Instead, it tells Celia's story through the eyes of the slaves, giving readers the opportunity to experience their feelings. In her critical review of McLaurin's book, Martha Hodes comments, "He demonstrates convincingly, for example, how Celia's actions immediately after the murder reveal the depth of her hatred for her master's family" (369). McLaurin doesn't just create a dry overview of Celia's trial, he shows the motivation for her actions and explains why the trial went the way it did.