A Calamity of SoulsA Calamity of Souls
What it's about
When two wealthy white landowners are found dead, everyone assumes the killer is Jerome Washington, the hired help, found standing over the bodies when police arrived. Jack Lee, born and raised in Freeman County, believes every man deserves a solid defense, and agrees to represent Jerome against everyone's better judgment.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's a courtroom drama set in the civil rights era.
You'll love it if you liked
To Kill a Mockingbird
A Time for Mercy
Sycamore RowGood to know
It's a standalone novel and deals directly with racism.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller42 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #102 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #360 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #359 of the 481 new books we rank
- #2078 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
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Quick answers
Is A Calamity of Souls worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #2,078 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Calamity of Souls about?
When two wealthy white landowners are found dead, everyone assumes the killer is Jerome Washington, the hired help, found standing over the bodies when police arrived. Jack Lee, born and raised in Freeman County, believes every man deserves a solid defense, and agrees to represent Jerome against everyone's better judgment.
How long does it take to read A Calamity of Souls?
About 8 hours (310 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Calamity of Souls?
If you liked it, try To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, A Time for Mercy by John Grisham or Sycamore Row by John Grisham.