Download Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF book free – From Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF: From Attica Locke, a writer and producer of FOX’s Empire, this sophisticated thriller sees lawyer Jay Porter—hero of her bestseller Black Water Rising—return to fight one last case, only to become embroiled in a dangerous game of shadowy politics and a witness to how far those in power are willing to go to win. Buy from Amazon
Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
Fifteen years after his career-defining case against Cole Oil, Jay Porter is broke and tired. That victory might have won the environmental lawyer fame, but thanks to a string of appeals, he hasn’t seen a dime. His latest case—representing Pleasantville in the wake of a chemical fire—is dragging on, shaking his confidence and raising doubts about him within this upwardly mobile black community on Houston’s north side. Though Jay still believes in doing what’s right, he is done fighting other people’s battles. Once he has his piece of the settlement, the single father is going to devote himself to what matters most—his children. Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
His plans are abruptly derailed when a female campaign volunteer vanishes on the night of Houston’s mayoral election, throwing an already contentious campaign into chaos. The accused is none other than the nephew and campaign manager of one of the leading candidates—a scion of a prominent Houston family headed by the formidable Sam Hathorne. Despite all the signs suggesting that his client is guilty—and his own misgivings—Jay can’t refuse when a man as wealthy and connected as Sam asks him to head up the defense. Not if he wants that new life with his kids. But he has to win.
Plunging into a shadowy world of ambitious enemies and treacherous allies armed with money, lies, and secrets, Jay reluctantly takes on his first murder trial—a case that will put him and his client, and an entire political process, on trial.
Editorial Reviews
Review – Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
“Stellar…. As is Ms. Locke’s creative wont, the crimes at hand prove a mere prelude to darker deeds.” (Wall Street Journal Best Books of the Year)
“Outstanding…. Ms. Locke elegantly parcels out key information about her characters one piece at a time.” (Wall Street Journal)
“Splendid…. A thoughtful, penetrating mystery.” (USA Today)
“This taut thriller. . . is knitted with enough shock and awe and backroom politics to keep you reading and guessing all weekend long.” (Essence)
“A nuanced and empathetic look at the unequal, contentious social layers of Houston’s African-American population.” (Seattle Times) Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
“Compelling…. Locke, a writer and co-producer of the Fox drama “Empire,” gracefully melds politics and racial issues with greed and a family rooted in secrecy for a gripping, believable plot.” (Associated Press)
“Locke knows how to craft a thrilling story…. With Pleasantville she’s crafted a legal thriller that shifts between personal tragedy and political corruption always with an eye on the subtle detail or the big reveal.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
“Locke, a sharp and gifted writer, delivers a complex, suspenseful legal thriller that offers a sophisticated appraisal of our deeply flawed political process, one that is likely to resound with readers.” (Starred Booklist )
“A thriller wrapped in an involving story of community and family dynamics. Locke serves up a panorama of nuanced characters and writes with intelligence and depth.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“Gripping…a twist-filled plot will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.” (Publishers Weekly)Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
From the Back Cover
Lawyer Jay Porter’s latest case—representing Pleasantville in the wake of a chemical fire—is dragging on, shaking his confidence and raising doubts about him within this upwardly mobile black community on Houston’s north side. Though Jay still believes in doing what’s right, he is done fighting others’ battles. Once he has his piece of the settlement, the single father is going to devote himself to what matters most—his children.
His plans are abruptly derailed when a female campaign volunteer vanishes in Pleasantville on the night of Houston’s mayoral election. The accused is none other than the nephew and campaign manager of one of the leading candidates—a scion of a prominent Houston family headed by the formidable Sam Hathorne. Despite all the signs suggesting that his client is guilty, Jay can’t refuse when Sam asks him to head up the defense—not if Jay wants that new life with his kids. But he has to win. Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
Plunging into a shadowy world of ambitious enemies and treacherous allies armed with money, lies, and secrets, Jay reluctantly takes on his first murder trial—a case that will put him, his client, and an entire political process on trial.
Review – Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
A year or so ago, I saw a newspaper story about Attica Locke and her first novel. I immediately knew I had to read that book. After all, it was set in Houston, where I’ve lived for over forty years, and Locke was a Houston native. And to top it all off, she wrote for the hit TV series Empire, a show I’m not particularly fond of, but I was impressed by Locke’s credentials. I loved that book. I then read her second novel, and I loved it as well. And this, Pleasantville, is her third novel, the second to feature a Houston setting and lawyer Jay Porter as the protagonist. Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
Oddly enough for books in a series, in Pleasantville a number of years have passed since Porter first appeared in that debut novel. Locke weaves a tale, set in the 1990s, largely set in and about a black Houston neighborhood (Pleasantville) and the political doings that occur when a young girl is murdered there. I have to admit that the book started slow—for me, anyway. I was well into it, perhaps 150 pages, before I was hooked. But once I was hooked, I was fascinated. And I was clobbered right between the eyes when the resolution came. This is masterful storytelling. And it is masterful writing. Locke creates an almost alternate Houston universe. Landmarks and national figures are authentic, but the other characters are made up, particularly the Houston political figures of the time. Pleasantville by Attica Locke PDF
We know, especially those of us who have lived in Houston for decades, who was actually in power, but Locke simply creates her own power people in order to fuel her story. I was truly impressed with that, for she does it so skillfully that I was not bothered by her complete creation of a Houston that was similar to the one I know, and yet not authentic at all. I truly recommend this book whether you have lived in Houston or not. It is good, good, good.
Biography
Attica Locke is the author of the widely acclaimed debut novel Black Water Rising, which was nominated for a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, an Edgar Award, and an NAACP Image Award, and was short-listed for the UK’s Orange Prize. As a screenwriter, Locke has produced scripts for Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and HBO. She was a fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Feature Filmmakers Lab and has served on the board of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. A native of Houston, Texas, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.