Book Talk: Baldacci, ‘A Calamity of Souls’

“A Calamity of Souls” (2024, 480 pages in hardback format) is set in southern Virginia in 1968, a time when George Wallace was running for president of the United States on a segregationist platform. It was the era of continuing Jim Crow in the south. Baldacci said this book is somewhat autobiographical because he grew up in the 60s and 70s and wanted to be an attorney like the protagonist Jack Lee.

The author introduces us to Jerome Washington, an African American gardener for a wealthy white couple in Franklin County, Virginia. His employers think highly of him and have had his family over for a cookout and swimming party. On Friday afternoon, Jerome is to be paid for the week’s work. He goes to the back door and knocks, but there is no answer. He goes to the front door, but no luck. He returns to the back door and enters the home. There, he finds both the husband and wife on the floor covered in blood. Before he can go for help, the police arrive and take him into custody on the charge of double homicide.

Jack Lee is a local attorney who has been in practice for just a few years. He is asked to take the case to defend Jerome. But, he’s hesitant. However, he agrees to visit him at the county jail. When Jack sees Jerome, who has been beaten and is suffering from broken bones, he takes the case. As Jack struggles to gather evidence, one of Wallace’s backers tries to ensure that Jerome is convicted. And the death penalty has been reinstated.