Snapshot

Fox News commentator and former federal prosecutor Wiehl calls this her “most personal novel to date.” The idea for the story came from a photo of Wiehl sitting next to an African-American girl at a civil rights rally in the 1960s. Presumably the author put much of what she learned in the line of legal duty into this tale of jealousy and family secrets, about a government cover-up of the murder of a black man during the rally where the photo of the girls was taken. In spite of some technical flaws, the writing is strong and the plot is engaging, driven by the desires (both good and evil) of the characters and the reader’s desire to know who killed a man decades before, how it was covered up, and whether an innocent man has been charged and imprisoned. Complete with photos of the author, an interview with her father, and book club questions, the book offers a “snapshot” of the civil rights movement and turbulent times. (Jan.)