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A Life for a Life: A Novel

Ernest Hill

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A powerful novel of anger and redemption explores the unlikely relationship that develops between young D'Ray Reid and the father of another man he kills in a violent armed robbery gone bad. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Ernest Hill

22 books20 followers

Ernest Hill won great praise for his first novel, Satisfied with Nothin’, which made its way onto required reading lists at universities from UCLA to Syracuse. He is also the author of A Person of Interest, Cry Me a River, A Life for a Life, and Family Ties. Hill lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

Lauren Cecile

Author 4 books344 followers

April 22, 2016

Wonderful story of forgiveness and redemption.

Cheryl

83 reviews28 followers

November 29, 2014

Excellent read! A Life for a Life: A Novel it gives so much meaning to forgiveness after tragedy. D.Ray Reid is a teen street hustler who ends up in a sticky situation where his brother Little Man steals drugs from D'Ray's kingpin boss. In order to save his brother's life he has to repay back the money or his brother could die in less than an hour. It sets off this crime tale, when D'Ray goes to a neighboring town at a convenient store and tries the rob the store cleanly, but things turn from bad to worse when he ends up killing a young worker there in this murder robbery. D'Ray does everything possible to make sure he can cover his trails with a legit alibi, but having to go on the run, leaving his single mother (who already has a husband doing life in prison) and brother behind.

He ends up in Mississippi where he becomes a pimp and a hustler; while smooching off a kind elderly woman and her "daughter" (who sees right through D'Ray con-artist tactics).

All is going well, or so D'Ray thinks, until he gets busted by the cops (or neighborhood watch, can't remember) and D'Ray realizes his jig is up. While in court, he continues his lies about his involvement in the murder-robbery. He believes his plan is working, however, he is convicted. Then he meets the victim's father who takes him under his wing and shapes him up to a real man along with forgiving D'Ray after taking his son away - yet the man treats him more like a son. D'Ray finds his way to forgiveness after the man dies and meets the victim's grave sight and kneels before it saying, "I'm sorry."

I found the book to be powerful and thought-provoking. Hill is an exceptional in writing a unique tale on forgiveness with the main character and the supporting characters adding to an intriguing murder-mystery.

2013 4-stars black-reads

Letesa Campbell

208 reviews

July 1, 2018

good book!!!

259 reviews9 followers

June 20, 2014

(FROM JACKET)From the acclaimed author of "Satisfied with Nothin'" comes a searing and unsparing story of the unlikely bond between an African-American father and the teenager who killed his son, a tale of violent self-destruction reclaimed by the inexhaustible power of love and forgiveness.

In "A Life for a Life", Ernest Hill explores the volatile emotional terrain of a black youth's coming of age in rural Louisiana. When a local drug dealer threatens to kill D'Ray Reid's kid brother unless he comes up with $100 within an hour, D'Ray decides to hold up a convenience store in a nearby town. The young clerk at the cash register attempts to foil the robbery and in the scuffle D'ray shoots and kills him. What follows is an absorbing drama in which D'Ray becomes a fugitive with a lengthening resume of violent crime. Yet is is ultimately in the person of Henry Earl, the slain boy's father, that D'Ray sees his future. When his forced to reckon with his destruction of the boy's family, D'Ray finds that Henry Earl is his only advocate and the person who will ask of him what no one, not even his family, had ever asked before.

"A Life for a Life" witnesses the resuscitation of two lives by love, forgiveness, and gratitude. The relationship that develops between D'Ray Reid and Henry Earl is nothing short of miraculous: Their discovery of humanity and harmony in the most unlikely place will reverberate in readers' memories

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Candice Lewis

7 reviews3 followers

February 12, 2010

I love this book. It is about redemption and unconditional forgiveness. I have read this one several times and it makes me cry with the humanity and selflessness that is displayed by the father character. Love triumphs all. It's a must read.

Carolyn Wysinger

2 reviews1 follower

May 25, 2010

Loved it!!! Wonderful story of forgivenss!! D'Ray is setup as the PERFECT anti-hero while he is on the run you are rooting for him to get away....but the depth of the relationship between he and the man whos son he killed, Mr. Henry is sooo moving!

Hugh Woodson

143 reviews2 followers

August 6, 2011

this book i would recommed you to read. if you are father or father to be, this is the book teaching youngster what is right and wrong

Annette

12 reviews

September 24, 2012

You can't give this less than 5 stars! I've been a fan of Ernest Hill for awhile. this was one of my first book of his! I cried something awful!!! (deep meaningful read)