having racial issues and an election is on the near horizon. But as someone else said, this is a "cause" book, and it shines as such.

It is a difficult book to read at times and not just because of the politics, bigotry, and bias - it is also difficult to read because it has been done before, although with a tad more subtlety. This book just pounds you over the head with hatred -aggressively.

It did have an interesting little twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

This book is very predictable, and I felt that the characters lacked something; some emotion, and I couldn't 'feel' for them.

For comparison, try the classic book To Kill a Mockingbird

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing | Hachette Book Group, the author, and NetGalley

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I don't read very much historical fiction. It is often degrading to women. The commonplace beliefs are upsetting. A Calamity of Souls was heartbreaking each step of the way.

With less scientific methods, and the prejudice in law enforcement and judicial systems, a black man arrested for murder is likely to be convicted. He is beaten before he even makes it to the jail. The death penalty in the state is resurrected by the courts in days to be applied to his case.

A local attorney, Jack Lee takes on his defense and is aided by Desiree DuBose, a nationally prominent female black attorney. They face multiple threats to their lives. Even when witnesses prove facts against the conviction, the court and jury seem inclined to convict. It's infuriating how people who lie and some were coerced to frame the defendant. Jack and Desiree work hard and really do uncover many facts and lies.

The true beauty of the story is the development of the characters with their complex beliefs and morality, which is realistic. Jack's mother is an example of the dichotomy, all in one person. I believe the prejudice and happenings to be representative of the actual situation in Virginia at this time. Sadly, some still have these feelings and biases.

I felt a real connection between the racist political machinations of George Wallace and his violence in this time, and the current situations promoting this division and violence because someone is different. They find the truth irrelevant ; the rule of law unnecessary to their decisions. The only thing critical is their power and greed.

The real killer is revealed, which brings some relief. Because they are white, they don't even face charges. Although some who manipulated various false evidence are held accountable.

This was an amazing book! The author did an extraordinary job of depicting the prejudice against black people in 1968 and especially in the judicial system. More than just a legal thriller the book shows just a small amount of the racial tension and injustice of the 1960s. So much of the hate and vitriol expressed by some of the characters is still heard today. This is probably one of Mr Baldacci’s best books and I commend him for tackling this subject. I would make this highly suggested reading for any adult. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book Title: The Calamity of Souls
Author: David Baldacci
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Courtroom Drama
Pub Date: April 16, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 496

This book opens with “Author’s Note’.
I always enjoying reading the author’s note as it offers the inside scoop to the story. However, it is usually at the end where I am sure many readers skip. So I liked that it was up front.
Baldacci tells us that he actually started this novel over a decade ago. He made notes in a journal which was like lined notebook his mother gave him to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)
He put aside this current journal but it kept pulling him back. He grew up in the South in Richmond Virginia in the sixties and seventies and remembers his sixth-grade class being bused to a Black school.
(I grew up in a small town in West Virginia and remember Black students being bused to all-white schools. Although I am not Black I was very aware that being different made you a target. -as an Italian Catholic I was bullied and teased as I walked to the Catholic school on the other side of town.)
Back to Baldacci’s story - he wanted this story of two people from divergent life experiences to come together to tackle a difficult problem. Thus his story begins . . . .

Time period is 1968 in Virginia
Jack Lee, a young white lawyer, who was raised by parents who didn’t agree with the racial prejudices; however never really took any stand against it.
.
When Jerome Washington a Black veteran of the Vietnam war is charged with murdering the elderly wealthy couple where he works; additionally his wife Pearl is charged as his accomplice; Jack see this as a his chance to right a wrong.
Jack soon discovers he is had something huge on his hands and as a new lawyer may not be able to accomplish.
Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to justice and equality for everyone, goes to Freeman County, VA and partners with Lee in his legal battle against the best prosecutor in town.

I love good Courtroom Drama and David Baldacci certainly delivered.
I knew this was going to be an emotional read but didn’t know it was going to be a WOW read.


This is David Baldacci novel #28 for me.
Who’s a fan? Yep! That would be me! My favorite characters are John Puller, Will Robie, Amos Decker~ The Memory Man and Atlee Pine and I ended up liking her in the other novels.

Want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 16, 2024