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The Fifth Letter

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Sometimes you’re damned if you do and damned if you don't. Such is the position in which U.S. Justice Katherine Ross, the first black female on the U.S. Supreme Court, finds herself in "The Fifth Letter," the new legal thriller by author Vivian Carpenter.

Rooted in the historical treatment of Blacks in the United States, Justice Katherine Ross, the first Black female on the U.S. Supreme Court, struggles to do what is right as her mother’s 1940s memoir influences her actions and emotions.

Once on the Court, Katherine gains the power to ignite an involuntary retirement process to remove conservative Justice John Galt from the bench after the U.S. Constitution is amended to create an involuntary retirement process of incapacitated justices.

John Galt, an outspoken egoist, survives an assassination attempt but is severely injured. He appears incapacitated. Pressures for Galt’s removal from the bench mount with his prolonged absence from the Court. However, John Galt will not resign is seat. Katherine must decide whether or not to issue the fifth letter for Galt’s retirement.

While weaving through Katherine’s personal challenges, "The Fifth Letter" turns a spotlight on the most important issue currently facing the Court today: who is a person with inalienable legal rights in America? And it asks this question of its main character: What happens when a liberal Black female justice of the Supreme Court is caught between her conscience and the call of political expedience?

PRAISE FOR "THE FIFTH LETTER"

“Frequently political novels are a genre for truth telling. Dr. Vivian Carpenter's description of inside Washington rings true. 'The Fifth Letter' takes us forward to a United States Supreme Court foreshadowed by the current Court's personalities and political tilt. This novel will engage and educate its readers.”
---Former Senator Bob Graham of Florida,
---Former Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee

"'The Fifth Letter' is a remarkable first novel... The past informs the present in this contemplative, sophisticated judicial thriller. The moral/legal conundrum at the center hooked me and never let go. In this court of public appeal... a clear victory."
---Gregory Allen Howard,
---Screenwriter, "Ali" "Remember The Titans"

"'The Fifth Letter' is a fine new addition to the field of legal fiction. But we've never had one like this before, because it's about judges, not lawyers, and not just any judges. 'The Fifth Letter' takes us into the chambers of the Supreme Court and brings to vivid fictional life the men and women who in so many ways determine our national destiny. Vivian Carpenter gives us a fascinating view of how business gets done in the Court and on Capitol Hill while also delivering a novel of big political ideas, a riveting study of race in America, and a tale of buried secrets, lost loves, and page-turning suspense."
--- William Martin, New York Times Bestselling Author of "The Lost Constitution" and "The Lincoln Letter"

"'The Fifth Letter' has it all - suspense, intrigue, history, humor, romance, tragedy and redemption. Entertaining, informative, and moving!"
--Becky Armour, Dallas Texas
--Goodreads Reviewer

436 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2015

57 people are currently reading
595 people want to read

About the author

Vivian Carpenter

3 books11 followers
Vivian L. Carpenter is a writer, motivational speaker, and teacher. She holds three degrees from the University of Michigan: a BSE in industrial engineering and operations research, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in business administration. As an academic, she has won several awards and grants for her scholarly work in institutional theory from the National Science Foundation, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Kellogg Foundation, and Ford Foundation. As a business professional, she was director of academic programs at FAMU’s School of Business and Industry (SBI) and served as chairperson of the board of MotorCity Casino in Detroit, Michigan. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida, and Birmingham, Michigan.

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5 stars
36 (49%)
4 stars
14 (19%)
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12 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Join the Penguin Resistance!  .
5,664 reviews331 followers
July 22, 2015


REVIEW: THE FIFTH LETTER

A hard-charging political-legal thriller, an inspirational story, the narrative of a woman rising to a strong position of power from an extraordinary familial foundation and immense faith--all that and more comprise THE FIFTH LETTER. Katherine Ross is chosen above several competing candidates to become the newest Supreme Court Justice. This is a day of which she has long dreamed, but she could not have expected ancestral revelations. Nor could Katherine envision being the Justice to invoke "the fifth letter," certifying involuntary retirement for a Supreme Court Justice declared incompetent.
Profile Image for Yasmeen.
2 reviews
October 8, 2015
I honestly did not enjoy this book. I found it to be a difficult 3 week read for a 400pg book. Very dull- full of redundant conversations, poorly developed characters, and void of the thrill I was expecting. The concept of the book Is great- forcing a sitting Supreme Court Justice in to retirement?? Great, however the story itself very disappointing.
Profile Image for Laura.
759 reviews104 followers
August 1, 2015
Thank you to the author, Vivian Carpenter, and publicist Sarah Gilbert for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I can honestly say I've never read a book quite like this one. It's all about the inner workings of the judicial branch of government in the United States and one woman's journey through finding her heritage and what is right for the country. You definitely need to have a little background knowledge on what the Supreme Court is and does and how it all works. Since I live in the US, I've studied the Supreme Court in my Social Studies classes so I understood everything but if you're from another country with a limited knowledge of our justice system, then I'd suggest a little background research.

I'll try as much as possible in this review to not reveal too much so at times I might be a little vague. With that in mind, I really liked reading Hattie's story although I do think that the flow from 'present day' to the flashbacks and the story could have been made a bit smoother. There were times where I was a bit confused as to what was taking place when.

I really liked the issues addressed in this book and the moral dilemma's that the justices faced. I think the average person (including me!) has an interpretation of the law that's very black and white when in fact it isn't at all. There's so much in the wording and interpretation that we don't really think about you know?

There is one big thing that I wanted to talk about and that's the two conflicting but interwoven plot lines in this book. When you begin the book, it's all about Katharine finding her heritage and who she is as a Supreme Court justice. However, a little later in the book, the main plot line is introduced (the one in the blurb about John Galt). I really enjoyed reading about the two plot lines and how they wormed their way through Katharine's life. Once I got to the end though, the big discovery about her father is never truly addressed (and the the issue of Katharine's mother isn't either entirely) and that plot line just sort of fizzled out. I'm a resolution sort of girl so that bothered me a little. As for Katharine's mother, I actually really like what the author did... read it and you'll get it trust me!

All in all though, I really liked reading this sort of book and it was very, VERY well researched with accurate... well everything. I could really see the work that went into making this novel and it was so worth the read!

The Final Verdict:
A very well researched and well written book revolving around the effects of morality and humanity upon the law and it's shades of gray. I loved reading about Katharine's past and her present. However, I was a little sad when the plot line about her father fizzled out at the end.
4 stars


Quotes:
"'So I want to do this for us - Dad, me and We the People - I want to be a great Supreme Court justice.'"


"How did one answer the question: 'Who are you?' It was the kind of question that had kept her awake at night ever since the nomination."


"Out of many, one."
1,204 reviews33 followers
January 27, 2024
I read a review copy of this novel - thanks to author Vivian Carpenter and the Supreme Communications Group. In return I promise an honest review of the book.

The story has an interesting beginning A young black attorney is chosen to be the next Supreme Court Justice. From the beginning, there is trouble. The President tells her he will appoint her but has to delay the process because of an upcoming election. The entire book mixes political expedience and personal values and the actual Constitutional rights. Characters are not very well developed. If you read this, try to describe Justice John Galt, (interesting choice of name) other than he is a curmudgeon. So characters are pretty flat. Atmosphere quickly becomes deadly and frightening for most people - the Supreme Court nominee (Katherine) has to have government security around her at all times. Somewhere along the line, she discovers that the man she thought was her father was not, in fact, her blood father. Her mother insists she look at her birth certificate which gives the man who has acted as her father all these years as her father. It was about here I quit trying to remember (even with pencil and notepaper) who was whom. There are cousins who escape lynching, there are secret members who want to damage her, but they get blown up. Some people are hit with bullets. Her mother is hit by a car. Before she is hospitalized from the car hitting her she has given some info about her backgroud. A lot of action. A lot of pages of Katherine's thoughts about throwing one of Court members off the court. I got to the end of the book, never learning who the blood father was. The new author badly needed an editor to chop some of this out. It is rambling. I knew at the end that Katherine was probably for reparations for black folks in the US and that corporations should not be treated as an individual. I can not honestly recommend this book - it is just too scattered. Too much extraneous stuff.
6,305 reviews81 followers
June 30, 2015
I won this novel in a goodreads drawing.

A simplistic legal thriller that doesn't pass any sort of reality check. More unbelievable than most science fiction. There are no characters here, only caricatures.

Just awful.

Profile Image for Sara Strand.
1,181 reviews33 followers
July 30, 2015
I have to start by saying this book is quite the reading, coming in at just over 400 pages. It can't be said that this is a fun, weekend read- this is heavy (literally), and there is a lot crammed into this book. With that said, I enjoyed it.

The story is about Katherine Ross, who is the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice, and her mother. It has loads of black history (which alone is absolutely fascinating), it's well researched in regards to law and Constitutional procedures. Let me also just add in here that while it is well researched, and there is legalese in the book, it's not too much. You never feel lost and you actually learn a little something along they way. Specifically what "The Fifth Letter" is, which is where you invoke involuntary retirement for a Supreme Court justice who is deemed incompetent.

The other thing I liked about this book is that it kind of feels like an episode of House of Cards, where Katherine learns that while she takes her job seriously, there are others who try to use her to further their own agendas. Everyone is scheming, everyone has an agenda, and not everyone cares as much about the law or the Constitution as Katherine does. The story weaves between Katherine and her mother, and her mother's story acts as a moral guide for her at times. The only complaint I have is that the story itself is a bit unbelievable, but then I think maybe it should be. It IS a work of fiction, after all! And can we talk about what an ambitious, yet well written, first book this was for the author? Color me impressed!

If you are a fan of political thrillers, this is going to be a book you'll enjoy.
1,566 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2015
The Fifth Letter is entertaining and interesting, but there are events that defy belief. I did enjoy the book, I finished it and would rate it as light reading.

Thank you to Vivian Carpenter and Amazon for making this book available free of charge for Kindle. That I really enjoyed!
Profile Image for Nancy.
795 reviews16 followers
July 15, 2015
Lots of information about how the Supreme Court works both bad and good. Interesting story, writer obviously knows a great deal about the workings of the Supreme Court. Had a little more "detail" that I like, but very well written.

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Profile Image for Anna Reid.
136 reviews9 followers
April 9, 2019
My sister in law has been bugging me about reading this book for days. It started out subtly—recommending it by saying how much she loved it. Then it skyrocketed to her buying it for me and made me feel guilty if I don't put my hands on it. Guess what? Best decision made ever. Sure, I have enjoyed lots of books that she has recommended over the years, but this is one of those books that I can't put down the moment I started reading it.

This book is all about the inner workings of the judicial branch of government in the United States and one woman's journey through discovering her heritage and what is right for the country. Established in the historical treatment of Blacks in the United States, the first Black female on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Katherine Ross, makes every effort to do what is right as her mother’s 1940s memoir affects her actions and sentiments. This book is a hard-charging political-legal thriller, an inspirational story, the narrative of a woman rising to a strong position of power from an extraordinary familial foundation and immense faith.

If you are a fan of political thrillers, this is going to be a book you'll enjoy. It is very well researched in regard to law and Constitutional procedures. Overall, we can all learn a lot from this book and the author has set a very high bar for herself although I am positive that whatever she writes next will be even better and I can't just wait for that to happen. This was an excellent choice for a good read. Although different people have different views about the whole story, I think everybody will like it. Highly-recommended.

By Olivia Roberts
12 reviews
December 8, 2017
I had high hopes

The premise of this book was a very intriguing thought, but unfortunately fell way flat from the very beginning. First, likability - except for Katherine Ross’ mother, none of the characters are likable, especially the main character who seem very cold. You really didn’t care about any of the characters. I did however find the back-flash into the Ross family history very interesting. But the whole story about the NSSI contractor and the last 25% of the book was unbelievable and very contrived. I really had such high hopes for this book, but it was very disappointing.
5 reviews3 followers
January 20, 2025
Blasts at every level

This is my first book by this author but, it will not be the last. The storyline and storytelling are spellbinding. The author keeps you glued to the pages throughout every chapter. Excellent character development and depth. If you are seeking a thrilling story that touches on current events and flirts with reality this is it!!
The story weaves through the lives of the heroine and her mother from the Jim Crow south's plantation shacks to today's Watergate condos. Unveiling secrets each held connected to a conspiracy which lead to the ultimate penalty for many. Happy reading.
25 reviews
April 19, 2025
I was very interested in the book. It has too many plots though, and to me they were not connected enough to enhance the suspense or really clearly resolved. There were fascinating themes, and I was ready to dive into that story, but then we were back to a different issue. The author said she spent seven years in the writing and worked with many to hone the book. I feel she should have let her view and thoughts prevail.
10 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2025
Inspirational & Frightening

This story could not be more relevant today, as we face the changes and challenges of our current political climate. If we truly want change we must be the change and lead the way to a new and hopefully better USA. The personal stories woven into the overall story feel real and touched my heart. Read,this book, think about and be an agent of change.
Profile Image for D.B. Wright.
Author 1 book22 followers
June 19, 2017
Although the writing was good, and the plot kept me wondering what was going to happen next, I felt like I was back in high school. I would have wanted to see more depth in the friendships and less pettiness - but maybe that's reality.
3 reviews
February 27, 2019
Enjoyed this fast paced book

Interesting story and well developed characters that kept me reading late into the night. The pain of injustices of the past are offset by the hope of a better future in a story that seamlessly weaves in details how how the Supreme Court operates.
12 reviews
December 19, 2019
Praise for the 5th letter

It was a good read. It was a bit difficult at times to follow the plot but the story was good.
There was a lot to take in from a legal stand for point
but I enjoyed the references to the Christian faith.
44 reviews
March 13, 2015
This is a great book, one that held my interest from page one to the end. It is really two stories, the story of Katherine Ross, a Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, and her mother's story. I found both of them very interesting, as I work on family history. One of the things that set this book apart from others is the quality of the author's research. Although this is a work of fiction, Vivian Carpenter has a deep understanding of the workings of the Court and of Constitutional history. But the book is not a dry novel about the the court, it has plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader interested.
The main character, Katherine Ross is brilliant lawyer, nominated to the Supreme Court. She is the first African-American woman on the Court, and interesting things begin to happen as soon as she takes office. One is the legislation proposed and passed by Congress that gives the Court a way to ask a member who is incapacitated and unable to do his/her job to resign.
As a justice new to the Court, Katherine takes her job seriously, not realizing at first that there are people who are trying to use her to further their own agendas. She soon finds that Washington D.C. is a dangerous place for her. Katherine has a close relationship with her mother, who has a lot of secrets. I found her memoirs to be one of the most interesting parts of the book. Katherine's mother's background is Gullah, an African American group that lives in South Carolina. (I recently saw George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess," where the all the major characters are Gullah people.) Katherine's mother is a complex person and the most sympathetic characters in the book.
Vivian Carpenter brings her knowledge of the Supreme Court, her knowledge of business and government as well as her knowledge of African-American history to this book. The result is a great read.
Profile Image for Aaron.
348 reviews
June 22, 2015
This story was not overly burdened with legalese and courtrooms, but I have never been a huge fan of legal dramas, in general. Despite my prejudice, I enjoyed this story as it weaved differing viewpoints and characters based on a central theme. Somehow, the story just overreached too far for me to believe it as possible. And I still never understood the central character's motivation for her actions.
The main point of this book is very poignant and important in today's legal setting, corporations as legal persons. The author brought in facts, information and viewpoints which were easily digested and understood. I could find myself reading this author's non-fiction works about this topic and enjoying it.
*I received a copy of this book as part of a giveaway*
Profile Image for Artelia Griggs.
1 review
August 8, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. After the first few pages I couldn't put it down. It has a great story line. It's filled with drama and suspense. It is also educational. It provides insight into how a few individuals, corporations and government can control the life of the masses. The author intertwined several historical biographies into this story about individuals in high levels of government. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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