A Hate Crime in Brooklyn by US Lawyer David Secular

Join David Secular, a veteran criminal law attorney and legal writer, on a talk about his debut fiction book A Hate Crime in Brooklyn – a life-long dream realised. David has drawn on his unparalleled experiences throughout his career to create this gripping legal thriller with authentic courtroom scenes.

Sessions can include readings from the book to Q&A’s.

This book has been 10 years in the making and highlights David’s dedication and labour of love to the story.

The US-based author will only be available for in-person talks around the UK during the period mentioned below – making this a particularly unmissable opportunity!

Get in touch

Publisher: Independent
Author: Born in Brooklyn, David Secular grew up in New Rochelle, New York with parents who made sure he kept his feet firmly on the ground and pursued a law degree instead of chasing a basketball. A dual citizen of both the US and UK, David has attended the London School of Economics and is a graduate of NYU Law School. David has spent his career as a criminal defence attorney and legal writer in Federal Courts throughout the country and also practiced and tried cases in the State courts of New York. He has appeared and prepared appellate briefs heard before the United States Supreme Court. He has crossed paths and been involved in countless notable cases with legendary counsel such as William Kunstler and presided over by renown jurists such as Jack Weinstein. A Hate Crime in Brooklyn is the realization of a life-long dream to expand his horizons and turn his writing talents towards fiction and stories which reflect his experiences and the unforgettable people he has been privileged to meet through his career. He is married with three remarkable adult children and currently lives in New York City where he still practices at Brooklyn Defender Services.
Book: Can justice prevail in a city torn by hate? When Sofia Hushemi, a sheltered Albanian immigrant, carelessly collides with Sylvester Stanley on her way home from Prospect Park, both escape injury. Upon discovering the loss of her precious ring, gifted to her by Victor, the feared kingpin of the Albanian-American Mafia, she frantically presumes Sylvester, a Black man, was not a jogger, but a culprit. Hours later, Sylvester is attacked in broad daylight leaving Sofia facing life behind bars for allegedly ordering the attack. The trial is a rollercoaster of surprises, penned by an author intimately familiar with the courtroom. Can Sofia escape conviction for the racially motivated crime which has polarized New York? Gripping, thought-provoking and moving, A Hate Crime in Brooklyn by US lawyer David G. Secular, is much more than a story of yet another presumptuous attempt to kill a Black man solely because of the color of his skin. It is a tale of understanding and forgiveness for our troubled times and an unforgettable love story evolves, which will mesmerize and delight. Early reviews: "A long overdue call for change that will be felt deeply by all its readers" Michael P. Padden, Federal Defenders of New York. "A stunningly good debut novel . . . . Novels such as To Kill A Mockingbird and A Time To Kill set a high benchmark for the genre but A Hate Crime In Brooklyn raises it - and then some! What a great curtain raiser for a literary career." ***** Netgalley Reviewer "Thought-provoking tale of expectations and disappointments, prejudice and intolerance, love and forgiveness" **** Netgalley Reviewer
Availability: 13 November - 21 November
Audience: Adult
Event Type: In Person
Author's Travel Constraints: Open to Disucssion
Fees: Free

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