Blog tour: A Hate Crime in Brooklyn

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Welcome to the blog tour for A Hate Crime in Brooklyn by David G Secular!

More about the book…

Can justice prevail in a city torn by hate?

When Sofia Hushemi, a sheltered Albanian immigrant, carelessly collides with Sylvester Stanley on her way home from Prospect Park, both escape injury. But upon discovering the loss of a precious ring, gifted to her by her brother-in-law, Victor, the feared kingpin of the Albanian Mafia, she frantically presumes Stanley, a black man, was not a jogger, but a culprit.

Hours after the ring is lost, Sylvester is attacked in broad daylight by Victor's henchmen but it is Sofia, not Victor, who faces life behind bars for allegedly ordering the attack. The trial is a rollercoaster of surprises, penned by an author intimately familiar with the courtroom. Can Sofia escape conviction for the racially motivated crime which 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 and an unforgettable love story evolves which will mesmerize and delight readers of all ages.

More about the author…

Born in Brooklyn, David Secular grew up in New Rochelle, New York with parents who made sure he kept his feet firmly on the ground and pursued a law degree instead of chasing a basketball.

A dual citizen of both the US and UK, David has attended the London School of Economics and is a graduate of NYU Law School.

David has spent his career as a criminal defense attorney and legal writer and has argued and tried cases in federal courts throughout the United States and in the state courts of New York.

He has appeared and prepared appellate briefs heard before the United States Supreme Court.

He has crossed paths and been involved in countless 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 towards fiction and stories which reflect his experiences and the unforgettable people he has been privileged to meet through his career.

My impressions…

In this debut novel, the author blends legal drama, social commentary and romance to explore the racial tensions simmering beneath the surface of modern New York. This story of injustice and redemption explores themes such as bias, guilt and unexpected bonds.

The novel begins with a seemingly innocent accident in Prospect Park, whch sets off a cascade of events that change the course of both Sofia and Sylvester’s lives. The author’s extensive background as a criminal defense attorney brings authenticity to the courtroom proceedings, making the legal battle even more gripping.

Beyond the legal drama, the book also dives into the personal lives of its characters, turning what could have been a conventional crime novel into something much more layered, which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Three words to describe it. Gripping. Complex. Original.

Do I like the cover? Not my favourite, but nice enough.

Have I read any other books by the same author? No, this is a debut novel.

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