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A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton
A riveting narrative that pieces together the life and murder of Black socialite Lita McClinton Sullivan—and the journey to bring her true killer to justice.
The murder of Lita McClinton Sullivan sent shockwaves through the affluent suburb of Buckhead, Georgia like few other crimes before it. The neighborhood, with its picturesque homes and top-tier schools, was simply not the kind of place where women were gunned down in cold blood and on their own doorstep. How many socialites had enemies so dangerous they would be murdered by a hitman pretending to deliver roses at 8:15 in the morning?
Lita was an intelligent, accomplished, and stunning Black woman from a respected Atlanta family, but her interracial marriage to soon-to-be-millionaire Jim Sullivan was still a newsworthy occurrence at the time in Macon, Georgia. There was trouble from the start. Jim’s charm couldn't smooth over the blatant racism Lita experienced in Macon, and Jim’s behavior quickly became bizarre and controlling. At first, Jim just seemed oddly frugal, wearing his dead grandfather's underwear and squireling away condiment packages. Then he isolated Lita from her friends and family, monitored every aspect of her life, and berated her for spending any money. He then sold his company for millions and bought a mansion in Palm Springs, Florida—without telling his wife.
It was the final straw for Lita. She filed for divorce, loaded up her belongings in a U-Haul, and did not look back. But as the legal battle over the divorce and their prenuptial agreement dragged on, the now reclusive millionaire had a chance encounter with Tony Harwood, an itinerant truck driver. As the two commiserated, Jim let slip his divorce woes. Harwood would later claim his response that he could "take care of Jim's wife problem" for $25,000 was a joke. That was until a certified check for a $12,500 down payment appeared in his mailbox.
In A Devil Went Down to Georgia , Deb Miller Landau details the shocking events that followed; the shoddy police work the McClinton family logically still blames on racial bias; the manhunt for Jim spanning almost two decades and three countries after the DA allowed him to run; and Jim's long-overdue conviction. The twists and turns of this trial seem never-ending, but Landau's rigorous investigation is the first complete account of this tragic American crime and brings long-overdue recognition to Lita and her family's fight for justice.
The murder of Lita McClinton Sullivan sent shockwaves through the affluent suburb of Buckhead, Georgia like few other crimes before it. The neighborhood, with its picturesque homes and top-tier schools, was simply not the kind of place where women were gunned down in cold blood and on their own doorstep. How many socialites had enemies so dangerous they would be murdered by a hitman pretending to deliver roses at 8:15 in the morning?
Lita was an intelligent, accomplished, and stunning Black woman from a respected Atlanta family, but her interracial marriage to soon-to-be-millionaire Jim Sullivan was still a newsworthy occurrence at the time in Macon, Georgia. There was trouble from the start. Jim’s charm couldn't smooth over the blatant racism Lita experienced in Macon, and Jim’s behavior quickly became bizarre and controlling. At first, Jim just seemed oddly frugal, wearing his dead grandfather's underwear and squireling away condiment packages. Then he isolated Lita from her friends and family, monitored every aspect of her life, and berated her for spending any money. He then sold his company for millions and bought a mansion in Palm Springs, Florida—without telling his wife.
It was the final straw for Lita. She filed for divorce, loaded up her belongings in a U-Haul, and did not look back. But as the legal battle over the divorce and their prenuptial agreement dragged on, the now reclusive millionaire had a chance encounter with Tony Harwood, an itinerant truck driver. As the two commiserated, Jim let slip his divorce woes. Harwood would later claim his response that he could "take care of Jim's wife problem" for $25,000 was a joke. That was until a certified check for a $12,500 down payment appeared in his mailbox.
In A Devil Went Down to Georgia , Deb Miller Landau details the shocking events that followed; the shoddy police work the McClinton family logically still blames on racial bias; the manhunt for Jim spanning almost two decades and three countries after the DA allowed him to run; and Jim's long-overdue conviction. The twists and turns of this trial seem never-ending, but Landau's rigorous investigation is the first complete account of this tragic American crime and brings long-overdue recognition to Lita and her family's fight for justice.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
143 people are currently reading
2561 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 19, 2025
A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a riveting story about the 1987 murder of Lita McClinton Sullivan. It’s an unfortunate, tragic story that I was unfamiliar with prior to reading this book.
Lita McClinton was a Black woman born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She married Jim Sullivan, an older, wealthy white man who, by outward appearance, seemed to have it together. He was, however, controlling and unfaithful. When Lita left Palm Beach and returned home to Atlanta, she filed for divorce. Jim did not like this and took matters into his own hands, though not directly.
Deb Miller Landau does an excellent job sharing Lita’s story, providing background on her life and family before she met Jim, as well as information about Jim and his life, before and after Lita. Landau pieces together events leading up to, and back to, Lita’s murder and Jim’s conviction, exploring the roles of race, power, and privilege.
The majority of the story takes place in Atlanta and I am familiar with many of the local references in the book. This is a sad situation that never should have happened. I appreciate Landau shining a light on Lita and her story in A Devil Went Down to Georgia.
Lita McClinton was a Black woman born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She married Jim Sullivan, an older, wealthy white man who, by outward appearance, seemed to have it together. He was, however, controlling and unfaithful. When Lita left Palm Beach and returned home to Atlanta, she filed for divorce. Jim did not like this and took matters into his own hands, though not directly.
Deb Miller Landau does an excellent job sharing Lita’s story, providing background on her life and family before she met Jim, as well as information about Jim and his life, before and after Lita. Landau pieces together events leading up to, and back to, Lita’s murder and Jim’s conviction, exploring the roles of race, power, and privilege.
The majority of the story takes place in Atlanta and I am familiar with many of the local references in the book. This is a sad situation that never should have happened. I appreciate Landau shining a light on Lita and her story in A Devil Went Down to Georgia.
August 26, 2024
"Race underlies everything we do in this society. Once you become knowledgeable about these issues you realize everything you do relates to the color of your skin".
I first heard about this case when I was a kid. I've been into True Crime since I like 10 years old and I would watch Court TV with my mom when I was home from School sick. I think I first heard about the Lita McClinton case on either America's Most Wanted or Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege & Justice. Lita was a smart young Black woman who came from a good family. Everyone says she was the sweetest person ever but she made a mistake lots of women make...she fell in love with a monster. Jim Sullivan was an older well established white man who woo'd Lita and then once they got married he revealed his true self.
On January 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia, while in the mist of a messy divorce after 10 years of marriage, Lita answered her door to flower delivery and was gunned down. It would take Lita's family nearly 20 years to get justice. The police and court systems didn't seem to be too pressed to arrest a rich white man for the murder of a Black woman in Georgia. All the white people involved in this case insist that race had nothing to do with how the case was handled but Black people know that's a lie.
A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a quick and easy to read book about a truly sad case. Deb Miller Landau has been on the case since the early 2000's and she interviewed almost every major person involved in the case. This case needs to be more discussed, I'm happy that this book exists. Lita is treated like a real person. I actually struggled learning about her because I knew how her story ended. I almost didn't want to keep reading it because then she wouldn't die...that's obviously dumb but Lita was just such a great person I didn't want her to die.
If you are a lover of True Crime and you're tired of reading about the same 6 cases than pick this book up.
I first heard about this case when I was a kid. I've been into True Crime since I like 10 years old and I would watch Court TV with my mom when I was home from School sick. I think I first heard about the Lita McClinton case on either America's Most Wanted or Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege & Justice. Lita was a smart young Black woman who came from a good family. Everyone says she was the sweetest person ever but she made a mistake lots of women make...she fell in love with a monster. Jim Sullivan was an older well established white man who woo'd Lita and then once they got married he revealed his true self.
On January 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia, while in the mist of a messy divorce after 10 years of marriage, Lita answered her door to flower delivery and was gunned down. It would take Lita's family nearly 20 years to get justice. The police and court systems didn't seem to be too pressed to arrest a rich white man for the murder of a Black woman in Georgia. All the white people involved in this case insist that race had nothing to do with how the case was handled but Black people know that's a lie.
A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a quick and easy to read book about a truly sad case. Deb Miller Landau has been on the case since the early 2000's and she interviewed almost every major person involved in the case. This case needs to be more discussed, I'm happy that this book exists. Lita is treated like a real person. I actually struggled learning about her because I knew how her story ended. I almost didn't want to keep reading it because then she wouldn't die...that's obviously dumb but Lita was just such a great person I didn't want her to die.
If you are a lover of True Crime and you're tired of reading about the same 6 cases than pick this book up.
September 30, 2024
I remember how big this story was in the news when Lita McClinton was murdered in Buckhead. This was a huge story. And it took many years to find justice for Lita.
This book is a biography/true crime mix with info about Lita's & Jim's lives, the murder, the quest to solve the case &, finally, the trial of Jim that saw him convicted. It's slightly different from some true crime books in that it does not have a literal play-by-play of the entire trial but more of an overview with some highly pertinent pieces covered. Deb Miller Landau also does a great job of relating the vibe of Atlanta at that time. The book includes some nice photos.
While Miller Landau covered & wrote about Lita's murder in 2004, she says she chose to reanalyze things during/after events of 2020 including the Black Lives Matter movement. "In the eye-stinging haze of pepper spray and the reverb that followed that summer, I began thinking about Lita and the McClinton family in this new day of reckoning. How clearly had I seen Lita the first time I wrote the story? I felt increasingly called to reexamine not only Lita's life and death, but my own exploration of it too." I applaud the author's continued growth, reflection, & willingness to keep Lita's story out there to honor Lita & her family, friends, & those who helped bring this case full circle. As the subtitle says, race, power, & privilege all factored into the lives & events covered here.
So many people were affected by Lita's death. One life has so many ripples outward to touch others. Rest in peace, Lita.
Fyi, the author's original article from 2004 in Atlanta magazine is here: Social Disgraces: The murder of Lita McClinton. Atlanta magazine's review of this current book is here: A new book, A Devil Went Down to Georgia, explores the 1987 murder of Atlantan Lita McClinton
A must read for true crime fans & especially so for those in or familiar with Atlanta.
This book is a biography/true crime mix with info about Lita's & Jim's lives, the murder, the quest to solve the case &, finally, the trial of Jim that saw him convicted. It's slightly different from some true crime books in that it does not have a literal play-by-play of the entire trial but more of an overview with some highly pertinent pieces covered. Deb Miller Landau also does a great job of relating the vibe of Atlanta at that time. The book includes some nice photos.
While Miller Landau covered & wrote about Lita's murder in 2004, she says she chose to reanalyze things during/after events of 2020 including the Black Lives Matter movement. "In the eye-stinging haze of pepper spray and the reverb that followed that summer, I began thinking about Lita and the McClinton family in this new day of reckoning. How clearly had I seen Lita the first time I wrote the story? I felt increasingly called to reexamine not only Lita's life and death, but my own exploration of it too." I applaud the author's continued growth, reflection, & willingness to keep Lita's story out there to honor Lita & her family, friends, & those who helped bring this case full circle. As the subtitle says, race, power, & privilege all factored into the lives & events covered here.
So many people were affected by Lita's death. One life has so many ripples outward to touch others. Rest in peace, Lita.
Fyi, the author's original article from 2004 in Atlanta magazine is here: Social Disgraces: The murder of Lita McClinton. Atlanta magazine's review of this current book is here: A new book, A Devil Went Down to Georgia, explores the 1987 murder of Atlantan Lita McClinton
A must read for true crime fans & especially so for those in or familiar with Atlanta.
August 14, 2024
I had read The Palm Beach Murder one year ago and it was published in 2004 when James Sullivan was awaiting trial for hiring a hitman to murder his wife in order to hold on to his wealth. Landau's book was released in August of 2024 and she used some of the older book as source material.
James was a former altar boy from a large Irish-Catholic family in Boston. He inherited a company from an uncle and after a few years, sold it for a cool few mil. After his first marriage and divorce, he met Lita McClinton at a clothing store. She was a Black woman from a politically connected Atlanta family. Although she was also Catholic, their racial differences excluded them from the social register when they moved to Palm Beach in the 1980s.
James had a problem with monogamy, which eventually led to divorce proceedings. In order to prevent the division of assets, which included a 17,000 square foot mansion, the former acolyte hired a hitman for 25K to rid himself of his troublesome spouse.
Sullivan's apparent luck 'o the Irish finally ended when a former girlfriend of the killer came forth.
A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a great read. A five star book.
James was a former altar boy from a large Irish-Catholic family in Boston. He inherited a company from an uncle and after a few years, sold it for a cool few mil. After his first marriage and divorce, he met Lita McClinton at a clothing store. She was a Black woman from a politically connected Atlanta family. Although she was also Catholic, their racial differences excluded them from the social register when they moved to Palm Beach in the 1980s.
James had a problem with monogamy, which eventually led to divorce proceedings. In order to prevent the division of assets, which included a 17,000 square foot mansion, the former acolyte hired a hitman for 25K to rid himself of his troublesome spouse.
Sullivan's apparent luck 'o the Irish finally ended when a former girlfriend of the killer came forth.
A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a great read. A five star book.
December 16, 2024
Very well researched and written book. It’s a hard one to review as it is true crime. It is a tragic story that never should have happened. My heart goes out to Lita’s family and friends. She had so much life to live. I appreciated the tenacity of the family and detectives to uncover the truth and seek justice. Deb Miller Landau wrote the book in a riveting, yet compassionate manner with the McClinton family at the heart. I am outraged but not surprised at how race, power and privilege impacted this case and just how long it took for those involved to finally serve their time. Highly recommend.
July 30, 2025
"For Black people, he said, injustice is a duplicitous ghost that appears in many forms and requires constant vigilance. In marrying Jim, Lita had let her guard down."
The author asks the question "What did race have to do with this story?" and in my opinion, race matters a lot, the other thing that matters is money. As the author points out "James Sullivan as an example of a man who was a prime murder suspect for almost twenty years but continued to slip through because he could afford bail and high-priced lawyers. It’s a privilege afforded to the rich, especially white people."
The murder of beautiful, accomplished and beloved Lita McClinton was a terrible tragedy, unfortunately for her she fell in love with a rich, white man with evil in his heart, the fact that it took our legal system almost twenty years to bring her killer to justice, is the second tragedy. Did Jim Sullivan get away with murder for nearly twenty years because he was rich and white? in my opinion he undoubtedly did, race, privilege and money protected him as those things always do. Would he have gotten away with it so long if Lita were white?, based on my observations, I doubt it.
This was an interesting case and the author did an excellent job of bringing Lita's life and her sad story to the readers in a compassionate, respectful way. The pictures of Lita and her beautiful family at the end of the book made me so sad, but I am glad her parents got to see Jim Sullivan finally go where he deserves to be.
The author asks the question "What did race have to do with this story?" and in my opinion, race matters a lot, the other thing that matters is money. As the author points out "James Sullivan as an example of a man who was a prime murder suspect for almost twenty years but continued to slip through because he could afford bail and high-priced lawyers. It’s a privilege afforded to the rich, especially white people."
The murder of beautiful, accomplished and beloved Lita McClinton was a terrible tragedy, unfortunately for her she fell in love with a rich, white man with evil in his heart, the fact that it took our legal system almost twenty years to bring her killer to justice, is the second tragedy. Did Jim Sullivan get away with murder for nearly twenty years because he was rich and white? in my opinion he undoubtedly did, race, privilege and money protected him as those things always do. Would he have gotten away with it so long if Lita were white?, based on my observations, I doubt it.
This was an interesting case and the author did an excellent job of bringing Lita's life and her sad story to the readers in a compassionate, respectful way. The pictures of Lita and her beautiful family at the end of the book made me so sad, but I am glad her parents got to see Jim Sullivan finally go where he deserves to be.
July 20, 2025
Makes Me Wanna Holler
I’ve lived in the Atlanta area for more than a decade, but hadn’t heard of this story until I found this book. Whew! It made me so angry. It made me wanna burn the whole city down in Lita’s honor. Her husband was a lowdown dirty dog. He got away with so many awful things. The loopholes of our legal system and the ineptitude of the investigators truly failed Lita and her loved ones for years. My heart broke for her parents. Landau did a phenomenal job with her meticulous research and attention to detail. Her recounting of this true crime story was remarkable.
I’ve lived in the Atlanta area for more than a decade, but hadn’t heard of this story until I found this book. Whew! It made me so angry. It made me wanna burn the whole city down in Lita’s honor. Her husband was a lowdown dirty dog. He got away with so many awful things. The loopholes of our legal system and the ineptitude of the investigators truly failed Lita and her loved ones for years. My heart broke for her parents. Landau did a phenomenal job with her meticulous research and attention to detail. Her recounting of this true crime story was remarkable.
July 24, 2025
I wanted to like this book much more than I did. It is a tragically sad book about the murder of a young Black woman ordered by her rich White husband. This true crime book dragged along so often that it kept it from being a truly interesting story. The couple’s separate lives were interesting and their whirlwind romance didn’t get enough attention, IMO. His family drama was well pointed out and her lifestyle was also, but together, they still came out as a very unlikely couple. He kept getting away with way too much. She didn’t get a chance to live and he well…
August 18, 2024
I consume a lot of true crime books and TV shows, so I was already familiar with this case. But the author does a brilliant job of exposing Jim Sullivan for the craven, odious monster he is. Very well done. Rest in peace, Lita.
March 31, 2025
True crime story of Lita Sullivan who was gunned down in her Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta and who did it and why. Clocking in at over 10 hours on audio, it seemed overly long but just in a few parts. Thoroughly researched, the author hit all the right notes when describing this terrible tragedy.
May 19, 2025
I’ve been meaning to read this for months and now that I have, I can say it was totally worth the wait. I’m losing my taste for true crime, but this book was so well written and researched that it sets itself apart from most other true crime stories. Everything about this was heartbreaking and testifies to the racial injustice that is still so prevalent in this country. We have a long way to go.
November 30, 2024
Wow, hard to believe this true life murder took 20 years to prosecute. It seems like everything was right at their fingertips. The question is, did Jim get away with it for so long because he was rich and had power and could afford high dollar attorneys? I think so. This would be a good book club book.
February 15, 2025
A page turning read about a beautiful life gone far too soon. What impressed me the most was how respectful the author was in her writing of this tragedy. While it’s a gripping story like most true crime, what will stay with me is the joy and spirit that Lita McClinton gave to this world.
Highly recommend for all my Atlanta/Georgia friends.
Highly recommend for all my Atlanta/Georgia friends.
August 8, 2025
Sigh. So good. So sad. Read if you want to get swept up in the story of a murder in the south revolving around money, gender, and race. (Like most crimes are.)
July 30, 2025
I love True Crime on TV and This book is probably my favorite book of the year. It usually takes me about a month to read most of my book club books but I read this in about one week. I knew a little about the story but the audiobook filled in the gaps and kept my attention like any True Crime episode on TV, only better. Bravo to the author.
April 12, 2025
Deb Miller Landau's A Devil Went Down to Georgia is a gripping true crime narrative that explores the 1987 murder for hire of Lita McClinton, a Black Atlanta socialite. Landau examines the racial and socioeconomic dynamics that complicated the pursuit of justice for Lita. The book highlights the biases that allowed Lita's estranged husband James Vincent Sullivan, read rich and white, to evade justice for nearly twenty years. The writing style went between florid and repetitive at times for me. Overall a well done report on a truly heart breaking crime.
May 4, 2025
Written by one of my favorite Journalism teachers from the University of Oregon + true crime genre = pure brilliance.
This book is a fascinating read. Rich white men getting away with everything including murder…..until they don’t.
Deb Miller Landau is a powerhouse journalist and I’m proud to be her former student.
This book is a fascinating read. Rich white men getting away with everything including murder…..until they don’t.
Deb Miller Landau is a powerhouse journalist and I’m proud to be her former student.
August 8, 2025
This was well written and engaging book about the murder of Lita Sullivan. It was well researched and the evidence against Jim Sullivan appears strong. I definitely agree that race was a factor in the way Jim was treated by the legal system.
October 23, 2024
I could not put it down. Read like a true crime podcast (in a great way). You can tell years and years of work from many people went into this
October 1, 2025
Well researched. Too bad another rich white man got away with murder for so long while the family suffered one bumble after another.
July 27, 2025
Reading a true crime story under the circumstances in which Lita's murder case unfolded weighed heavy on my spirit. But I think the author's expertise in investigative journalist writing told the case in a way that gave much understanding to the reader. More importantly, I admire the inclusion of race and power as she tells the story, aspects of the story largely ignored in other recants of the story I've seen over the years. Great read 👍🏾
July 26, 2025
How do you rate a book of this nature? It was well written, thoughtful, and very explanatory. But it is also a true crime book about a planned murder in cold blood. My heart broke a thousand times listening to Lita McClintons story. She seemed like such a sweet and friendly soul. This book was truly thought provoking and one that sticks with a person.
September 22, 2024
I don’t read a lot of true crime, but it was well written. Oldest story in the world, rich white man gets away with murder for many years.
September 30, 2024
Very good book, we’ll written. Another sad story of how the rich can get away with murder for years. This is a tale about an upper class white male married to a black woman. He has her murdered when she decides to divorce him. It’s all about money, of course. Race is touched on, but I don’t really see it a a factor in this story. It seems more like an entitled white male who preferred non-white women and thought all women were inferior to him. Very sad story.
July 31, 2025
Terrific writing. What a horrible, horrible person.
August 27, 2025
I listened to this one on audio and would highly recommend very interesting and eye-opening.
July 20, 2025
I kept wondering where this story would lead considering the details were presented early. But it was interesting watching this story unfold and the anticipation of justice for Lita’s sweet spirit.
October 16, 2024
Easily the most well written, captivating true crime/biography book I've ever read. Deb Miller Landau tells Lita McClinton's story with such grace and care--- something I think is often missing in the case of TC books. I felt as if I knew her, and was sobbing within ten pages.
Landau touches on everything from Lita's family, the crime itself, the aftermath, to legal proceedings, but most importantly she provides a blistering study on how race and privilege come into play. Would Lita's murder taken so long to be solved if she had been white? After reading I believe the answer to be a loud and resounding no.
Landau touches on everything from Lita's family, the crime itself, the aftermath, to legal proceedings, but most importantly she provides a blistering study on how race and privilege come into play. Would Lita's murder taken so long to be solved if she had been white? After reading I believe the answer to be a loud and resounding no.
September 7, 2024
Well done true crime. Hard to put down. Also hard to believe it took so long for her ex-husband to end up in prison for murder.
December 24, 2024
Excellent book that keeps you on the edge!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews