One Night Stand: A Novel [Paperback]

Roland S. Jefferson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2007

How did a street hustler, in and out of jail since he was ten, beat a murder rap, no matter whether he did the crime or not?

Meet Myra Cross, a thirty-one-year-old redheaded beauty with a take-no-prisoners reputation as a Public Defender. She confounds her colleagues and clients alike as she not only wins acquittal after acquittal but poses for Playboy in her spare time. She has the face of an angel, the body of a goddess, and a mind like a steel trap. But with secrets and demons, she neither pretends to be a Girl Scout nor to have all the answers. This time, when she's once again assigned the defense of Napoleon T. Booker -- aka Little Dog Nine, who's charged with another homicide -- she gets much more than she bargained for.

Acclaimed author of the cult classic The School on 103rd Street, Roland S. Jefferson weaves an explosive literary mix of contemporary urban authenticity and classic old-school crime into a mesmerizing, pulse-pounding thriller.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jefferson's over-the-top fifth novel requires more suspension of belief and provides less entertainment than his previous work (The School on 103rd Street; Damaged Goods). The far-fetched heroine is 31-year-old divorcée Myra Cross, "a cyclone of shameless sexuality" who's about to appear nude in a "professional women's" issue of Playboy, a prospect that leads her to consider abandoning her successful career as a Los Angeles public defender for the life of a national sex symbol. Jefferson, a forensic psychiatrist, depicts Cross as a coke-sniffing nymphomaniac and gives her supposed intelligence little opportunity to show itself. She's dragged into a vicious game of cat and mouse with corrupt cops when five of them frame a former client of hers-an equally improbable creation, a gangbanger named Napoleon T. Booker who litters his conversation with terms like "core aesthetic." Jefferson's irrepressible prose often verges on parody (Cross's dress rides "up her thigh like an out-of-control elevator"), though the book's opening chapter shows flashes of a greater talent.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Roland S. Jefferson's novels include Damaged Goods, 559 to Damascus, and the political thriller The School on 103rd Street, chosen by the Los Angeles Times Book Review for inclusion in its Guide to Literary Los Angeles 2000. One Night Stand is his fifth novel. Semi-retired from a career as a forensic psychiatrist, he lives in Los Angeles, California.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074326889X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743268899
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,710,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roland S. Jefferson was born in Washington, DC but moved to Los Angeles at 6 years of age. He began writing during his college years at the University of Southern California where he received his BA degree. He then relocated to Washington DC where he matriculated at Howard University for graduate medical education. He then did a two year stint as a medical officer in the U.S. Air Force where he continued writing book and film reviews. After military service he penned his first novel, the highly acclaimed SCHOOL ON 103RD STREET now considered a classic canon in African American political fiction. Thirty five years and six novels later Roland S. Jefferson continues to write about edgy and provocative characters set in contemporary fiction with a touch of political reality, sexual inuendo and mystery.
For more on this author go to: www.rolandsjefferson.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't Judge the Book by Its Cover, July 17, 2006

By 

Yasmin Coleman (PENNSYLVANIA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: One Night Stand: A Novel (Hardcover)

Gangbanger, Napoleon Booker is a lot of things and has a criminal record to prove it. But he did not commit the crime that the corrupt Los Angeles Police department is trying to pen on him. Someone is trying to set him up and frame him for a crime he did not commit. He must prove that he did not engineer a bank heist several years ago that netted the robbers $750K. Napoleon needs help and he needs it fast as the real culprits do not want the truth to be told and will stop at nothing to keep it hidden. Enters a familiar face from Napoleon's past--blonde haired, blue-eyed public defender, Myra Cross to the rescue--she saved him before and he is hoping she can do it again. Myra is at the top of her game but she wants out. Her dream might come true quicker than she anticipated as she has recently posted for a Playboy spread which might get her fired and allow her to explore other avenues. But, first she must once again save Napoleon's behind especially since this time he might just be innocent. Napoleon is counting on Myra as she is his last resort and he wishes that she is not too distracted to focus and win his case. Mayhem, murder, betrayal, secrets all litter their paths as they race against time to discover the real criminals and try and stay alive in the process.

The cover and title for One Night Stand are a disconnect and a prime example of why one should not judge a book by its cover (or title). Once I got past these innocuous distractions, I discovered a compelling and entertaining mystery. The novel is a creatively crafted plot and I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next. Jefferson successfully balanced show and tell while developing a plot driven storyline complete with well-developed characters. He did a fine job--via Napoleon's character--of showing what happens to many talented and gifted African American youth who unfortunately when they have no strong parental figures are left to be raised by their `street families.' If you are looking for a good mystery with suspense, intrigue, action-packed plot twists and turns then check out One Night Stand by Roland Jefferson.

Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Night Stand, September 2, 2006

By 

Ebony Eyes Book Club (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Night Stand: A Novel (Hardcover)

This book definitely ranks amongst one of the best books we have ever read. It had us hooked from page one. Without giving the plot away, the book is full of exciting, nail-biting moments, so you don't have to worry about being bored and struggling through this one. We had a lengthy, deep discussion about real life issues of police corruption, preconceived notions, drugs, race, dysfunctional childhoods and the justice system. All of which the author very craftily and expertly brought to life in One Night Stand.
The two main characters; a very attractive, white female lawyer (Myra) with an exceptionally high IQ and a street-savvy young black male (Napoleon) will keep you on your toes as they continually chip away at one's tendency to stereotype. The complexity of the characters and the plot are sure to keep you as addicted to the book as Myra was to drugs.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A THUG, A REDHEAD LAWYER AND SOME DIRTY COPS!, December 8, 2006

By 

Dimples "There she go reading those books aga... (Downsouth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Night Stand: A Novel (Hardcover)

Don't ever judge a book by its cover or the title. I have no idea why Roland Jefferson titled this book One Night Stand, but I am so glad I ordered this book and read it! This is one of the BEST crime-mystery books I have read in my life! The story kept me on the edge of my seat(LITERALLY) at work, at home, in the salon getting my hair done, while cooking dinner, while my boyfriend watched the game..I kept wodering what was gonna happen next!

Napoleon gets stopped one night for driving with no lights on in brand new Mustang by some DIRTY cops in the wrong neighborhood. He soon hooks up with redhead beau defense laywer Myra Cross who helps prove his innoence of the crime he's accused of. It was a rollercoaster ride reading this book and it never stopped until I got to page 320.

You take a thug with a record as long as his name, a redhead, green-eyed lawyer with an IQ of a genius and some dirty cops desperate to frame and kill anybody who blocks their chance of getting their hands of seven million dollars and you've got a book full of action!

This author has a way with words that draw you into the story and make you feel like you're right there! His characters seem so real you can't help but to speak to them while reading this novel. Roland Jefferson is now on my favorite author list and I wanna read every book that has his name on him!

A perfect and easy five star book!!!!!!! Trust me! Get it!