Southern Latitudes [Paperback]

Stephen R. Clark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2002

Burnt-out reporter Nelson Ingram knows that in Litchfield, Alabama, not everything is as it seems-even an apparent Klan lynching. But it will take more than Nelson's renewed sense of purpose to uncover the buried secrets of the deep South.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; First Edition edition (September 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425186377
• ISBN-13: 978-0425186374
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Home, It's Not, March 24, 2003

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Latitudes (Paperback)

Litchfield, Alabama is depressed, which is nothing new. It's been that way since the Civil War, and it isn't likely to change. The townsfolk don't expect much, which is a very good thing, because they are not going to get it. Nominated for the Edgar First Novel prize, Stephen Clark's light ironic tone and fine writing make him a worthy candidate.

Nelson Ingram, a local boy of an old Litchfield family, has come home to work on the local paper. His résumé is sketchy, full of holes and fits and starts, and truth be known, his motivation is lackluster. When a local black man is apparently lynched, Ingram is fired up to take on the KKK. Then he learns the victim was shot before he was strung up and the local KKK has been defunct for ten years after being bankrupted by civil suits. No one seems particularly interested in solving the crime, but Ingram is fired up looking for the Big Story. He gets further and further away from the Klan and closer and closer to possible Mob activity. But why in the world would the Mob be interested in Litchfield? Everyone is too poor to do drugs and they are not even on a big enough river to float a casino. Ingram cannot figure out if he is being confronted with apathy or conspiracy.

"Southern Latitudes" has a good pace, and Mr. Clark is deft, humorous and sometimes sardonic. Speaking of a total pork barrel construction of a waterway, "The whole thing finally opened up in 1985 to a great fanfare and all stood back and waited for the Silent Hand of the Market to transform it into a throbbing liquid highway of commerce." When the hulking villain comes up behind him, Clark says he is "looming, like bad weather." I'm looking forward to further stories from Mr. Clark and recommend this fine debut novel.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fast-paced and exciting, September 8, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Southern Latitudes (Paperback)

Litchfield, Alabama is a quiet town with little business to support the townsfolk. There have been Ingrams residing in Litchfield since the town was founded but Nelson graduated college with the sole intention of seeing the world and never returning to his hometown again. Lost jobs, failed opportunities and broken relationships bring Nelson back home where he becomes a reporter for the Litchfield Ledger.

He thinks he has a big story when a black man is found hanging from a tree. His first thought is KKK or a clone but when an autopsy reveals the victim was shot in the head at close range, Nelson believes something big is about to break. An investigation reveals that other locals were recently killed. The manager of a mob-connected nightclub is murdered soon after the "hanging". After years of coasting through life, Nelson intends to take a stand by finding out the identity of the killers and bringing them to justice, or die trying.

SOUTHERN LATITUDES is a perfect depiction of a town in the Deep South. Customs, attitudes and beliefs enforce the uniqueness of the region. The story line is fast-paced and exciting but it is the protagonist who steals the spotlight. He is a hedonistic wastrel who finally finds the cause that worth fighting for, making him a lot like most people.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific debut effort., March 19, 2003

By 

nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Latitudes (Paperback)

It is easy to see why Stephen J. Clarks Southern Latitudes is nominated for a Best First Novel Edgar. It is a most compelling novel that I finished in less than a day.

Neer do well burn out Nelson Ingram returns to his small-town Alabama home, finding work at the local paper covering rotary meetings and the like.

The autopsy of an apparent KKK lynching shows the vic was shot in the head at close range, leading Nelson on a quest to find out why the entire town is looking the other way. Three related murders are uncovered and by putting the pieces together, Nelsons life is endangered.

Finally finding something he cares about, Nelson exposes the true villains and gains his redemption in the Southern Gothic traditionwhere not everyone lives happily ever after.

First class writing and major league plotting in this spellbinding debut. Hope it is the start of a series.