Book Review: The Alford Plea

IndieBookView

Dec 22

The Alford Plea

by Edwina Louise Dorch

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Biographical

ISBN: 9798369409336

Print Length: 252 pages

Reviewed by J.B. Leddington

Based on real-life tragedies that have befallen her family, Edwina Louise Dorch's The Alford Plea is a rollercoaster of suspense and emotion that plunges readers into the heart of a small town plagued by catastrophe and injustice. Dorch makes it clear from the outset that she has condensed the timeline of events considerably and fictionalized various elements.

Seeking to differentiate The Alford Plea from typical news reports and crime novels, Dorch has chosen symbolic names for many of the characters and constructed the imagined thoughts and speculations of those near to, but not directly involved in, the events. In addition, given the lack of closure in real life, it is important to note Dorch's suggestion that "because the murders remain unsolved, events in the story might be the actual truth."

On the night of one unforgettable Groundhog Day in Independence, Missouri sometime in the 2020s, a mother and baby are found dead in a park. Twenty-year-old Fatimah Matthews and her one-year-old daughter Aminah have both been shot in the head. As neighbors gather round the crime scene, "A few ventured to guess the name of the culprit, and those whispered his name discreetly, and out of the side of their mouths to the person standing next to them."

Khadijah Matthews, mother to Fatimah and also to son Ahmad, has visited crime scenes in the area in the hope of bringing comfort and help to bereaved relatives, but this has been the first time she discovers her own family members to be the victims.

From a hill above the murder scene, Sergeant Sauron and Captain Mordore look down on the actions of their fellow police officers and the private security guards patrolling the area. When joined by helicopter patrol leader Major Bilbou and asked if they've seen any suspects, they allude to a previous case involving the Matthews family: "Malik Matthews's case will come across your desk. When it does, let's discuss it. I found stolen goods in his house arrested him and he's in jail waiting to be transferred to prison."

It's clear that something is amiss in terms of Independence's law and order community, and it seems that Captain Mordore's private security work might have a great deal to do with it. That, and the lawsuit that Malik filed against Sergeant Sauron a few months before the killings. Moreover, the specter of corruption makes its presence felt even more strongly when Ahmad Matthews is shot dead just days after his sister and niece are killed.

From this point onwards, Dorch weaves a complex web of mystery around a wrongfully imprisoned man, Malik Matthews, and the unspeakable horrors that befall his family. As different groups coalesce in an attempt to either solve the murders or ensure that the perpetrator remains unknown, the corruption and self-interest of various factions—including those who have to be framed as the "good guys" in the situation—are laid bare, meaning that there is no shortage of suspects among the crooked cops, criminals, and corrupt officials that Dorch adds to the mix.

Unsurprisingly given its tragic basis in reality, while The Alford Plea is relentless in its pursuit of answers to the questions of who murdered the Matthews children and who is responsible for Malik's incarceration, Dorch dedicates a great deal of the book to exposing the inefficiencies, ineptitudes, and outright instances of corruption that impede the pursuit of justice. Here, she incorporates a good level of factual information—about the political, legal, penal, healthcare, and housing systems—into the narrative, ensuring that for all its extraordinarily shocking elements, it remains grounded in reality.

One of The Alford Plea's strengths lies in its exploration of the emotional toll of the deaths, the wrongful incarceration, and various events from the past has on the extended Matthews family, particularly on Khadijah, who is depicted as an empath and a proactive advocate of social justice. She is wearied by her many struggles, but she keeps on fighting for what is right, even when faced with losing her home. She doesn't always do what's best for her, although she always does what she considers right for her religion and her community. All the while, Dorch movingly portrays the anguish and desperation of a mother caught in the throes of an unthinkable tragedy.

While written as a novella, the story behind The Alford Plea shows scope to be presented as a novel-length work, which could have allowed for a bit more character development and also some slightly more drawn out reveals of certain characters' motivations. There are a few extremely surprising revelations in the latter part of the story, but with little development or foreshadowing, pull up short on tension. Still, Dorch adeptly balances suspenseful moments with introspective scenes, facilitating connection with most of the characters on a deeper level.

The Alford Plea is an emotionally resonant whodunit that blends elements of the psychological drama, police procedural, and legal thriller genres with some insightful social commentary. Dorch has crafted a compelling narrative based on shocking real-life events that not only intrigues but also prompts contemplation of the fragility of justice and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

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