When Sofia Hushemi, a sheltered Albanian immigrant, carelessly collides with Sylvester Stanley on her way home from Prospect Park, both escape injury. Upon discovering the loss of her precious ring, gifted to her by Victor, the feared kingpin of the Albanian American Mafia, she frantically presumes Sylvester, a Black man, was not a jogger, but a culprit. Hours later, Sylvester is attacked in broad daylight, leaving Sofia facing life behind bars for allegedly ordering the attack. Can justice prevail in a city torn by hate?
Fans of John Grisham and Jodi Picoult will find plenty of contemporary societal issues to think about and discuss in A Hate Crime in Brooklyn, the gripping new legal thriller from attorney and author David G. Secular.
“I wrote the novel because I wanted to convey the interaction between people of starkly different backgrounds that could only take place in the community where I was born and most often worked, Brooklyn, New York,” Secular explained. “I also wanted to address the prejudice that exists deep inside everyone, that is so often hidden and unrecognized while holding out a vision that it can be overcome.”
Secular’s intimate familiarity with courtroom proceedings is on full display, as he depicts a tension-filled trial that is full of surprises. Can Sofia escape conviction for the racially motivated crime that has polarized New York?
Gripping, thought-provoking and moving, A Hate Crime in Brooklyn is much more than a story of yet another presumptuous attempt to kill a Black man solely because of the color of his skin. It is a tale of understanding and forgiveness for our troubled times as well as an unforgettable love story, which will mesmerize and delight readers of all ages.
About the Author
Born in Brooklyn, New York, David Secular grew up in New Rochelle with parents who made sure he kept his feet firmly on the ground instead of chasing a basketball. A dual citizen of both the U.S. and the U.K., Secular attended the London School of Economics and is a graduate of NYU Law School. He has spent his career as a criminal defense attorney and legal writer and has tried and argued cases in federal courts throughout the U.S. and the state courts of New York. He has appeared and prepared appellate briefs heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has crossed paths and been involved in numerous notable cases with legendary counsel such as William Kunstler and presided over by renowned jurists such as Jack Weinstein.
A Hate Crime in Brooklyn is the realization of a life-long dream to expand his horizons and turn his writing talents toward fiction and stories that reflect his experiences and the unforgettable people he has been privileged to meet and represent throughout his career.
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