Review and Giveaway - Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson

Alex Cross's Trial by James Patterson





rating: 4.0/5.0






From Goodreads:

The year is 1906, and America is segregated. Hatred and discrimination plague the streets, the classroom, and the courts. But in Washington, D.C., Ben Corbett, a smart and courageous lawyer, makes it his mission to confront injustice at every turn. He represents those who nobody else dares defend, merely because of the color of their skin. When President Roosevelt, under whom Ben served in the Spanish-American war, asks Ben to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in his home town in Mississippi, he cannot refuse.

The details of Ben's harrowing story--and his experiences with a remarkable man named Abraham Cross--were passed from generation to generation, until they were finally recounted to Alex Cross by his grandmother, Nana Mama. From the first time hear heard the story, Alex was unable to forget the unimaginable events Ben witnessed in Eudora and pledged to tell it to the world. Alex Cross's Trial is unlike any story Patterson has ever told, but offers the astounding action and breakneck speed of any Alex Cross novel.

I knew I wanted to read this because I read all James Patterson books and especially his Alex Cross series. I honestly didn't know if I would like it or not. I am so glad I picked this up because I really enjoyed reading this book.

Just like his Alex Cross novels, this is fast paced, it just takes place in a different time-frame and that makes things even more interesting. Taking place in the deep south in 1906 I learned a lot about race relations at this time in U.S. History. This book does not sugarcoat, in fact at times it's gruesome. Truthfully no more than in his other books, but for some reason when it comes to serial killers I can deal with it better. When it comes to lynching and hate crimes that are driven by ignorance it seems so much worse.

Heart-felt, emotional and powerful this book drives home a great story and you come away with a look at a member of Alex Cross's family and an amazing lawyer who would sacrifice himself for what he believed in.

Because of it's focus on Ben Corbett and Abraham Cross - you don't have to read any of the Alex Cross series to read this book - it's very much a standalone book.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: August 24, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 400

Thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette books I have one copy of this book to giveaway. I will open the contest today through September 12th. US and Canada residents only please. Please enter by:

1. Commenting on my blog, make sure I have a way to contact you. (+1)
   
2. Become a blog follower or let me know if you are already a follower (+1)
3. Tell me any other fiction books dealing with race relations pre-1960 that you have read (+1)
4. Tweet about this review and giveaway, use @cfulcher in the tweet so I can find it (+1)
5. Follow me on Twitter (or let me know if you are a current follower) (+1)
6. Blog about this contest and let me know the link (sidebar or post is fine) (+1)

So there you go - 6 ways to get an entry into this contest. You can leave them in separate posts or one post, it doesn't matter, I will make sure you get your entries, just make sure to let me know what you do.