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BENEATH A RUTHLESS SUN A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found Gilbert King Riverhead, April 2018. “The perversions of justice under Jim Crow chart a devious path in this labyrinthine true crime saga… Packed with riveting characters and startling twists, King’s narrative unfolds like a Southern gothic noir probing the recesses of a poisoned society.” STARRED Review in Publishers Weekly. "A spellbinding true story of racism, privilege, and official corruption. … From the opening pages, King's narrative barrels forward, leaving readers wondering what it will take for justice to prevail. By turns sobering, frightening, and thrilling, this meticulous account of the power and tenacity of officially sanctioned racism recalls a dark era that America is still struggling to leave behind." STARRED Review in Kirkus. "This book is every bit as gripping as the author’s Pulitzer-winning (2012), which explored an earlier incident involving McCall and Reese. McCall, who served as sheriff until the early 1970s, emerges here as thoroughly despicable, and Reese, who was a supporting player in Devil in the Grove, steps onto center stage here and captivates us with her determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Gripping history, vividly told.” STARRED Review in Booklist. "Compelling, insightful and important,Beneath a Ruthless Sun exposes the corruption of racial bigotry and animus that shadows a community, a state and a nation. A fascinating examination of an injustice story all too familiar and still largely ignored, an engaging and essential read." — Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy. "In the tradition of Harper Lee, Gilbert King tells the story of a small southern town corrupted by racism, a perverse genteel honor, and utter disdain for poor “crackers.” Three women stand out in this gripping tale of a falsely accused man: an unrelenting reporter, a mother, and a victim doubly victimized as a pawn of others’ ambitions. In deftly unraveling a tragic mixture of lies, violence, and hatred, King powerfully reminds us how the unpalatable beliefs of 1957 haunt us still.” —Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash. “Gilbert King’s stunning chronicle of race, sex and power in fatal combination yields so many truly tragic turns that it’s almost uncanny when goodness endures. With breakneck drama and cold clarity, Beneath a Ruthless Sun captures the sultry particulars of a uniquely charged place and time as well as a universal truth about how difficult it is for humans in the aggregate to do the right thing.” — Diane McWhorter, Pulitzer Prize- winning author of : Birmingham, Alabama—the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution. In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a "husky Negro" did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. But crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who was protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence begin to surface. Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful, page-turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still. Gilbert King was awarded the in Nonfiction for The Devil in the Grove: , the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America, which was also a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. A featured contributor to Smithsonian magazine and The Marshall Project, King also writes about justice for and . He lives in New York City. Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost and Found. "A small town. A big secret. In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a 'husky Negro' did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. Crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop . Read More. "A small town. A big secret. In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a 'husky Negro' did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. Crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who is protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence come to the surface. Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful page- turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still."--Jacket. Read Less. All Copies ( 113 ) Softcover ( 36 ) Hardcover ( 31 ) Audiobook ( 4 ) Choose Edition ( 4 ) Book Details Seller Sort. 2019, Riverhead Books. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Trade paperback, Very Good Details: ISBN: 0399183426 ISBN-13: 9780399183423 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 04/2019 Language: English Alibris ID: 16686755698 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Very good. Shows some signs of wear from usage. Is no longer bright/shinny. Edge wear from storage and shelving. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Trade paperback, Good Details: ISBN: 0399183426 ISBN-13: 9780399183423 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 04/2019 Language: English Alibris ID: 16669227471 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Hardcover, Good Details: ISBN: 0399183388 ISBN-13: 9780399183386 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 04/2018 Language: English Alibris ID: 16614129578 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Hardcover, Good Details: ISBN: 0399183388 ISBN-13: 9780399183386 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 04/2018 Language: English Alibris ID: 16693813534 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Powder Springs, GA, USA. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Trade paperback, Fine/Like New Details: ISBN: 0399183426 ISBN-13: 9780399183423 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 2019 Language: English Alibris ID: 16518114610 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Fine. May have remainder mark and/or retail sticker. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Powder Springs, GA, USA. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Trade paperback, Very Good Details: ISBN: 0399183426 ISBN-13: 9780399183423 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 2019 Language: English Alibris ID: 16670684888 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Very good. The cover has minimal wear. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Powder Springs, GA, USA. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Trade paperback, Good Details: ISBN: 0399183426 ISBN-13: 9780399183423 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 2019 Language: English Alibris ID: 16641441660 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Good. Cover and/or pages are damaged. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. West Mifflin, PA, USA. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Hardcover, Very Good Available Copies: 8 Details: ISBN: 0399183388 ISBN-13: 9780399183386 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 2018 Language: English Alibris ID: 16217266854 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Seller's Description: Very good. Publisher overstock or return with minor shelfwear. May have remainder mark. Carefully inspected. Leaves our warehouse same or next business day. Most continental U.S. orders lead time 4-10 business days. Thank you for your business. ► Contact This Seller. 2019, Riverhead Books. Columbia, MD, USA. Edition: 2019, Riverhead Books Hardcover, Good Details: ISBN: 0399183388 ISBN-13: 9780399183386 Pages: 432 Publisher: Riverhead Books Published: 2018 Language: English Alibris ID: 15765999128 Shipping Options: Standard Shipping: €3,59. Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination. Beneath a Ruthless Sun : Book summary and reviews of Beneath a Ruthless Sun by Gilbert King. In December 1957, the wife of a Florida citrus baron is raped in her home while her husband is away. She claims a "husky Negro" did it, and the sheriff, the infamous racist Willis McCall, does not hesitate to round up a herd of suspects. But within days, McCall turns his sights on Jesse Daniels, a gentle, mentally impaired white nineteen-year-old. Soon Jesse is railroaded up to the state hospital for the insane, and locked away without trial. But crusading journalist Mabel Norris Reese cannot stop fretting over the case and its baffling outcome. Who was protecting whom, or what? She pursues the story for years, chasing down leads, hitting dead ends, winning unlikely allies. Bit by bit, the unspeakable truths behind a conspiracy that shocked a community into silence begin to surface. Beneath a Ruthless Sun tells a powerful, page-turning story rooted in the fears that rippled through the South as integration began to take hold, sparking a surge of virulent racism that savaged the vulnerable, debased the powerful, and roils our own times still. Reviews "Beyond the Book" articles Free books to read and review (US only) Find books by time period, setting & theme Read-alike suggestions by book and author Book club discussions and much more! Just $12 for 3 months or $39 for a year. Reviews. Media Reviews. "Starred Review. Packed with riveting characters and startling twists, King's narrative unfolds like a Southern gothic noir probing the recesses of a poisoned society." - Publishers Weekly. "Starred Review. By turns sobering, frightening, and thrilling, this meticulous account of the power and tenacity of officially sanctioned racism recalls a dark era that America is still struggling to leave behind." - Kirkus. "Compelling, insightful and important, Beneath a Ruthless Sun exposes the corruption of racial bigotry and animus that shadows a community, a state and a nation. A fascinating examination of an injustice story all too familiar and still largely ignored, an engaging and essential read." - Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy. "In the tradition of Harper Lee, Gilbert King tells the story of a small southern town corrupted by racism, a perverse genteel honor, and utter disdain for poor "crackers.". In deftly unraveling a tragic mixture of lies, violence, and hatred, King powerfully reminds us how the unpalatable beliefs of 1957 haunt us still." - Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash. "With breakneck drama and cold clarity, Beneath a Ruthless Sun captures the sultry particulars of a uniquely charged place and time as well as a universal truth about how difficult it is for humans in the aggregate to do the right thing." - Diane McWhorter, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama - the Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution. This information about Beneath a Ruthless Sun shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added. Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. Beneath a Ruthless Sun: A True Story of Violence, Race, and Justice Lost… Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. The author has clearly done a buttload of research and, irritatingly, his determination to include all of it interferes with the narrative; I suspect many will give up on the book in frustration. But about halfway through, it becomes quite engaging and the story really starts to flow. Unfortunately, being non-fiction, its a truly depressing tale, full of nasty men who wield power cruelly and never get punished for being such thorough assholes. A worthy read but full of weltschmerz and reasons for outrage. I recieved a free copy of this book from some publisher for review. ( ) In December 1957, Blanche Knowles, the wife of a wealthy citrus baron, was raped in her home while her husband was away for the night. Although she initially said that she had been raped by an African American, a developmentally disabled young white man, Jesse Daniels, was arrested for the crime, and spent over fourteen years of his life in a Florida state institution, where he received no trial and no treatment. King does an admirable job of bringing the Florida of this time period to life. It was scary how just a few powerful men (Joe Knowles, Sheriff Willis McCall, and attorney Gordon Oldham, to name some) controlled an entire county. McCall, especially, was pretty much given near absolute free rein to run the county as he saw fit, and he murdered multiple suspects while in custody simply because he could. Again and again, McCall's racism, denial of civil rights, and murders were brought to officials' attention, but he had gained so much insulation from his friends that he was virtually untouchable. He was never convicted of murder, even though he clearly killed numerous people in cold blood. The story is convoluted, and it's almost hard to believe that this could happen in America (although it obviously did). It later is discovered that Knowles and his father-in-law didn't want it to come out that Blanche had been "soiled" by an African American, so even though McCall wanted to railroad a black man to the electric chair - but NOT the black man who likely committed the crime and even confessed to doing so - he changed his tune quickly and went after Jesse Daniels. Daniels, who was dirt poor and had been left developmentally delayed by childhood battles with rheumatic fever, was left to take the fall for a crime that he clearly did not have the mental capacity or inclination to commit. The last few chapters are particularly full of twists. In an effort to shore up his weak case, McCall arranged for the man who most likely committed the crime, Sam Wiley Odom, to CONFESS to the crime. and then had Odom sign the confession as Jesse Daniels. This only comes out many years later, and the notary public who took the confession was absolutely SHOCKED when she learned that Jesse Daniels was a white man, because it was a black man who confessed to the crime, provided details that only someone in the house could have provided, and signed that confession. And then McCall let a confessed rapist free to rape again - and he did - just to spare Joe Knowles' delicate sensibilities. Or. was that the reason he let Odom go? Because Odom claimed that someone had offered to pay him $5000 to kill Blanche Knowles, and that someone just might be Joe Knowles, who was carrying on an affair with another woman - a woman he had helped move to Florida. In fact, he was conveniently spending the night with that woman when Blanche was raped in their home. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. There's not enough evidence to say, and Odom was electrocuted for that other rape before he spilled everything that he knew. Also a coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. This is an absolutely SHOCKING miscarriage of justice in so many ways. So why did I only give this book three stars? Well, I think that King needed an editor for this book who wasn't afraid to trim the fat. King goes down so many rabbit trails in this book that it gets confusing. There are entire passages, sometimes even entire chapters, dedicated to things that are only peripherally related to the case, if at all. Although interesting, do I really need to have a biography of Mabel Norris Chesley (the "newspaper woman" who wouldn't let Jesse Daniels' case go)? Or a chapter dedicated to Martin Luther King's attempts to desegregate St. Augustine (with the only link to Daniels' case being that the same journalist interviewed King a few times)? Or about a man's attempt to integrate the University of Florida Law School? Or the marital woes of the Lake County Sheriff's Department? I feel that the book should have focused more on Jesse Daniels, but he takes a backseat in his own story. The book tries to be everything all at once, and in the end, it feels disjointed and rudderless. I would have enjoyed the book much more after a thorough editing had pared down the unnecessary tangents. ( ) A A HORRIBLE BOOK, KING knows hS Flcrida and tejjs the story of Willis McCall a racist and murderous sheriff. Regrettably he doesn;t keep any of his promises.