A Book A Week

As a dedicated reader, I have as much interest in authors and their writing processes as I do in their books. Discovering the various methods authors employ to craft their stories, whether through meticulous outlining or a more free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness approach, is endlessly fascinating. Equally intriguing is the genesis of the initial idea for a book. This origin is readily apparent in the case of Suzie Miller's novel Prima Facie. The narrative was initially shared in the form of her highly successful play of the same name, which garnered acclaim on both the West End and Broadway. Now, Miller has adeptly adapted this compelling story into a novel, promising to enthrall an entirely new audience with this brilliant work. 

Tessa Ensler has dedicated her life to justice. The young criminal defense barrister has worked her way up through the country's legal system, overcoming all the odds that were set against her to become one of the best at defending those who plead not guilty. Tessa's unwavering belief in the law and the judicial system is reflected in her brilliance at her craft. With a quick wit, intuitive cross-examinations, and an encyclopedic knowledge of legal procedures, she has amassed a string of victories. Even in emotionally challenging cases, Tessa maintains objectivity to secure the best defense for her clients, embodying the foundational principle of a civilized society—innocence until proven guilty.

Tessa's unwavering faith in the law is shattered when she becomes a victim herself, enduring a harrowing sexual assault by a coworker. Reporting the assault to the police, she acknowledges the uphill battle ahead, where her testimony stands against his. Yet, she clings to her belief in the system she has devoted her career to. Taking the witness stand, Tessa confronts doubt, trauma, and manipulation, determined to validate the harrowing reality of her situation and seek justice.

In Prima Facie, Suzie Miller delivers a compelling legal thriller that delves into themes of justice, trauma, and the relentless pursuit of truth. The novel serves as a stark critique of the legal system's rigidity, demanding flawless evidence from victims of sexual crimes while not holding the accused to the same standards. The narrative evoked increasing anger as I witnessed the protagonist navigating the legal obstacles, highlighting the unfortunate commonality of such situations. Understanding the reasons why many victims choose not to report their abuse or seek justice became distressingly clear, especially considering the staggering statistic of 1 in 3 women experiencing sexual assault.

Adapted from a play, Prima Facie initially shows signs of the story's expansion, with the first half burdened by an unnecessary backstory that threatened the narrative's momentum. However, as the main conflict unfolded, the story gained an urgency that captured my full attention. The culmination in a final courtroom scene was both infuriating and satisfying. I chose to experience Prima Facie in the audiobook format (provided by the publisher), narrated by Jodie Comer, who portrayed Tessa in the play. While the play likely had more streamlined pacing, the novel effectively conveys the story's importance and urgency. If transforming the play into a novel increases awareness of the harsh realities depicted, it's a worthwhile adaptation that also makes for a gripping read.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2024, 16)

My mission to read new to me authors continues, this time with the latest book by thriller author Harlan Coben. Coben is another one of those authors I have always heard about but have never read. I first became familiar with his work years ago after picking up a used paperback copy of his book Tell No One. At the time, Ben Affleck was attached as the director of a film adaptation of the title, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to read the book before the movie arrived. Instead, I procrastinated with the book, and the movie version was quietly scrapped. Coben's work continued to sit on my shelf unread until his publisher reached out with the offer to read his latest novel I Will Find You. 

The loss of a child is unconscionable. For David and Cheryl Burroughs, it is the single event that completely upturned their lives. Their toddler son Matthew was brutally murdered in their home. David was convicted of the crime, and the couple divorced and went their separate ways. Five years later, Cheryl is remarried and expecting a child. Her life, it seems, is beginning to reset. David is in a much different state. He's spent the last five years confined to his prison cell, all the while professing his innocence. For the entirety of his imprisonment, David has refused any visitors. Even his closest family members have stopped trying to see him. It is unusual then that Cheryl's sister Rachel would be at the jail today. Even more unusual, perhaps, is her persistence to visit David. 

David begrudgingly agrees to see Rachel, curious about why after all this time she would want to speak to him. He couldn't be prepared for the bombshell she is about to reveal. Rachel, a recently disgraced journalist, comes to David with a photograph of a child at a theme park. The child appears to be around eight years old, the exact age his deceased son would have been if he had survived. More startling, the boy is the spitting image of Matthew, a perfect match down to every detail, even the birthmark on his face. Could this truly be Matthew? David and Rachel are both convinced. The only question now is what should they do next. 

I Will Find You left me wondering why it took me so look to read anything by Harlan Coben. The story of a father wrongfully convicted of killing his son and being given a second chance at justice hooked my intrigue from the very first chapter. Yes, the believability around the specifics of the plot is pushed far beyond any sense of plausibility, but I didn't care. This is the kind of escapism thriller that I'm able to get lost in and just enjoy the ride. Think of this book as you would a crowd-pleasing summer action movie. You'll root for the main characters, be annoyed by the people against them, and cheer as the inevitable ending eventually arises. There's nothing mind-blowing about it, but you can't deny the entertainment factor. Sometimes, that is the exact kind of read that I need. I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish, and can't wait to dive into more of Harlan Coben's books. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 21)

Think about the way your parents cared for you as a child. It was their job to keep you safe and help you to grow both mentally and physically. For most of us, that care continues well into adulthood. To this day, my parents will still send me home with a cooler full of food just to "make sure I have enough." There comes a time in life, however, when the roles get reversed. Suddenly the people we've always turned to for advice or a shoulder to lean on become the ones who need the support. In The Final Case, author David Guterson explores a father and son relationship facing this shifting dynamic. 

Our narrator is a middle-aged novelist who hasn't published in many years. His father Royal has been the stalwart head of the family for as long as he can remember. Beyond his place in the family, Royal has enjoyed a decades-long career as a respected lawyer in the community. We meet the characters as the narrator is called to help his father who recently was in a car accident. The incident was the final straw in Royal's life as a driver, and his son has been tasked with driving him to the office. As his father goes about his morning routine, the son begins to see that the world and the profession that his father devoted his life to are moving on from him. Subtle things like the way Royal has a preference for paper memos over emails only prove this point. Moreso, the jobs just aren't lining up like they used to. On this morning, Royal has no prospects whatsoever. He's simply going through the motions of his daily routine. 

To both father and son's surprise, Royal receives a call asking for him to take on a murder case. The defendants and Royal's clients are Delvin and Betsey Harvey. The couple has been charged with the murder of their adoptive daughter Abeba, a child these white Christian parents brought over from Ethiopia. The couple's extreme measures around discipline come to light, and all signs point to their abuse and negligence as causing the girl's death. More concerning perhaps is that the couple has four other children.  As Royal takes on what will become his last case, he must grapple with justice and retribution, all while facing the reality that his relevance in the field that he loves is coming to an end. 

David Guterson is best known as the author of the award-winning novel Snow Falling on the Cedars.  His first novel in over a decade, The Final Case proves his mastery of crafting a moving story across a complex set of themes. At the center of the novel is a reflection on parenthood. The octogenarian lawyer tries to hang onto the last bits of his independence as not only a father but a career professional. The son struggles with becoming the primary caregiver for his aging father while second-guessing his own childless life. Who will be there to care for him when he reaches his father's age? Finally, the family at the heart of the murder trial is being held accountable for their harsh, conservative parenting style that ultimately led to the death of their daughter. Guterson's matter-of-fact way of presenting all of this gives the reader the space we need to contemplate each of the character's motivations. The Final Case is a deceptively straightforward narrative that slowly surrounds you with an emotional heft that will leave you reeling long after the final page. Guterson never tells the reader how to feel or think. Instead, he allows us to draw our own conclusions and judgments. I was moved by the entire experience and thank Guterson's publisher for sending me a copy of the book to review. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2021, 9)

"I guess under the right circumstances, a man will do just about anything."

Malcolm Banister is currently in his fifth year of a ten year prison sentence for financial crimes. He was a lawyer who got caught up in a misunderstanding that resulted in his convictions. Despite his professions of innocence, an over-eager prosecutor made sure that Malcolm would serve a full sentence. Not long after the conviction, he was disbarred and his wife divorced him, remarried, and cut off all contact with his son.

Throughout his incarceration, Malcolm has turned his legal prowess into a service for his fellow inmates. He tirelessly looks for any angles or legal loopholes to help his peers reduce their sentences or overturn the charges altogether. When news of the murder of a federal judge reaches Malcolm, he decides to turn his legal services to his own case.

One of the inmates that Malcolm helped confessed to the murder of the judge. He decides to use this knowledge to leverage his own release from prison. The only problem, is that in ratting out the other inmate, Malcolm puts his own personal safety on the line. Is an anonymous life in witness protection any different from living in a cell? Is there any way that Malcolm can achieve complete freedom?

During a recent interview, John Grisham explained how he chooses topics for his novels. Sometimes he chooses a social topic that he wishes to write about and forms a story around it. Other times he simply tries to write an entertaining story. The Racketeer manages to do both. Grisham sheds some light on wrongful convictions and injustices of the prison system, while providing an entertaining thriller that is one of his best in recent years. Malcolm's quest for freedom takes readers on a journey that challenges predictions and spans the globe. The Racketeer is the kind of novel that illustrates exactly why Grisham is one of the most successful authors working today.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2017, 14)

Less than a year away from the next United States Presidential Election, Americans are talking about the issues that matter to them and the things that they hope the presidential candidates will speak about. One of those topics is the reform of the criminal justice system. Social movements such as Black Lives Matter have shined a light on the alarming amount of police brutality that takes place in our nation. Many of the presidential candidates have spoken about reducing the severity of punishment for petty crimes and attempting to decrease the number of Americans who are incarcerated. In his new book, Stolen Years: Stories of the Wrongfully Imprisoned, author and New York Post reporter Reuven Fenton delves into another equally important aspect of this conversation.

In the book, Fenton tells the stories of ten individuals who were tried and incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. Through these personal recollections, readers gain insight into the alarming lengths that investigators and prosecutors will go to for a conviction. Many of the people who are featured in this work were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fenton writes of the grueling interrogation techniques meant to eat away at a person until they confess. Several of the people featured here were fed confessions that they then repeated simply so that they could escape the arduous process.

As I worked my way through each of the short stories, I was shocked to learn how easy it is for a person to slip through the cracks of the justice system. Whether by police oversight of undeniable evidence or an overeager prosecutor willing to spin a narrative so that their version of the events seems the most correct, many people have had large parts of their lives stolen from them. Can you imagine sitting in a confined cell on death row for 15-20 years, all while knowing that you are innocent? The bureaucracy involved in overturning a false conviction can often be even more trying than the events leading up to imprisonment. These personal stories combined with exhaustive research illuminate the absurdity of parts of the system.

There is no denying the importance of police and the criminal justice system. Most of the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and serve deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. Fenton never approaches these stories with a biased disdain for law enforcement. Rather, he shows how the system is not a flawless entity. These mistakes affect people just like you and I. The ramifications of wrongful convictions linger in their lives long after redemption and release. With this sympathetic, informational, and consistently engaging portrait of injustice, Fenton gives a voice to the men and women whose stories deserve to be part of our important national dialogue.

For more information visit Amazon and GoodReads. This review is part of a blog tour sponsored by TLC Book Tours. Check out the full tour schedule here.

(2015, 34)








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Daniel Hunter is no stranger to lost causes. In fact, there was a time, not too long ago, when he himself was seen as a lost cause. His mother was a junkie, so he spent most of his childhood dependent upon the state to place him in proper care. He always felt a constant need to look after his mother, even sacrificing his own needs for her benefit.