A Calamity of Souls

By: David Baldacci

Narrated by: David Baldacci, MacLeod Andrews, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy, Cary Hite

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially-charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully-accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci.

Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.

Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

Over a decade in the writing, A Calamity of Souls breathes richly imagined and detailed life into a bygone era, taking the listener through a world that will seem both foreign and familiar.

©2024 David Baldacci (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci is the immovable object of history slamming into the irresistible force of truth. An examination of a fractured place and time where the mores of the past were confronted by the implacable ferocious tenacity of justice. A Tour de Force."—S. A. Cosby, bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED and RAZORBLADE TEARS

“A Calamity of Souls, the story of a murder in southern Virginia in the mid-1960’s, may be the best novel David Baldacci has ever written, which is saying a great deal. It has a gripping plot and a shocking ending, and even better than that, is also a perfect evocation of a difficult time in America’s history, propelled by deep and moving characters and beautiful writing. It captured me completely from the very first page.”—Scott Turow, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"This is David Baldacci at his best. Using the law and the courtroom as the stage for a searing parable on race and the cost and courage to do the right thing."—Michael Connelly, #1 New York Times bestselling author

I have them all, this is the best!

I'm always frustrated when he leaves a character that i like, from the camel club to king and maxwell. to 620? man. but am always happy with new story!

I have all his books,. I only didn't finish fantasy one. I don't usually say these things, check my other reviews. Having lived in Virginia and my family is still there, on fact my parents a buried on what was his property. This book is powerful. in mid 70's I asked a teacher at Woodbridge High School in VA, (I was an air force Bratt and moved alot) why we go Washington and not Lincoln's birthday off from school. She looked at me and said son, not all of us consider Mr. Lincoln a hero.

Everyone who is Christian or Jewish has at the start of our Bible that we are created male and female in the image and likeness off God. The Constitution repeats this in that we are all created equally.

This book is a great story and reminds us the cost of equality and the price of prejudice.

first book to keep me up till 4am to finish in a very long time!

DB

David Baldacci never disappoints. I listened to the audio version and it was truly amazing.

Baldacci’s best work so far

I have listened to dozens of David Baldacci’s books and this by far is his best work. The story was riveting, unpredictable and the narration was some of the best so far. Not to many books have moved me the way this one did - just incredible.

Best Baldacci yet.

This is David Baldacci’s magnum opus in my opinion. So far anyway. I really enjoyed it. The narration cast was stellar. Heartlifting and heartbreaking at the same time. You’ll get to love the characters, and won’t want to put it down.

This story is amazing!!!

I have 335 audiobooks and this one rates as one of the best stories. Heartwarming heartbreaking and an emotional roller coaster. I highly recommend this book.

Very good

This was a very good book, although it was a little preachy and almost textbook in laying out critical happenings in the Civil Rights movement post the murder of Dr Martin Luther King. It bothered me that the N-word was clipped out of the reading. Did this mimic the hardcopy of the book, or was it an editorial decision? Regardless, it diminished the book in that the shocking power of that terrible word was diluted - which was unfortunate for a book set in the fight for a wrongly accused man. The emotional impact of the fight was diminished, in my opinion, by this decision. The narration was good. And the ending was both heartbreaking and somewhat hopeful. I hope there is a sequel in the works - I would love to know how the main characters fare over time.

Realistic brutality

The reality of the story is so sadly blatant. It is hopeful that this reminder of the past prejudice helps younger generations appreciate the struggle others have suffered to end the hatred.

No stop

I absolutely enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I could not stop listening

10 out of 5

I have recently listened to 362 books and I have only rated 5 books with a 10. This is a fictional book, but sadly it could be a true story. Shame on us Americans.

Hard truths

Best Baldacci book in quite a while. Those times were so hard and you feel the wrongs in the people. All given through a great story!