The Plantation

One by one, in cities across America, people of all ages are taken from their homes, their cars, their lives. But these aren't random kidnappings. They're crimes of passion, planned and researched several months in advance, then executed with a singular objective in mind. Revenge. Ariane Walker is one of the victims, dragged from her apartment with few clues to follow. The police said there's little they can do for her, but that isn't good enough for her boyfriend, Jonathon Payne. With the help of his best friend, Payne gives chase, hoping that a lead in New Orleans somehow pays off. Together, they uncover the mystery of Ariane's abduction and the truth behind the South's most violent secret. Praise for THE PLANTATION: James Patterson, #1 international bestselling author—“THE PLANTATION is a rip-roaring page-turner based on an ingenious idea. No reader will easily forget it.” Lee Child, #1 international bestselling author—“Excellent! High stakes, fast action, vibrant characters, and a very, very original plot concept. Not to be missed!” Nelson DeMille, #1 international bestselling author—“Wear your running shoes when you read THE PLANTATION. This is the most action-packed, swiftly paced, and tightly plotted novel I’ve read in a long time.” James Rollins, #1 international bestselling author—“Chris Kuzneski displays a remarkable sense of suspense and action in THE PLANTATION. A riveting ride from start to finish as an ex-Special Forces soldier searches for the kidnappers of his girlfriend, leading to an international manhunt that will leave readers breathless and up much too late. Don’t miss it!” Douglas Preston, #1 international bestselling author—“THE PLANTATION is a powerful read with a great plot twist. Right from the opening scenes the book takes off, and all I can say is, hang on for the ride.”

In the days of pre-Civil War slavery––the unforgettable novel of a shocking portion of our American heritage. The time was not all magnolia blossoms and crinolines. It was more than romance and splendor. It was debauchery and slavery, gambling tables and dens of iniquity. It was murder and forgiveness. It was all the great contradiction of life in a golden era...

The author examines the persistent presence of the plantation in trans-American literatures of the last century. She conceives the plantation to be not primarily a physical location, but rather an ideological and psychological trope through which intersecting histories of the New World are told and retold.

"With laser-like precision, Graham fuses together our collective cultural memory and experience as he captivatingly describes "the contract" so many of us sign. A tacit agreement to don the cloak of cultural invisibility in exchange for the basement keys to the palace." - Dr. Joy A. DeGruy, author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome Written to speak for those who've been without a voice throughout their professional career, Plantation Theory: The Black Professional's Struggle Between Freedom & Security showcases the realities that countless Black corporate professionals face despite best efforts to prove their worthiness of opportunity. It challenges the status quo and urges future generations of Black excellence to recognize how much power they wield and evaluate closely the benefits and the detractors of choosing to work in Corporate America. From cover to cover, Black professionals are faced with an urgent question-why work twice as hard for half the recognition and a third of the pay? Filled with transparent and often shocking firsthand accounts, Plantation Theory also serves as a veil remover for those in positions of privilege and power as they embark on a journey of abolition rather than allyship. For individuals and corporations, it demands a commitment to end participation in the behaviors perpetuating inequitable environments. Graham pointedly places the accountability squarely on the shoulders of those most responsible and asks will marketing to Black and diverse talent match the reality of the daily lived experience they will soon call reality as employees? Or will these entities engage in adequate self-examination, heartfelt contemplation, and reflective discussions to do the hard work of no longer being a sideline participant in the marathon of inequity. For Black professionals, the vision for the future will require a confrontation with the notion of freedom versus security. For companies and individuals in privileged positions of power, performative measures and diversity theater are no longer enough. Graham's Plantation Theory reminds us that historical approaches are no longer viable pathways to what must become. It's no longer a matter of capability, but of willingness. There is much work to be done for the willing.