Lay Down My Sword and Shield    by James Lee Burke Order:  USA  Can Pocket, 2010 (1993) Hardcover, Paperback, CD Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Lyn Seippel After being wounded in Korea and surviving thirty-two months in a Korean POW camp, Attorney Hackberry Holland should be ready for the easy life. His wife's idea of the easy life is that he become the youngest congressman from the state of Texas. All he has to do is meet and greet people, rely on his family ties and Purple Heart, and pretend to be happily married. He shouldn't have any trouble getting the nomination, even though he spends most nights drinking himself into oblivion. When Arturo Gomez, a war buddy, gets sent to the State Farm for assaulting a Texas Ranger while picketing with union organizers for farm laborers, he asks Holland to appeal his conviction. Arturo's state appointed lawyer offered no defense for the young Chicano war hero. Holland's compassion won't allow him to turn the man down despite his political advisors urging him to back off. This cause is one he's willing to take risks for. The emotional journey of a man whose actions have profound impact make this reissue of a Civil Rights era thriller stand out years after it was first published. To find out more about Hackberry Holland and the man he became, read Rain Gods which will be reissued in May, 2010. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews