Snitch: A Novel
On the streets of Jersey City there is a simple code. You don't talk to the cops.You don't snitch. Period. But when bus driver Andre Bolden witnesses a crime on his route, he is compelled to make a choice. If he keeps silent, he might lose his job and be gnawed by his conscience. If he snitches, he could lose his family--even his life.This explosive story explores the clash between a working man and the code of the street. Gifted storyteller Booker T. Mattison has crafted a realistic tale full of tension and raw suspense yet infused with spiritual truth.Snitchrewrites the rule to mind your own business, peers into the hearts of those who seek revenge and redemption, and celebrates the ability of a community to triumph over violence and intimidation."Author and filmmaker Mattison's sophomore outing reads like it's ready for screen adaptation. . . . Mattison has a superb ear, and his skill keeps on growing."--Publishers Weekly, starred review"Snitchshould be required reading for anyone with a pulse and a conscience."--Lisa Cortés, executive producer of the Academy Award-winning filmPrecious: Based on the Novel Push by SapphireandThe Woodsman"Amazing--down to the last line. Bravo!"--Victoria Christopher Murray,Essencebestselling author ofSins of the MotherandThe Ex Files"Captivating from start to finish.Snitchis a compelling tale about the psychic turmoil of upholding the code of the streets."--Kevin Cokley, PhD, editor-in-chief,Journal of Black Psychology; associate professor of counseling and psychology, University of Texas, Austin"I loved the interconnectedness of every character and the powerful, fresh, black male characters effecting positive change in the neighborhood. It reads like a movie."--Stephanie Allain Bray, producer of the Academy Award-winning filmHustle & FlowandBlack Snake MoanBooker T. Mattisonis an author and filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for and directed the film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston'sThe Gilded Six-Bits, which aired on Showtime. His debut novel,Unsigned Hype, has been optioned, and he is currently writing the film adaptation of the book.Mattison has taught literary criticism at the College of New Rochelle in New York, film production at Brooklyn College, and advanced directing and actor coaching at Regent University in Virginia.Snitchis his second novel.