David Baldacci has written a lot of books. Many of them instant best sellers that entertain the masses. But this novel is on a completely different level. A Calamity of Souls is the most profound and captivating story David Baldacci has ever told.
It’s 1968 in southern Virgina and a black man is accused of killing the white couple he worked for. Jack Lee, a local white lawyer, believes in the man’s innocence and agrees to defend the accused despite never having been involved in a murder trial before. He’s soon joined by Desiree DuBose, a black lawyer out of Chicago who works for the Legal Defense Fund and has offered her considerable skills and experience as co-counsel. With the state sending in the attorney general and handpicking the judge to preside over the trial, in addition to the rampant racism in that part of the country, Lee and DuBose know the deck is heavily stacked against them. But the two will stop at nothing to put up a vigorous defense for their client despite the grave danger they face, fighting a corrupt system and an almost certain guilty verdict in pursuit of true justice and the dream of an equal society.
It's apparent Baldacci put a ton of time and care into crafting this intricate story, resulting in a powerful tale that elicits strong emotions. The characters are exquisitely constructed to extract extreme compassion for those fighting against and experiencing injustice and provoke deep loathing of the contemptible individuals on the other side. The plot is designed to constantly ramp up the intensity and levels of infuriation while systemic racism continues to wield its ugly power to facilitate a seemingly certain and exasperating outcome. And the storytelling is formulated to propel the reader forward with great urgency and desire to learn the fate of all involved, alternating between providing hope and generating despair. It’s an emotional rollercoaster.
And while A Calamity of Souls takes place over 50 years ago it’s also quite relevant to events of the near past and present day. Which can make it an uncomfortable book to read. But it’s nonetheless important to read it and spend time reflecting on it. Kudos to Baldacci for taking on such an ambitious and important topic and turning out a brilliant novel. It’s his finest work to date.
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