"Jack Newlin had no choice but to frame himself for murder. Once he had set his course, his only fear was that he wouldn't get away with it. That he wasn't a good liar, even for a lawyer." So begins "Moment of Truth". Jack Newlyn, a rich lawyer at the top of the Philadelphia attorney's tree, claims to have killed his wife in a drunken fit of rage when she announced she wanted a divorce. But is this what really happened? In fact, is he protecting his 16 year old model daughter Paige? Did he tamper with the crime scene to point the finger in his own direction, making a false confession and a fake hysterical emergency call? In a twisted tale Jack hires an apprentice lawyer, Mary DiNunzio, with little experience to ensure he is convicted. No matter to Jack that the hi-octane District Attorney Dwight Davis is looking for the death penalty. Of course there wouldn't be a story without some solid action on the side. Not only does Mary DiNunzio have to battle with her own inexperience, but she has an eye for her client. There is also the police investigation, detectives Kovich and Brinkley finding themselves with a surprisingly easy case to solve. Not so pleased is veteran detective Reginald Brinkley, who sees something suspicious in this neatly packaged conviction. A clever and innovative plot device, which immediately sets the reader up to barrack for the underdog novice lawyer. Brilliant reverse story where the police are looking to prove the defendant didn't do it! Nice change to see an inexperienced lawyer who is not the "superwoman". Scottoline has a decent sense of humour about her writing, with an eye for human foibles that illuminate the snapshots of lesser characters. The plot occasionally strains credulity e.g. why is the defendant so willing to forgive his spoilt and dysfunctional daughter? And how come he's suddenly the concerned father, after ignoring his parental duties for so long? Is guilt enough to explain his behaviour? It's a little hard to fathom the Jack's motivations, and we don't really get to know him well enough to understand why he is taking this drastic action. The reader sometimes gets exasperated with novice lawyer Mary's ineptness and blundering. And why is she running this huge case on her own? The reviewer didn't quite buy Mary's feelings for the stolid Jack. How easy is it to frame someone? How high is the hurdle that the prosecution must get over in order to prove guilt? In a criminal trial the prosecution has to put its money where its mouth is. It's not enough to say someone committed murder, you also have to prove it. And that requires an "onus of proof" (or "burden of proof", depending on which law school you went to). This means the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt - in other words, if Jack framed himself, he doesn't have to be foolproof, but it has to leave little room for doubt. So what's "beyond a reasonable doubt"? That's a better question than you may realise, because judges do not generally explain its meaning because (according to the High Court) the definition is so obvious as to not require explanation. Do you agree? Generally it is considered that the jury has to be convinced of the guilt of the defendant, although that guilt does not have to be absolute or leave no room at all for doubt, just "beyond a reasonable doubt". In other words, the real issue for the prosecution is to establish the facts, what lawyers call "the elements of the crime". It is the jury that takes its own view of these facts. "Moment of Truth" is Lisa Scottoline's seventh legal thriller. She is proof of our conviction that the best legal thrillers are written by lawyers, preferably those who have had some trial experience. Lisa has the added knowledge gained as a clerk to Federal and State Judges, so she can claim some real insight into the judicial process and the way that judge's think. Lisa graduated magna cum laude (in other words, she was a star) from the University of Pennsylvania law school, following her graduation with a B.A in English (she studied with the celebrated Phillip Roth). Following her clerkship she joined a top law firm, practising in litigation, in Philadelphia - if you know her books, that will be obvious. From here it's a bit of a Cinderella story. Through personal circumstances she was forced to leave the practice of the law, and facing financial crisis, turned to writing about the law. Clearly this was a massive move in the right direction, and let's face it, there aren't too many lawyers who wouldn't mind swapping the chrome and glass for the best-seller lists. "Everywhere That Mary Went", the product of that difficult labour, was bought by top publisher HarperCollins, and then nominated for the Edgar Award, the most prestigious prize in suspense fiction by the Mystery Writers of America. She lost, but her second novel, "Final Appeal" was nominated for an Edgar the following year - and she won! Lisa's later efforts have included the novels "Running From the Law", "Legal Tender "and "Rough Justice", all of which have been favourably reviewed and gained her an enormous following. Oh, by the way, have we said she's the "female John Grisham"?P.S. For those of you who have read "Mistaken Identity", you'll be interested to know that the author discovered in mid-life that she had a half-sister who could have been her twin! "Running from the Law" "Legal Tender" "Rough Justice" "Mistaken Identity" Yes, they trumpet it from the covers and all over the promotional material - "The female John Grisham". We'll tell you one thing, though, that does ring true in this overused slogan. Scottoline's commercial stature amongst her legal thriller gender sisters is akin to Grisham. Some readers will miss Bennie, the hero of previous efforts, but in the true tradition of legal thrillers there is plenty of scope for Jack and Mary to make return appearances. This story will probably strike a chord with exasperated parents of troubled children, who know that they too may nevertheless be prepared to sacrifice all for their wayward child. This is where the novel shines, in exposing the caustic world of Paige's child modeling profession, with its anorexic glitz and disposable lives. This is more character based than plot driven, with a "surprise" ending that may or may not work, depending on your need to have a credible read. We're not really in that camp, because, after all, how many legal thrillers are still in your mind a month after you're finished? If you're looking for an entertaining ride, with good characterisation and twists and turns, then this will more than do the trick. Lisa Scottoline knows how to write a good legal procedural, and this is no exception. And in Mary Di Nunzio she has invented a warm, naïve and intelligent legal character who should have a long literary life. Like her, the reader wants to save the defendant from an unjust verdict, and we sense the redemption that this may also bring to Mary's life. This is a happy mix of thriller, good and bad guys, dysfunctional values and intriguing plot twists. Want us to tell you when we review another book ? Read this: The legal information contained above is intended to be general information about the law. It is not a substitute for legal and other professional advice. Lawscape Communications P/L does not accept responsibility for loss to any person, who either acts or does not act because of this information. |