An alcoholic, miserly attorney reluctantly defends a black man from a false resisting arrest charge. He then discovers damaging information against the cops and two cronies, and embarks on a battle to keep himself and his client alive.
Hiram Garbuncle is a veteran criminal defense attorney—as well as a racist, miserly alcoholic. His life revolves around hoarding money, following sports, pursuing sex, drinking—and the prideful practice of law.
Alec Monceau is a black man working to support his daughter’s family in Trinidad. It is 2008, and his car carries an Obama bumper sticker. This political advertisement leads to a superfluous traffic stop and a brutal beating by police.
It goes against Garbuncle’s grain to defend a black man from a charge of violently resisting arrest, but he is so confident of winning that he is negligent in the jury selection, and a mistrial occurs. He then discovers incriminating evidence on the two cops, and his new challenge becomes how to keep himself and his client alive pending a new trial.
Excerpt
Darkness had turned the muggy early-autumn air balmy, a gentle breeze carrying its dampness toward the ocean, like a restaurant waiter gliding into the kitchen with plates of food scraps. As Hitchens approached the clearing, light from the trailer glowed ever brighter, just as a setting sun’s fading luminescence is sharper toward the horizon. He fought to suppress a growing apprehension, but his pulse quickened as his gait slowed.
“Halt!” The baritone bark came from his left, out of the woods. Shocked with fear, he whirled to face the voice.
The judge asked Garbuncle if he would like to cross examine Bullard.
“Yes, I would, sir …’scuse me, your honordom. I mean … uh, Your Honor.” Garbuncle smirked, and a deep furrow formed in Judge Crabtree’s brow.
Professional Reviews A Wonderful Novel Featuring a Character for the Ages
About two-thirds through Bob Brink’s wonderful and timely novel Blood on Their Hands, Earl, the burly tenant of our “hero” Garbuncle, tells him, “You don’t just sleep tight; you live and breathe tight. And drink till you’re tight.” I put quotes around hero to describe the lawyer Garbuncle in that almost every quality of him – his racism, his slovenliness, his drunkenness, and his monumental cheapness – is negative, yet, ultimately, his shrewd and courageous actions are indeed admirable, and his racist attitude recedes as he gets to know his black client.
Garbuncle’s flaws make him a memorable and tremendously amusing character. His cheapness leads to his knowing every low-rent and used business in South Florida, resulting in many a funny scene. Plus, his witty interactions with his newspaper buddy Hitchens and the aforementioned Earl are absolute hoots.
The generous humor in the novel belies the fact that Brink explores serious issues in Blood on Their Hands. The assault by white cops on the Trinidadian immigrant Alec Monceau, followed by the subsequent violent cover-ups involving Klan members, tell a story that is at once sadly familiar, but enlivened by distinctive details.
After witnessing the attack on Monceau, Garbuncle reluctantly comes around to representing him in court. Yet, Garbuncle is not exactly trustworthy. Indeed, through much of Blood on Their Hands, Garbuncle’s racism, his constant drunkenness, and his toxic self-absorption puts his reliability to both his fellow characters and to the reader in question. Yet, his inner integrity grows from the influence of Hitchens (who serves not only as the novel’s moral lodestone but as a source of delightful banter) and from the inherent goodness of Monceau.
Brink has a gift for characterization, whether it be the oh-so-seedily smooth mob lawyer Feinberg or the stern but astute Judge Crabtree. In fact, the courtroom scenes really crackle with intensity, especially during Garbuncle’s cross-examinations. Yes, serious business transpires in this novel as deaths and shady dealings pile up, yet what gives this novel buoyancy is watching Garbuncle rise to the occasion. Garbuncle’s wobbly instability keeps the reader guessing right up to the tremendously satisfying and exciting climax.
Brink has fleshed out such an unforgettable comic character in Garbuncle that I hope to meet him again in future works. For now, we have Blood on Their Hands, a novel that manages to examine serious issues in wildly entertaining ways.
This is another wonderful novel by Bob Brink. I love his writing style and "Blood On Their Hands" is another well-written, top-notch book. The premise of the storyline centers around a racist, cheap lawyer that his convinced by his best friend to represent a black man falsely arrested on the charge of violent resisting arrest. Hiram Garbuncle is a long time criminal defense attorney with a drinking problem who agrees to represent Alec Monceau, a computer store employee from Trinidad barely making minimum wage, but sending money home to help support his family. Alec is a very helpful. likable guy that Hiram is working for pro bono for. When the first trial ends in a mistrial, Hiram uncovers incriminating evidence against the two arresting officers putting both him and Alec in mortal danger. "Blood On Their Hands" has an excellent storyline with great dialogue. Bob Brink provides us with wonderful descriptions of people and places. It's a fast-paced, page-turner that pulls the reader in from the first page. Brink is one of my favorite authors and he definitely didn't disappoint with this one. I loved "Blood On Their Hands" and give it a big 10 out of 10. You can't go wrong with this one. I highly recommend it!
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