"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."

"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."

"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 on the Court and Capital Hill while also delivering a novel of big political idea, a riveting study of race in America, and a tale of buried secrets, lost loves, and page-turning suspense."