BOWIE, Md., June 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Long buried secrets are unearthed when a prominent African-American lawyer is convicted of crime he did not commit. In his new novel, Souls on Trial (now available through AuthorHouse), J.C. Chambers explores the impact of race and wealth in determining justice.
Eric Stone is a successful attorney who just announced his candidacy for a newly created congressional seat. He has the connections and the credentials, but an affair with an up-and-coming reporter, Marie St. John, leads to his demise.
Marie's friend, Rachel, knows of the affair and blackmails Eric to keep the information secret. When Rachel turns up dead, Eric, the only suspect, is swiftly convicted and imprisoned. However, Eric's wife, Gloria, refuses to believe her husband committed the murder. After his death, she uncovers secrets about Eric, herself and her parents that lead her to the real killer.
Chambers expertly weaves together characters from three generations to tell a poignant story about the ills of racism and wealth and the divisiveness that exists among African Americans in the nation's capital. He provides staunch commentary on the American justice system, "where whites are presumed innocent and blacks, especially African-American males, are presumed guilty." Souls on Trial is also a character study that exposes the complexities of human relationships and the struggle African-American women go through to find "a good black man."
A suspenseful mystery, Souls on Trial is a detailed critique of the American justice system and the economic and social challenges the African American community faces.
Chambers, a former Washington D.C.-area lawyer, lectured at forums sponsored by the American Bar Association, including nationally televised satellite seminars. He was also a guest commentator on National Public Radio and a panelist on the BET show, "Our Voices." His numerous professional writings, many of which received national acclaim, have appeared in books, journals and magazines. His first book, Of Color and Love, is a collection of his essays.
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