Dwayne Alexander Smith

Kingsland by Dwayne Alexander Smith blew me away.

Set in a futuristic Black utopia built from reparations and billionaire funding, Kingsland is a nation that’s wealthy, secure, and flawless—on the surface. But beneath the glittering perfection lies something far more sinister.

I was immediately hooked by Jamison Wright, a former FBI profiler who moves his family to Kingsland for a fresh start… only to find himself pulled into a murder investigation that threatens to unravel everything. show more In a place with total surveillance, how can a killer be operating undetected?

This story is more than a thriller—it’s layered, smart, and unflinchingly bold. Smith explores race, privilege, power, and the illusion of safety in a nation built on high ideals. The tension never lets up, and the narration on Audible was phenomenal—cinematic and gripping.

If you like fast-paced thrillers with social depth and futuristic vibes, Kingsland should be on your list. show less

A special thank you, to Atria Books and NetGalley for a complimentary ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

One word . . EPIC! A “deal with the devil” has never been so evil! FORTY ACRES was the most intense thriller --thought-provoking, and gripping debut novel (my pulse is still racing) - full of power and revenge. FORTY ACRES has my vote for “Thriller Debut Novel of 2014”, a talented author, Dwayne Alexander Smith, has just won me over as a “fan for life.”

Amazing writing, show more brilliantly developed characters, well researched, and an astounding storyline. There is so much depth to this THRILLER, as so want to discuss, debate, and challenge the “what if’s” (as I booked marked something from every chapter); however, this is one of those “ONE in a million books” you dare not say a word to spoil, or hint of anything within a review, to give away the suspense for the readers. From controversial issues of race and power, hatred, wealth, love, trust, betrayal, and secrets--it has it all.

Whereas, “Devil’s Advocate” raised the preposition that “winning is everything”, FORTY ACRES is about “revenge and power.” Several similarities –both had smart intuitive wives, devil/master, and both main characters are attorneys who get sucked into a world of mystery, power, and wealth. (Of course, Forty Acres in a “class by itself”) A WINNER out of the gate!

FORTY ACRES deserves an unveiling, with no hints of any sort as each and every page is just too BLOODY GOOD. You feel yourself experiencing every setting, footstep, movement and facial expression, trying to predict the next move, with details so realistic, you are holding your breath, as you swish to the next page to see what lies ahead.

Martin, black attorney and main character totally ROCKS, and so fell in love with him – brilliant strategies, witty one liners, and oh the dedication of the book by the author was PRICELESS.

As the author is a screen play writer, I can envision a movie based on this predicted best seller, with a cast of stars (I want a front row seat) for a total blockbuster. With a surprise at the end – one can only hope for a series to follow. “I guess, my heart can get back to normal until his next book” . . . Here’s hoping it is soon!

This provocative new novel is most deserving of a 5 STAR . Compliments to the author and publisher for an appealing front cover and overview, which drew me in immediately, and exceeded all my expectations.

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Forty Acres – Brilliant

Before I begin I too would like to thank Mr Bill Teitler for encouraging Dwayne Alexander Smith to complete the manuscript which became Forty Acres, without it this brilliant thriller may still be sat in a desk draw. This is the debut novel of Dwayne Alexander Smith, an American screenwriter and now with Forty Acres; novelist.

If you think of American white supremacists you automatically think of them with their compounds out in the woods and forests especially in show more what had been the confederate states. If you do not fit in to their purview then you are not welcome and more than likely not going to get out of the compound alive. What would the world say if the Afro-Caribbean in the USA were to do something similar? Uproar, violent attacks on them, for separating themselves off from the rest of America? Whatever they did many would sit in judgement up on them.

Martin Grey is a young black lawyer who, with his partner, work out of a shop front in Queens, New York. He is currently a star and talked about as he has just defeated the legendary black lawyer Damon Darrell in a class action, race discrimination case. He really is the talk of New York legal circles and beyond. Damon after the case invites Martin to a dinner party where he introduces him to a lot of influential black business men. This is the first of many introductions that could make his legal practice grow and expand, move in to a brave new world.

As he gets on with his new circle of friends he is invited away for a weekend of relaxing and white water rafting. When he gets to where they are camping it is not quite what he is expecting, no tents but what is an old southern colonial house, more Charleston than modern America, in the middle of nowhere, the only neighbours are the animals that live in the forest.

What he discovers at Forty Acres challenges his convictions to the core and at the same time could also bring around his early demise from this world. Here the black man is the master and the slaves are the white descendants of slave owners and traders. Where violence against the white slave is accepted and nobody in the outside world knows what happens at Forty Acres.

Will Martin Grey be able to escape the heavily guarded compound and get away alive to tell the outside world about Forty Acres. Will he be able to save the white slaves while commiting his black brothers to punishment? What would his black brothers do? Treat him as a traitor and kill him? One thing was clear not everyone is going to get out alive.

Dwayne Alexander Smith has written an exceptional novel of rage and compassion, trust and betrayal. This really is a thought provoking novel which challenges your interpretation of history and also asks the question of what would you do? You really do question yourself about right and wrong.

This is a brilliant new voice who has given the world an excellent thriller that builds and goes from strength to strength, which is both brilliant and scary at the same time. I loved the challenge where my perceptions of right and wrong were constantly challenged all the way through to the last sentence.

Forty Acres is a brilliant and stunning new thriller that will delight all the way to the end. A thriller that will leave you thinking well after you finish. show less

Dwayne Alexander Smith’s debut thriller finds Martin Grey, an up-and-coming African American lawyer, riding the high after winning his first big civil rights case. As a result, he’s courted by a shadowy group of prominent African American men, a secret group that is extracting revenge for the violence of slavery by kidnapping and enslaving whites to enact their brand of justice.

This premise’s fantasticality is rooted in the fantasy of getting even, which makes it attractive, show more terrifying, and highly unlikely.

And of course, once Grey knows about it, his life is in danger. The premise is really out there—and guaranteed to terrify people who fear something as nonviolent as Ta-Nahisi Coates’ case for reparations—and the character development isn’t terribly strong.

Where Smith has some chops, though—and this comes from his background as a screenwriter, no doubt—is in pacing and tension. Forty Acres won’t hold up to close scrutiny, but it will be a high-octane beach diversion.

Reviewed on Lit/Rant: www.litrant.tumblr.com show less