Contempt
A Civic Noir Novel | Civic Noir Universe, Book 1
by LeRenyae Lawrence Watkins
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Pub Date Jun 21 2026 | Archive Date Jul 25 2026
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Description
Baltimore, 2006.
A deputy mayor is dead. An eighteen-year-old sits in county lockup with the wrong prints on the wrong gun. And the only lawyer willing to take the case just inherited it from the father who died on the courthouse steps.
Shawn Davidson walked away from his father's firm two years ago. He swore he was done with the city, done with the name, done with the kind of law that buries the truth instead of arguing it. Then Leo Davidson collapsed on the marble of Mitchell Courthouse and left his son one final file, a murder trial, a defendant nobody else will touch, and a paper trail that points everywhere except where it should.
Detective Phil Han runs a parallel case the brass don't want closed. Investigative reporter Jordan Grey chases a byline that could cost him his career, or his life. And in a high-rise above the harbor, Mayor Charles Dawson watches a model of a development that hasn't been built yet, deciding how to handle a problem named Davidson.
CONTEMPT is the first novel in the Civic Noir Universe | a seven-book saga of inheritance, justice, and the cost of carrying a name in a city that remembers everything.
For readers of S.A. Cosby, Attica Locke, and the world of The Wire.
Some inheritances bury you.
A Note From the Publisher
This is the debut novel and first book in a planned seven-novel Civic Noir Universe. Honest reviews are welcomed and appreciated, whether posted on NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon (post-launch), or your own platforms.
The ARC may contain minor formatting variations from the final published edition.
For questions, ARC issues, or to discuss featured reviews and pull-quote permissions, contact: reigningwordspublishing@gmail.com
Advance Praise
"A smart, compelling thriller with strong momentum and themes that feel painfully relevant. The city feels alive — politically charged, morally gray, and deeply intertwined with the case unfolding at its center. More personal than a standard courtroom thriller."
— Linda Ayala, ARC reader (4 stars, NetGalley)
Marketing Plan
CONTEMPT launches June 21, 2026 | Father's Day, with a coordinated multi-channel campaign:
CINEMATIC TRAILER
A 5-minute cinematic trailer released May 22, 2026 | 30 days pre-launch, designed to immerse readers in the world of CONTEMPT before they open the book.
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
An original 18-track soundtrack launches June 1, 2026 | composed as a companion piece to the novel, with tracks designed to attach to specific characters and immerse readers in Baltimore, 2006. Produced with Suno. Available at lerenyaewatkins.com and on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. The novel itself is entirely the work of the author.
ARC PROGRAM
Vetted ARC readers selected through an application-only process via reigningwordspublishing@gmail.com. Watermarked copies, NetGalley distribution, and direct outreach to early reviewers in the legal thriller, crime fiction, and literary thriller communities.
SOCIAL CAMPAIGN
Active presence across TikTok (@lerenyae.writes) and Instagram (@reigningwords). Daily content through the 30-day countdown window.
BOOKSTORE DISTRIBUTION
Hardback distributed through IngramSpark with returnable status enabled at 55% wholesale discount. Direct outreach to local Barnes & Noble stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro for launch-week events and Father's Day display placement.
AUTHOR PLATFORM
Website: lerenyaewatkins.com
TikTok: @lerenyae.writes
Instagram: @reigningwords
Email: reigningwordspublishing@gmail.com
CONTEMPT is Book One of a seven-novel Civic Noir Universe. The architecture for the full series is locked, with subsequent novels in active development.
For readers of S.A. Cosby, Attica Locke, and the world of The Wire.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798995333128 |
| PRICE | $4.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 342 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
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