Caroline Cleveland to Make Bookstore Stop in Spartanburg

Renowned Lowcountry Lawyer and Novelist Travels to Promote Debut Novel

Charleston-based labor and employment lawyer, Caroline Cleveland, is scheduled to stop at the esteemed Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for her book tour. The visit aims to promote and introduce her debut novel, “When Cicadas Cry”.

A nearly decade-long concept, Cleveland’s novel spins around the transformative journey of South Carolina lawyer Zach Strander and his detective and lover, Addie Stone. Both characters become entwined in two separate homicidal investigations – one set in 2017 and another that occurred three decades earlier.

Unraveling an Intricate Plot

In the 2017 storyline, Strander assumes the role of defense counsel for Sam Jenkins. Jenkins stands accused of the brutal murder of a white woman in a rural church on Cicada Road in Walterboro. Concurrently, Stone is investigating a chilling cold case from 1983 – a double homicide on the sandy shores of Edisto Beach.

As the plot thickens, Strander’s and Stone’s respective cases seem curiously interconnected. The mystery deepens as the walls separating the killer from their personal lives start to crumble down.

“This book started in my head maybe a decade ago,” Cleveland reflected on the novel’s conception. “I had the idea that a young lawyer would be working on a case with no clue whatsoever that it might be related to something older than he was. They met working cases together and blossomed into a romance.”

Storytelling through Varied Perspectives

Woven through the narratives of Strander and Stone, expressed via a first-person recounting, the story is interspersed with anonymous sidebars where the killer communicates the chilling details of the cold case.

“I was trying to figure out the craft of the story and the killer was talking in my head. I needed to let the killer talk directly to the reader. I think it keeps the story moving in a way it couldn’t have done with having you go back in time (and) seeing who it was,” explained Cleveland, reflecting on her storytelling approach.

Experience the Excitement Firsthand

Cleveland is slotted for a reading session of “When Cicadas Cry” and a subsequent book signing on September 12, from 6-7 p.m. at the Hub City Bookshop. For more information on the event, visit hubcity.org. Joining the session will offer an opportunity to listen to Cleveland’s distinct narrative voice and dive into the intricacies of her layered storytelling firsthand.

This literary event is another illustration of Spartanburg’s dedication to fostering a vibrant arts and culture scene. The city continues to provide a platform for artists and authors to interact with their audience, reinforcing its commitment towards building a dynamic and engaging community.

Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this intimate event. Delve into the multi-layered world of “When Cicadas Cry”, and meet its architect, Caroline Cleveland, this September in Spartanburg.