A Dream in the Dark
Robert Justice
(Author)
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
With striking prose and inspired by real wrongful conviction cases, this layered takedown of the criminal justice system follows one woman's quest for answers as the fate of an innocent man hangs in the balance, perfect for fans of S. A. Cosby. Denver, 1992. Claudette Cooper and Moses King have been failed by the justice system. Claudette was sexually assaulted and brutally attacked--blinded by the perpetrator, she's not able to identify him until she has a dream about the attack where she sees the face of Moses King. When Claudette testifies that she's identified her attacker from her dream, Moses is wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for the crime. Lawyer Liza Brown has seen firsthand the failings and shortcomings of the justice system--her father also suffered the injustice of a wrongful conviction. As she's working at a nonprofit to free those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, Moses reaches out to her. Liza sees the obvious cracks in the evidence against Moses, and when he confesses that he knew her father, she's determined to help. Recruiting her old friend Eli Stone to assist, Liza sets out to prove Moses's innocence. But Eli is dealing with demons of his own: corrupt cops are targeting Black residents of Denver, and when his nephew is beaten by the police, Eli doubles down on his efforts to expose them. Frustrated, Liza turns to Moses's accuser, Claudette, for help. But Claudette is hiding a dark secret, and as tensions in Denver rise, the city erupts in protests and riots. This rich, impactful novel paints a portrait not only of injustice and desperation--but of hope.
Product Details
Price
$30.99
$28.82
Publisher
Crooked Lane Books
Publish Date
July 23, 2024
Pages
336
Dimensions
5.6 X 8.3 X 1.4 inches | 0.9 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781639108176
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About the Author
Robert Justice is a Denver native. His first novel, They Can't Take Your Name, was named a runner-up for the 2020 Sisters in Crime Eleanor Taylor Bland Award. He believes that together, we can right wrongful convictions.
Reviews
Praise for A Dream in the Dark
"A bruising, blow-by-blow account of what can happen to dreams deferred."
--Kirkus Praise for They Can't Take Your Name
"Passion and energy . . . infuse this story."
--Washington Post "Propulsive tension . . . A taut tale of perverted justice."
--Publishers Weekly
"A soulful study of dreams deferred."
--Kirkus Reviews "[A] nice balance between characters...[I] look forward to what Robert Justice writes next."
--Bookriot "A gripping, powerful, moving story of hope and determination, and the unwavering strength to right a wrongful conviction before it's too late. Robert Justice's remarkably fluid, lyrical writing is unflinching in its exposure of hard-hitting truths, life after loss, and racial injustice, told through the compelling stories of three interconnected characters. Not only will you be transfixed by this book, but reading it will change you."
--Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of Woman on the Edge "Robert Justice's THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR NAME is powerful--the kind of debut you relish reading. A relatable, riveting look at the lengths one will go to in the hopes of achieving something we all take for granted. Justice has arrived."
--Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity and Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall "Justice has established his chops as a solid contemporary crime novelist right out of the gate. His story of three courageous people of color fighting for the life of a wrongfully convicted man, set primarily in corners of Denver, Colorado where crime fiction rarely fears to tread, will hook you from the first page and not let you go until the last."
--Gar Anthony Haywood, Shamus and Anthony award winning author of In Things Unseen "A riveting story of injustice and redemption, this unforgettable novel will stick with you and change the way you view the world. Like a solo by Coltrane, Robert Justice pushes the boundaries of character, setting, and plot, exploring themes of injustice and bias in the criminal justice system. It's also a tale of love and loyalty, and the struggle to remain honorable in oppressive circumstances. A fantastic debut."
--David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Anthony and Thriller Award-winning author of Winter Counts
"A bruising, blow-by-blow account of what can happen to dreams deferred."
--Kirkus Praise for They Can't Take Your Name
"Passion and energy . . . infuse this story."
--Washington Post "Propulsive tension . . . A taut tale of perverted justice."
--Publishers Weekly
"A soulful study of dreams deferred."
--Kirkus Reviews "[A] nice balance between characters...[I] look forward to what Robert Justice writes next."
--Bookriot "A gripping, powerful, moving story of hope and determination, and the unwavering strength to right a wrongful conviction before it's too late. Robert Justice's remarkably fluid, lyrical writing is unflinching in its exposure of hard-hitting truths, life after loss, and racial injustice, told through the compelling stories of three interconnected characters. Not only will you be transfixed by this book, but reading it will change you."
--Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and internationally bestselling author of Woman on the Edge "Robert Justice's THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR NAME is powerful--the kind of debut you relish reading. A relatable, riveting look at the lengths one will go to in the hopes of achieving something we all take for granted. Justice has arrived."
--Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity and Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall "Justice has established his chops as a solid contemporary crime novelist right out of the gate. His story of three courageous people of color fighting for the life of a wrongfully convicted man, set primarily in corners of Denver, Colorado where crime fiction rarely fears to tread, will hook you from the first page and not let you go until the last."
--Gar Anthony Haywood, Shamus and Anthony award winning author of In Things Unseen "A riveting story of injustice and redemption, this unforgettable novel will stick with you and change the way you view the world. Like a solo by Coltrane, Robert Justice pushes the boundaries of character, setting, and plot, exploring themes of injustice and bias in the criminal justice system. It's also a tale of love and loyalty, and the struggle to remain honorable in oppressive circumstances. A fantastic debut."
--David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Anthony and Thriller Award-winning author of Winter Counts
