Author: Attica Locke
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 427
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Awards: Short listed for the Orange Prize, Nominated for a 2010 Edgar Award and a 2010 NAACP Image Award. Finalist for the 2009 LA Times Book Award and nominated for the 2009 Strand Magazine Critics Award
Challenges: POC, Book Tour
FTC: The publisher sent me this book as part of a blog tour
Summary (from the back of the book): Jay Porter has long since made peace with not living the American Dream. He runs his fledgling law practice out of a dingy Houston strip mall--where his most promising client is a low-rent call girl--and he's determined to leave the sins of his past buried: the guns, the FBI file, the trial that nearly destroyed him. That is, until the night he saves a woman from drowning and inadvertently opens a Pandora's box. Her secrets reach into the upper echelons of Houston's corporate power brokers and ensnare Jay in a murder investigation that could cost him his practice, his family... even his life. You can browse inside Black Water Rising!
Review: This book reminded me of a Grisham book as I read it. And that's a good thing. You know how you are sometimes just in the right mood for a good suspense/mystery book? I was and then this book was offered to me as part of a TLC Blog Tour. How's that for good timing? So, thank you Attica Locke!
Black Water Rising is set in the early 1980s, which allowed for the main character, an African-American lawyer, to have experienced the civil rights movement of the 1960s. I really liked this aspect of the book and how the author brought in Stokely Carmichael, Huey Long, SDS, and SNCC among other icons of the movement. Having history intertwined with the fictional story made it seem all the more real. And Attica Locke is really good at painting a picture; I could easily see this becoming a movie as I read it. Then I found out she has written a bunch of movie scripts!
There are a lot of characters in this book that all come together as the main character slowly figures out what's really going on. It isn't just about a woman falling into the bayou, but about unions, murder, integration, Texas politics, oil, and cover-ups. I was confused a bit at times, trying to keep all the players straight, but I enjoyed the intrigue, the politics, and how everyone fit into the puzzle.
About Attica Locke: Attica Locke is a writer who has worked in both film and television. A graduate of Northwestern University, she has written movie scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, and Jerry Bruckheimer films, as well as television pilots for HBO, Dreamworks, and Silver Pictures. She was a fellow at the Sundance Institute's Feature Filmmaker's Lab and is currently at work on an HBO miniseries about the civil rights movement, based on the writings of Taylor Branch. A native of Houston, Texas, Attica lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.
Attica Locke’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS
- Wednesday, May 19th: Helen’s Book Blog
- Thursday, May 20th: Drey’s Library
- Wednesday, May 26th: My Two Blessings
- Thursday, May 27th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
- Monday, May 31st: Regular Rumination
- Date TBD: Apooo Book Club
The Give Away: If you'd like to win a copy of this book, just fill in the form below. Contest ends next week, on May 26.
8 comments
I've been thinking about picking this one up--I am especially drawn to the civil rights movement connections. It sounds interesting.
I've just finished this and I wasn't a big fan. I agree that it read a bit like a Grisham book, but I prefer something with a bit more depth/atmosphere. I'm pleased that you enjoyed it though :-)
Katy--It's a quick and easy read. I could have even read more civil rights stuff, but it is a nice touch
Jackie--Bummer that you didn't like it. I'm reading one for another blog tour right now that I'm not really liking and I'm not sure what to do about it...
Is the Grisham book A Time to Kill?
This book sounds so good! I wish I had signed up for this book's tour. :) It looks like my kind of read. I'm glad you are holding a giveaway though.
Great review and giveaway! This book sounds wonderful.
xx,
E.J.
Aths--Yes, Grisham did A Time to Kill (Pelican, Runaway Jury, The Client, and many more). Glad you entered the give-away
EJ--It's definitely an interesting read
You're the second person to say this book reminded you of John Grisham's books. I loved his earlier books, so I'm really excited to read BLACK WATER RISING! Thanks for being on this tour; I loved your review!
Trish--I enjoy reading Grisham too. Sometimes predictable (southern lawyer, embezzlement, etc), but when I'm in the right mood...
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