One Must Wait: A Carol Ann Gibson Mystery

Carole Ann Gibson #1

by Penny Mickelbury

Carol Ann Gibson worked hard to earn her reputation as "the best damn trial lawyer in town." And in a town like Washington, DC, that's a major accomplishment, but the good feeling is wearing thin. As a criminal defense attorney, Carole Ann earned her fame and fortune getting bad guys off the hook. Her husband, Alain, does the same thing in the corporate world--keeping big business and corporations from having to pay the price for their bad actions. Carole Ann and Al agree that the partnerships in the prestigious law firms, and the big salaries that come with them, no longer add up to happiness. They'll quit...and do what? Buy a catfish farm or a dude ranch? They feel happier just having made the decision to quit their law firms, and even happier when they both give notice on the same day. Then, on his way home to celebrate with Carole Ann that night, Al is killed in what at first seems to be a random street mugging. Carole Ann is so overcome with grief and sorrow that she misses all the red flags and warning signals a seasoned criminal defense lawyer should recognize: Al's death was no accident. Her husband was murdered, and all signs point to the last case he was working on in Louisiana, a gas and oil company guilty of all manner of environmental destruction. Carole Ann's anger puts her grief on the back burner and she's determined to go to Louisiana to find out who murdered her husband and make somebody pay. But the cops working the case of Al's murder have some good advice for her: Don't get mad, get even. Though the grief and pain and loneliness never go away, Carole Ann travels to Louisiana, and with the help of homicide detective Jacob Graham and police officer Tommy Griffin in DC, and people in Louisiana who had befriended and assisted Al, she brings a murderer to justice and helps put an end to the poisoning of land and waterways by Parish Petroleum.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

226 pages, Kindle Edition

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.