Palace Council

By Stephen L. Carter

Knopf

Five out of Five Kiwis










Edward Wesley Junior's only real goal in life was to be an accomplished writer. Some people thought he was lazy when he didn't want to take up a real job, but he just couldn't have any disturbance to his muse. One night, while walking home from one of the prestigious parties 1950s Harlem was known for--and to which he was only invited after his first short story was published--he happened to stumble over a dead body.

The dead man held in his fist a peculiar religious symbol that Eddie had to figure out the meaning of no matter what trouble it would lead him to. Thus began a twenty-year search for secret societies that plotted to overthrow the president that may or may not have been linked to the mysterious disappearance of his sister, Junie. A search that would prove him anything but lazy and provide him with inspiration for more than a couple of acclaimed books.