Pleasantville: A Novel
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Wall Street Journal BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILEYâS WOMENâS PRIZE FOR FICTION
From Attica Locke, a writer and producer of FOXâs Empire, this sophisticated thriller sees lawyer Jay Porterâhero of her bestseller Black Water Risingâreturn 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.
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 caseârepresenting Pleasantville in the wake of a chemical fireâis 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 mostâhis children.
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 candidatesâa scion of a prominent Houston family headed by the formidable Sam Hathorne. Despite all the signs suggesting that his client is guiltyâand his own misgivingsâJay 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 trialâa case that will put him and his client, and an entire political process, on trial.
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Attica Locke is the author of Black Water Rising, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was short-listed for the UKâs Orange Prize, and also the national bestseller The Cutting Season, which won an Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. She is a producer and writer on the Fox drama Empire. She is on the board of directors for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, where she lives.
