Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nashville Circuit Court judge Gayden's mixed debut tracks a tragic love story that begins at a Tennessee Christian summer camp in 1896. There, pastor's daughter Anna Dennis, 16, and Walter Dotson, a third-year Vanderbilt medical student, fall hard for each other. By winter, he's interning at her local hospital, and their courtship and early married life—including a stint in Vienna, where daughter Mabel is born—have all the trappings of a conventional romance. By 1908, the family numbers four and settles in Gallatin, Tenn., near Anna and Walter's hometowns, but a miscarriage sets the stage for murder and scandal. Gayden's writing in the romance sections is flat and unconvincing, but perks up in the last quarter, when the novel goes full-on procedural, delivering the murder trial and the related media coverage in close detail. The trial, based on real events, is intriguing, the verdict unexpected and period detail adds depth. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"With MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE, Kip Gayden has accomplished what every historic fiction writer dreams he or she will be able to do. He has unlocked a forgotten crime and the lives around it and brings a lost time and place back to life. He holds us captive as his tale unfolds. MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE seems far more like the work of a seasoned writer than a judge with the ability to tell a good story." (Robert Hicks, 'New York Times' bestselling author of 'The Widow of the South' )

"A fascinating novel with a twist at the end." (Nashville Bar Journal Marjorie Kaup Haines )

"Sometimes true crime can lead to fascinating fiction. But who would have thought a sordid case in a small Tennessee town in 1913 would spawn an absorbing read?" (Richmond Times Dispatch )

"Judge Kip Gayden has written a wonderfully woven mixture of fact and fiction... . Judge Kip's well defined characters will engulf you deeper and deeper into its pages...so be forewarned that you will not be able to put this book down until its final page." (Nashville.About.com )

"If you're a fan of historical fiction and/or true crime--or if you're just in the mood for a really great read--I highly recommend this book. I would love to see more from Kip Gayden in the future." (NightsandWeekends.com )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (May 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599951975
• ISBN-13: 978-1599951973
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #319,449 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical Fiction and Courtroom Drama, March 6, 2008

By	C. A. Hopkins (The gorgeous Rockies) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel (Hardcover)

With tremendous attention to detail, Judge Gayden does an incredible job of transporting the reader back in time to the late 1800s when young Christian camp counselor, Walter Dotson, first meets young Miss Anna Dennis, a pastor's daughter, and the two set upon a course that will later shape history. While the book is basically historical fiction, it is based on actual events, and Judge Gayden artfully weaves a tale based on newspaper clippings (included in the book), and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find that his rendition was exactly how events transpired. He does such an excellent job developing his characters that their actions come as no surprise, and we love and loathe them as he'd planned.

The main characters are Anna (Dennis) Dotson and her husband, Dr. Walter Dotson, both pillars of their community. They had been madly in love and wildly happy until Anna has a miscarriage, causing Walter's attentions to wane. The book is an excellent study on the human condition and how a family that appears on the surface to have everything can be hiding all sorts of secrets. There were many times during the story, however, that Dr. Dotson had it within his power to change the course of events had he only been a bit less self-centered and actually taken the time to listen to his wife. Judge Gayden does an excellent job of garnering the reader's sympathies for Anna and also making the reader feel as if her husband owes her. He also does a wonderful job of painting Charlie Cobb as a contemptible cad who isn't about to let Anna go once getting his clutches on her. Shades of a Victorian Basic Instinct, if you will.

Even more exciting than the human aspects of the story, is the legal wrangling that takes place. The reader gets a front-row seat and even a peek inside the minds of some of those present during the trial. And while there is no indication that Anna Dotson herself played a role in the suffrage movement, her trial and the resulting verdict has EVERYTHING to do with it.

I commend Judge Gayden for bringing the subject of legal inequality to light - especially at a time when our society is grappling with such things as same-sex marriage. Right now it is hard to believe that there was ever a time in our country's history when women didn't have the right to vote and that interracial marriage was illegal, but both of these used to be the case. Perhaps it's time for society to move on to correct another injustice.

Carol Ann Hopkins 3/5/2008

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction a treat to read, January 29, 2008

By	Christina Lockstein "http://christysbookblog.... (Oconto Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel (Hardcover)

Miscarriage of Justice by Kip Gayden is the story of Anna And Walter Dotson in 1913 Tennessee. Walter is a successful physician, Bible study leader, alderman for the city of Gallatin, Mason, and leader of the city orchestra. Anna is the lovely mother of their two children who keeps her days busy with the social functions required of the wife of a pillar of the community. She also spends time flirting with the cause of woman's suffrage and the new barber in town: Charlie Cobb. Gayden weaves together historical fact with logical conjecture to create a fantastic story of how a crime in a small town in Tennessee helped shape the future of the nation. Anna's flirtation with Charlie leaps into full blown adultery, with both spouses left in the dark. Gayden describes the attraction of forbidden liasons with flair and emotion. He makes Anna's descent into lust as believable as her guilt over the double life she finds herself living. Gayden uses reporter Paul Christian as the reader's objective eye in the story, and as we hear the story filtered through him, it becomes not only believable but enthralling. The crime is shocking; the verdict even more so. Gayden introduced suffrage as a major story element in the opening chapters, but that line drops off until suddenly popping up in the jury room when the ties between the crime and suffrage become clear, and with a masterful stroke Gayden makes his case that this long forgotten crime of passion helped give women the right to vote in America. By fictionalizing the portions of the book, Gayden brings Anna and the rest of the cast to life, and you can't help but ache for her. My one and only complaint is a small one: I would have liked pictures of the principals to be included in the book. I hope that Gayden takes my advice for his next book, which I look forward to reading!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant..., February 19, 2008

By	Readers Favorite "Readers Favorite" (Hawesville, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miscarriage of Justice: A Novel (Hardcover)

Miscarriage of Justice is a fictional tale based on a true story. It is the early days of the women's suffrage movement. Walter Dotson was a counselor at a Christian Camp when he met Anna Dennis, his future wife. He was attracted to her from the moment he saw her. After two children and a miscarriage, Anna noticed that Walter no longer seemed to desire her. There was a new man in town, and he was willing to show her the attention she craved. Charlie Cobb slowly, relentlessly seduced Anna. Soon the town gossips were speculating over the relationship of Charlie and Anna. Things quickly escalated...

Miscarriage of Justice is one of those book you just cannot lay down. The plot is a stunning success. Long after I finished reading this book, I contemplated the dynamics of the characters and their relationships. Anna was strong willed; Walter knew that going into the marriage. He deemed it an asset at that time. Later, that same attribute seemed to hinder his love for her. I liked Anna; she was a multidimensional personality. Walter was pompous and over proud of his role in society. He placed everything above his wife. It amazed me how he turned to her after the murder. Charlie...what can you say about Charlie? The man was a cad. He was slimy. I can think of several other adjectives, but they just get worse. He had a wife and child, and yet he set out to seduce Anna. I suppose she was another notch in his belt.

Miscarriage of Justice by Kip Gayden is a brilliant novel. It transports the reader back to a time when women were property of their husbands with no rights. Gayden successfully recreates history by painting a picture of words. Fans of history, suspense, and romance will not want to miss Miscarriage of Justice. Run! Do not walk to the closest bookstore and buy Miscarriage of Justice.