Triptych

by David Augustus Ball

DOES FREEDOM OF RELIGION MEAN FREEDOM TO KILL?

Once named New Orleans' "Lawyer of the Year" for his work on a gruesome Louisiana murder case, David Augustus Ball rips the scab off the system and shows the strange underpinnings of an astonishing court decision based on an ancient and almost forgotten religion.

Triptych is the story of a lawyer who risked everything to defend a man who could not be defended and a religion whose commands can never be ignored.

Was it just another cold-blooded murder inthe Crescent City...or an arcane religious ritual protected by the Constitution?

176 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to write a review worthy of the book. I think that is going to require some thought and a return to some of what I have just read. But for now let me just say this is a book you DO NOT want to read if you are looking for escapist entertainment. You need to think, on steroids, with this one. For such a short book, it really opens up a Pandora's Box of consequence.

I will be back with a longer review!

[Alford Wayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to purchase this as a signed copy from the author and ended up reading the whole book in one sitting! It had all the subjects I am interested in and study as a hobby wrapped into one great story. In this book you will find true crime, criminal justice, constitutional law, politics, religion, religious textual criticism, and a bit of anthropology. After reading this I found myself researching Ancient South American Tribes and their religions, customs, and art. An excellent and captivating summer read for sure! Well done Mr. Ball!



We have not even to risk the adventure alone
for the heroes of all time have gone before us.
The labyrinth is thoroughly known ...
we have only to follow the thread of the hero path.
And where we had thought to find an abomination
we shall find a God.

And where we had thought to slay another
we shall slay ourselves.
Where we had thought to travel outwards
we shall come to the center of our own existence.
And where we had thought to be alone
we shall be with all the world.”

― Joseph Campbell

[Adele Smilowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

For longer than I can remember, I haven't felt so excited and anxious to read and continue reading as I did with David Augustus Ball's Triptych. We need more books that exercise the mind like this one does. In a word, it was stupendous. I finished the book standing up in a dress in my kitchen, waiting to leave for a function. I literally couldn't put it down. I was nervous, upset, frightened, exhilarated, engrossed, petrified and at times shocked. Shocked beyond words, actually. This is a book that will be debated for years. It was magnificently done. Just the linguistic, religious and legal commentary are enough to blow you away, but then there are the stories of the protagonist, the author, and the prophet. In my opinion, a work of genius. I am proud and honored to have read it. How he fit so much into so few pages is a sign of his erudition and skill as an author. I want to read more from him. More, more, more. Please...

[Debbie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

You remember the film Rosemary's Baby? There was a line I'll never forget: This is no dream...this is really happening.
That sums up Triptych for me.
This is a challenge to put into words. I found the book at first a little difficult for me. I was not sure of the topic -- scary, sometimes offensive -- but with that said, I read the book in 2 days and found it hard to put down although at times I wanted to. It made me overlook things that bothered me and stop and THINK. What goes on in this very mixed-up sick world has to be faced...the real world, our world. That's the world the author is speaking about, even though you may think this is just a horror story.
We all must face the truth some point in our lives, no matter what the subject. This book will, at the very least, make you think for many days, even if you don't want to.

[Michael Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author shows some clear talent. There is a brilliantly original tale of a bizarre religion which William Burroughs could have written encased in an amusing legal drama which reminds one of "Confederacy of Dunces". A strange mixture but one that the author is able to pull off. But again, my main focus and admiration was clearly on the story of Pedro Tannar in the Revelation of Anakum- an absolute masterpiece- haunting, fascinating, repulsive, titillating, and, as I mentioned- wonderfully original. I would have loved for the whole story to be about Pedro and Anakum!