Stephen L. Carter is a professor of law at Yale University. I think working in a law firm always makes a person interested in reading fiction by someone in the legal field. I often ask myself – does this person capture the true essence of a firm. which is hideously wrong in television. I always wonder did anyone ever spend time with a lawyer to come up with that story line. This leads to an interesting discussion about what makes a good book. For me a good book is (1) intriguing, (2) makes me want to lose sleep to read it, and (3) makes me want to tell the world that the bookstore is a better place with this author’s book in it.
This is the case with New England White. I had become a fan of Mr. Carter’s after reading his first book The Emperor of Ocean Park. It was a good read about the black upper class in which most books do not delve in this dynamic. I was further interested in how you take that perspective and make a mystery. I could say that I wanted to read the book because one of the main characters and I share the same name, but it was to enjoy Mr. Carter’s luscious-page-turning-I can’t get to sleep-thriller. He’s still on tour with this book, so it would be sad of me to wonder when the next book is coming out. I was able to meet Mr. Carter at the book festival and he was delightful, charismatic, and funny. He has that dry and intelligent sense of humor which I love. For someone with that kind of intellect it’s easy to take them as stodgy. Not one ounce of stuffiness. If you want to read a thought provoking mystery, this is your book. Mr. Carter has crafted another beautifully written tale.
It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful. (Vincent Van Gogh)
Julia Elsewhere