One Must Wait

Carole Ann Gibson #1

by Penny Mickelbury

Introducing rising star, black criminal defense attorney Carol Ann Gibson -- in a highly charged new series by a writer who received raves everywhere and a Lambda Award nomination for her most recent mystery, Night Songs.A partner in her high-priced law firm and shining light in the D.C. legal firmament, Carol Ann Gibson finds her star rising too fast for her own conscience. When she has an innocent client, she almost blows the case using the same cynical tactics that have resulted in some of her biggest victories when defending the guilty.

Meanwhile, her husband Alain, a high-powered corporate lawyer, is waging his own battle with his principles. After a meeting with the most unscrupulous of his clients, he resigns. A few days later he ends up dead on a D.C. sidewalk.

As a devastated Carol Ann searches to find out why -- from the nation's capital to the backwater swamps of Louisiana -- the secrets she discovers about Al's death and about herself terrify and thrill her even as they put her life at risk. The first black female criminal defense attorney in mystery fiction, Carol Ann Gibson is a marvelous creation: an ex-Peace Corps volunteer who realizes that the law and justice aren't always the same, who likes to win but is smart enough to know there is a price -- and is determined to not let that price be her own humanity.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Mickelbury is a former newspaper, radio and television reporter based primarily in Washington, D.C. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, she lives in Los Angeles. The novelist and former journalist also is an accomplished playwright whose work has won awards. Two of her Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione novels are Lammy finalists. She is the recipient of the Audre Lorde Estate Grant, and she had a residency at the Hedgebrook Women Writers colony.

Reviews

[Dottie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book may have been one of the earlier signs that I was moving back into reading mysteries. I really need to go check out others of this possible series as this was a fine and powerfully involving story.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the first in the series for this author. It was just ok-not sure if I am going to get the next in the series. It wasn't until the 2nd half of the book, when the true "meat" of the story happened.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alert! Fine new series character is born! This is not Micklebury's first book but it is the first in this series featuring Black, criminal defense attorney, Carol Ann Gibson. Carol Ann and her husband, Al, have a fabulous life under control. They are both crack attorneys in highly successful careers but nearly simultaneously they realize that something is missing. It's time to reevaluate and make some life changes. They both decide to quit their jobs. And the next day, Al is brutally murdered on the street. Carol Ann's life change turns into finding out why. The plot is good but the characters are marvelous. I cannot wait for the second of this series and hope there are many more.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read but a bit hard to follow at times. I did like Carol Ann. I’d never heard of “environmental racism”.... very horrific thing. But I did like the way things turned out. I got to admit I did get back on track once the author backtracked and filled in the blanks. I’m not sure if I am going to continue the series but I did like it well. Can’t say much about it without blowing the plot.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope to read more of these - well written, good characters.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Penny Micklebury's work.