Fiction Addict

Genre: Legal thriller, Political thriller

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication date: February 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

For a relatively short book, Tim Green’s Above the Law seems to contain a bit of everything. A haggard and heroic lawyer, a corrupt politician, a dirty cop, international intrigue, human trafficking, border-security issues, a drug-running operation, murder, vigilante justice, a wrongful death lawsuit, and more. There’s an awful lot packed into this story, which is well-written and enjoyable but suffers a bit after a good start, due largely to reader overload and unfulfilled plot potential.

When an illegal migrant worker is shot on a prominent senator’s Texas ranch, the incident is quickly declared a tragic hunting accident. Perhaps too quickly, Casey Jordan, operator of a legal aid clinic in Dallas, thinks when the dead man’s wife comes to her asking for help. When the wife is deported after being threatened with having her baby taken away, Casey smells a rat and opens an investigation into the shooting and other suspicious goings on at the senator’s ranch. What she finds is shocking—and dangerous, especially when the senator strikes back, first using the media to attack Casey and then sending the Environmental Protection Agency to shut down her clinic. Desperate, Casey heads to Mexico to find and retrieve the wife of the slain worker, hoping for evidence that will prove the senator’s guilt. But the senator has already shown he won’t go down without a fight, and when the attacks threaten to turn deadly, Casey realizes she is engaged in a battle for her life.

The book starts out strong, as Green explores the legal and political ramifications of the shooting, and Casey’s involvement as the legal advocate for an otherwise helpless illegal immigrant adds texture. Green takes aim at border politics as he sets up what appears to be the foundation for a fascinating courtroom battle. But the story never reaches the courtroom, as Casey instead launches her own investigation, and the second half of the book, while thrilling, feels a little out of control as the story bounces back and forth across the border and between characters.

The overly complex plot notwithstanding, Green is a talented writer, and his characterizations and scene-setting descriptions put the reader right in the middle of the story. The action scenes are intense, and the ending is satisfying if a tad abrupt. There’s not much to dislike about the book; what’s disappointing is that what at first seems like a thoughtful, issues-based thriller evolves into a rather flat, complicated shootout. Above the Law is entertaining and definitely worth reading for action fans; it’s just not quite as good as it could have been.

Genre: Legal thriller

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: January 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

More than fifteen years after John Grisham first took the world of legal thrillers by storm, he hasn’t lost a step. The Associate is every bit as suspenseful and entertaining as The Firm, The Runaway Jury, The Street Lawyer, or any of the other 23 best-sellers he has penned over the years. While perhaps not as thrilling as The Firm or as evocative as The Last Juror or The Testament, this book is clearly the work of an excellent storyteller.

Kyle McAvoy is about to graduate from Yale Law School and head off for a year or two of public-service law work—doing his duty to society before entering the high-stakes, high-reward world of corporate law. But his plans change when he is contacted by a man claiming to be in possession of a video implicating Kyle in a crime that occurred years ago. The man threatens to release the video to the public, effectively squashing any chance of a successful legal career, unless Kyle joins a New York law firm and illegally feeds his contact inside information about a multibillion-dollar lawsuit. Kyle reluctantly agrees—but he has a hidden agenda of his own. If he can prove his innocence before actually breaking any laws, he just might be able to escape with his reputation intact. But the stakes are high; if he fails, he may forfeit not only his career but his life.

Interestingly (and probably unfortunately to some) The Associate has some elements that seem very familiar from previous Grisham books. The young lawyer slaving away for a faceless corporate behemoth, performing essentially mundane tasks for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, forced against his will to do something that turns out to be financially profitable, trying to figure out how to buck the system and turn the tables on his conspirators—these storylines have all occurred in previous novels.

What John Grisham offers readers is not so much uniquely new stories as familiar-seeming stories with a unique twist. Few authors can pull this off without seeming stale and repetitious. Grisham succeeds, and his success is evident not only by the number of readers who continue to come back for more but by the entertainment value his books offer. The Associate is vintage Grisham. The familiar characteristics combine with enough new material—and just plain good writing—to make it absolutely entertaining.

Genre: Legal, Political

Publisher: Henry Holt

Publication date: January 6, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Richard North Patterson’s compelling look at the corruption caused by the oil industry in a fictional African country is thoughtful, timely, and full of the rich characterizations that readers have come to expect from this author. Difficult in places, the book presents a frankly realistic depiction of government brutality and international indifference that mirrors real life in too many places in Africa today.

When American lawyer Damon Pierce’s midlife crisis is interrupted by a frantic e-mail from Marissa Okari, an old college flame, he responds, traveling to the volatile and dangerous West African nation of Luandia. Marissa and her husband, Bobbie Okari, are witnesses to the brutal slaughter of an entire village during a human-rights protest. Now Bobbie has been arrested for the murder of three employees of PetroGlobal, the American oil company whose money has made Luadia’s corrupt dictator a billionaire. Pierce, still in love with Marissa, agrees to represent Bobbie against the trumped-up charges. Okari’s eventual trial by tribunal is at once a masterpiece of legal fiction and an in-depth look at the injustice all too often born from the dirty womb of oil money in an otherwise impoverished nation.

While Luandia is clearly modeled on Nigeria (the author admits as much in an afterword), Patterson does a good job of creating a distinct setting that adds veracity to the story while managing to avoid being a mere photocopy of an actual nation. A thoughtful mix of actual and fictional cultural details brings Luandia to life and places the reader firmly in the characters’ world. The writing is excellent, and the story, while at times infuriating to Western sensibilities, carries the reader through to the thrilling if inevitable conclusion.

Eclipse is not for squeamish readers. It includes accounts of rape, murder, kidnapping, and other atrocities that are, sadly, realities of life in parts of Africa. It also unfortunately includes an adulterous sexual encounter between Pierce and Marissa Okari that adds nothing to the story. Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile book for those able to endure some rather horrible depictions of violence and corruption (along with some leftist political leanings). It’s not exactly beach reading, but the message is important for Western readers ready to take a closer look at how our voracious appetite for oil affects the people who live in the nations it comes from.

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: June 15^th, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

After a tragic shooting on the set of a television news station, two lawyers from two different worlds go head to head to try a gun control case with long lasting implications. While both Jason Noble and Kelly Starling hold nothing back in their quest for justice, it seems outside influences will stop at nothing to get their verdict. Both Jason and Kelly must find a way to try a fair case in the midst of deception, conspiracy, and the public eye.

With The Justice Game, Randy Singer wasn’t content to just write another compelling legal thriller. This time around he decided to let his fans decided the verdict in an online poll taken months before publication.  An author who lets his fans determine the outcome of his novel? Surely Singer has lost his mind. Well, not only has Randy Singer not lost his mind, but he has given his fans one of his most riveting novels to date.

Singer is always at the top of his game with his ability to throw large chunks of information at his audience while somehow making each line interesting and relevant. Gun control has and always will be a hot topic in our society and Singer gives both sides of the argument equal screen time. The characters of Jason Noble and Kelly Starling are masterfully crafted helping the reader see the issue impartially through their eyes. It’s not often that you find a legal thriller where you like both the defense and the prosecution, but Singer uses this storytelling device effectively with strong character back story throughout.

In case the gun control issue isn’t enough of a catalyst for a strong story, Singer introduces us to the shady and elusive company, Justice Inc. To give too much detail would spoil the story, but let’s just say that Randy Singer has potentially thrown a major wrench into the Justice system with the creation of this fictional company. We can only hope that companies like this remain in the realm of make believe. As frightening as the implications are, Justice Inc. adds another welcome level of depth to this story.

The Justice Game is different from Randy Singer’s earlier novels because of the personal nature of this story. Early in his own career, Singer tried a very similar case after a young man gunned down a teacher at the school Randy’s kids attended. Thankfully they were not in attendance that day. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Randy Singer in this brave endeavor to tackle difficult subject matter while entertaining at the highest level.

Genre: Legal Thriller

Publisher: Tyndale

Publication Date: May 1st, 2008

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Newspaper reporter Catherine O’Rourke has become enamored with a recent case involving a woman who has killed her husband. The woman’s brother, Quinn Newburg, is representing her in court and arguing the insanity plea. Catherine closely follows every angle of the story, becoming especially intrigued by Quinn and his pursuit of justice.

Meanwhile, in Virginia Beach a series of kidnappings and murders have caught the public eye. As Catherine follows the story she begins blacking out and having strange visions that reveal details of each crime. Reluctantly, she goes to the police and is shocked when they in turn arrest her. It seems evidence has been found linking her to the murders and the police see her “visions” as far more than coincidence. Catherine soon begins to doubt her own sanity as more and more solid evidence begins piling up. Desperate for help she hires Quinn Newburg to plead her case hoping that he can prove not only her innocence, but her sanity as well. Unfortunately for Catherine, Quinn doesn’t believe her.

Randy Singer is known for riveting legal thrillers and his latest offering does not disappoint. As always, Singer’s full arsenal of talent is on display: intense courtroom scenes, complex plotlines, and unexpected twists and turns. All of these elements work and help create an exciting read that is nothing short of intoxicating. Singer’s exploration of the insanity plea is fascinating and only adds to the richness of the story.  I love novels that keep the reader guessing and I was pleasantly surprised by a clever twist that was way off my radar. Randy Singer has proven once again why he’s one of the best thriller writers in the genre. Don’t miss this one!