Review of Unconscionable

[Anita Hamid]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Unconscionable" by Charles R. Butts Jr..]

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5 out of 5 stars

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This novel edges into the crime and its prosecution set amidst the racial hostility of a Southern city. The story weaves a tapestry of the horrible discovery of Peter and Benny with the struggle by the Grier family for decades in the quest for justice in the ruthless murder of Johnny Lee. As the breakdown of law enforcement and systems of jurisprudence unfolded, deep-seated racial unrest and a long, hard road to justice were revealed. Through painful investigations and courtroom drama, the book portrays the intricacy of lawsuits and the toughness one must have to face and dismantle systemic injustice in order to reach a reckoning that is long overdue. The book was superbly edited; there were no mistakes.

From the criminal and justice point of view, Unconscionable is incomparable in the way it narrates drama in pursuit of truth in an ambience filled with racial overtones. The protagonist, Louis Carter, as the sure-willed prosecutor, comes across as fascinating. His determination and perseverance in trying to bring the murderers of Johnny Lee before the law, though the case constantly received setbacks, brought out the complexity and challenges of the legal system.

One of the remarkable events was that courtroom trial when an eyewitness to the murder of Johnny Lee, Francine Grant, became a most important source in court with her emotional testimony. It heightens the tension of the scene and tells of courage and truth on the battlefield against the system, which makes the moment quite riveting and impacting. I recommend this book to all crime and legal thriller enthusiasts.

Based on crime and justice, I do not find anything in the book that I can dislike. Charles R. Butts Jr. does not mince words in this electrifying tale of determination to see justice served in a racial hotbed. The story moves at a great clip to keep readers wondering how it will all turn out, and others are the reason I gave this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Depth in the investigation, together with an eye for detail and the portrayal of systemic racism, give even more depth and authenticity to the story. Every little thing means something and will help bring forth the main theme: justice. Therefore, this makes it a very engrossing read.

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Unconscionable
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