Black Water Rising

Dion Graham's soft, husky-voiced narration is arguably the most positive element of BLACK WATER RISING. His slight drawl is especially effective at lending depth and credibility to the main character, Jay Porter, as the young black lawyer struggles to get established in 1980s Texas. This first novel from author Attica Locke offers the narrator and the listener many challenges: a broad cast of ethnically diverse characters, frequent flashbacks and scene changes, an involved back story, and a plot that relies heavily on coincidence to advance the action. Through his skillful use of pause and inflection Graham maintains the pace necessary for a thriller, keeps the characters separate and identifiable, and helps the listener stay on track and engaged. M.O.B. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

June 1, 2009
Set in 1981, Lockes compelling if unwieldy debut charts the moral struggles of Jay Porter, a black lawyer in Houston, Tex. Porter, who knows far more about a murder near one of the citys bayous than do the police, doesnt want to come forward largely because of his own criminal past as well as a secret relationship with Houstons female mayor. Another reason is that Porter, having fought his way out of the ghetto, is now striving for a more comfortable lifestyle with his wife and new baby. Why get tangled up in a messy murder, even if it could mean preventing the conviction of an innocent person? Locke, a screenwriter with both film and TV credits (including a forthcoming HBO miniseries about the civil rights movement), steers a gritty drama to a satisfying end, though a sluggish subplot involving labor union issues undermines the novels grander ambitions. A leaner, meaner version was an opportunity missed, yet Locke remains an author to watch. "(June)" .

August 31, 2009
This extraordinary debut focuses on Jay Porter, a black lawyer in Houston struggling to become upwardly mobile while weighed down by a past as a civil rights worker who was betrayed and disillusioned. His moral fiber is put to the test when he's witness to a murder that eventually places him and his pregnant wife in jeopardy. It's a good thriller setup, but what distinguishes Locke's story are the glimpses into Porter's past, which, in turn, focus on the racial rebellions on campuses in the '60s (the author has written an upcoming HBO miniseries on the civil rights movement). Dion Graham's whispery, almost sing-song narration seems initially inappropriate, but, oddly, as the plot unfolds, this approach morphs into a mesmerizing intimacy that makes Locke's riveting prose even more compelling. A Harper hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 6).