Bonus Content
Excerpt
Chapter 1
"LET HER HANG until she's dead!"
"Take her out and hang her now! I'll do it myself!"
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Judge Otis L. Warren wielded his gavel with such fury I
thought he might smash a hole in the top of his bench.
"Quiet in the court!" the judge shouted. "Settle down, or by
God I will hold every last one of you sons of bitches in contempt."
Bam! Bam! Bam!
It was no use. Warren's courtroom was overflowing with
disgruntled white citizens who wanted nothing more than to
see my client hang. Two of them on the left side began a chant that was soon taken up by others:
We don't care where. We don't care how.
We just wanna hang Gracie Johnson now!
The shouts from some among the white majority sent such
a shiver of fear through the colored balcony that one woman
fainted and had to be carried out.
Another bang of the gavel. Judge Warren stood and shouted,
"Mr. Loomis, escort all those in the colored section out of my courtroom and out of the building."
I couldn't hold my tongue another second.
"Your Honor, I object! I don't see any of the colored folks
being rowdy or disrespectful. The ones making the fuss are
the white men in front."
Judge Warren glared over his glasses at me. His expression
intimidated the room into silence.
"Mr. Corbett, it is my job to decide how to keep order in
my court. It is your job to counsel your client - and let me tell you, from where I sit, she needs all the help she can get."
I couldn't disagree.
What I once thought would be an easy victory in the case
of District of Columbia v. Johnson was swiftly turning into a
disaster for Gracie and her increasingly helpless attorney, Benjamin E. Corbett: that being myself.
Gracie Johnson was on trial for the murder of Lydia Davenport, a wealthy white woman who was active in Washington
society at a level high enough to cause a nosebleed. Worse,
Gracie was a black woman accused of killing her wealthy white
employer.
The year was 1906. Before it was all over, I was afraid they
were going to hang Gracie.
I had to be careful they didn't hang me while they were at it.
(c) James Patterson
Alex Cross's Trial
Leave it to James Patterson to shake Alex Cross’s family tree and come up with the ancestor whose intolerance for injustice has clearly nourished the lower branches. In this breathtaking book “written” by Alex Cross, the #1 bestselling author breaks new ground as we head back to 1906, where news of widespread lynchings in the deep South have caught the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt. Deeply concerned, he summons Ben Corbett, a white lawyer who hails from Eudora, Mississippi, and asks him to return to his roots to investigate. But what Ben sees with the help of Abraham Cross, a stately man of 91, and his granddaughter, Moody, is a degree of lawlessness and cruelty that defies belief.
For Ben, whose championship of “charity” cases has caused a rift in his marriage, there could be no better partner in his fight for human dignity than Abraham, who, despite his advanced age, is no shrinking violet. When the elderly man’s home is attacked, Ben manages to catch the offenders, and the ensuing trial—a shocking, eye-opening examination of evil—creates a whole new meaning for the term “nail-biter.” Alex Cross’s Trial is another brilliant tour de force by the undisputed master.
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA ( August 24, 2009 )
Item #: 98-7241
ISBN: 9780316070621
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.8 inches
Product Weight: 13.0 ounces
Better than I expected
August 24, 2010
I have to admit, I ordered this book because (a) it was written by James Patterson and (b) "Alex Cross" was in the title. When I received the book and realized what it was about, I put it on the shelf and left it. One day, months later, I found myself going to the beach with nothing to read so I pulled this book down thinking it would be better than nothing. Wow! I couldn't put it down. Yes, the subject is infuriating but, sadly, it's history. Yes, it's graphic, but sometimes descriptions need to be to make you understand. While I agree with others that it would have been nice to have more of a tie-in with Alex Cross, I'm still glad I got around to reading this book and will hang on to it along with all my other Patterson favorites.
Reviewer: Lisa
Lynchings
August 20, 2010
Pattersons books are always well written as this one was. I was sickened and appalled at the graphic nature of it. It would be easy to say, "that was in the past"; but unfortunately, this is part of our American heritage. We don't hear of this anymore, or at least we don't think it still happens, but this should encourage us no matter what our genealogical background to speak up and not let this happen now or in the future. There is a KKK cult growing accross America from LA to FL. Isn't that crazy? They actually think their a "brotherhood" that is all it is. They say they aren't meaning to do the stuff their forefathers did in the 30's. Who are they kidding? Anyway, this book will open eyes to that whole subject. Also I thought it had a weird ending. Anticlimactic. With really no resolution.
Reviewer: nikki
Liked it
July 27, 2010
This was a good book, weak ending, would have liked a little more connection to the Present Day Alec Cross...he found letters that Mama Nana had?? And that was how He wrote the story?? I've read all of JP books but I'm beginging to lose a little interest...write one on your own again!!!
Reviewer: Territ
fan of cross
May 03, 2010
I have read all the Alex Cross books and this was very different. I wasn't sure if I would like this book, To my surprise I enjoyed the story line very much. It brings back a horrible part of our past and makes you angry about the injustice of it all. I liked all the characters involved in the book. Very quick read. I'm glad I purchased this book.
Reviewer: d s
Wonderful Read
March 22, 2010
Have read many, and continue catching up on previous James Patterson novels and love them all. Entertaining, quick read and love all his protagonists. He never disappoints as far as I'm concerned. Did write him but he never wrote back. Some authors do and thrilled to receive mail from them!
Reviewer: Faith B
James Patterson
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