Annette's Book Spot: legal

Showing posts with label legal. Show all posts

Friday, August 4, 2023

AudioBook Review: The Guardians by John Grisham

The Guardians by John Grisham book cover and review

I always enjoy Grisham stories, but I really loved The Guardians.

I think it's because of the premise. The main character, a lawyer named Cullen Post, created and runs Guardian Ministries, a nonprofit that works to get innocent people, most of them on death row, out of prison. I totally believe there are many people, right now, who are in prison but innocent. I just can't imagine being in that situation.

Post is trying to prove the innocence of Quincy Miller. Twenty-two years ago, Quincy was convicted of murdering a lawyer at his desk. Post knows this isn't true, but proving it and getting anyone in the legal system to listen to him, isn't easy. And it turns out the people who framed Quincy are powerful and dangerous, which creates the build-up of suspense.

I enjoyed all the people who work with Post. They are colorful and special characters. While he is working to free Quincy, we learn about several other cases that Post is working on and some of those that he's been successful in getting released from prison.

I loved the narrator, Michael Beck. He has the appropriate southern drawl, but not too irritating. I thought he was perfect for this story, and he has narrated several of Grisham's novels.

The Guardians is a good one, combining good guys, and colorful bad guys, in the courtroom and on the street. If you enjoy Grisham, you won't want to miss The Guardians.

Published by Doubleday, 2019. Random House Audio
Audiobook obtained from Libro.fm
384 pages

Rating: 5/5

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

AudioBook Review: The Plea, by Steve Cavanagh

The Plea by Steve Cavanagh book cover and review

I continue to be captivated by Cavanagh's Eddi Flynn books after having read the second, The Plea.

Just like the first book, The Defense, the breakneck pace keeps your heart pounding. David Child, a multimillionaire, swears he didn't kill his girlfriend. But the evidence -- camera footage of him being the only one in the apartment, the gun found in his car, and gunshot residue found on his clothes -- makes it impossible to believe he didn't commit the crime. But Eddie Flynn believes him.

Eddie is being pushed by the FBI to force Child to take a plea, but Eddie can't do it. Even though Eddie's wife is going to be charged with a felony if he doesn't.

It all takes place in about 24 hours and ends with Eddie being shot. That isn't a spoiler, because that is the first thing that happens in the book. Then we flashback.

I really enjoy the audio version of this series, read by Adam Sims. I think there is a bit of over-the-top drama, but I can forgive it for the story.

If you like adrenaline-pumping, "how is he possibly going to get out of this" -type books, you need to check out this series. It isn't necessary to read them in order, but why not?

Published by Flatiron Books, 2018, Macmillan Audio
Audiobook obtained from libro.fm
368 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, November 23, 2020

Book Review: The Rooster Bar, by John Grisham

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham book cover and review

I can never go wrong with a John Grisham book, so of course, I enjoyed The Rooster Bar.

There are three law students who are one semester from graduating. They have dismal job prospects, huge piles of debt, and very little chance of passing the bar. They have discovered that the school they attend is a sleazy for-profit law school that advertises falsely to get students to sign up and then rakes in the money while most of the students flounder.

They decide to quit school and pretend to be lawyers while hanging around traffic court and picking up clients. Maybe hand around hospitals and fish for accident victims. They figure they know enough about the law and can pick up the techniques by watching other lawyers. And they aren't wrong. But they have difficulty flying under the radar when they pick up cases that aren't basic courtroom appearances.

Also, one of them has parents and a brother who are illegal and are being deported back to Somalia. This may seem insignificant, but in the end, it is not.

There is more to the story, and as usual, I enjoyed the twists and turns. The Rooster Bar doesn't spend too much time in the courtroom, which sometimes I don't like as much, but in this case, I didn't mind. Grisham uses short chapters and simple sentence structure that can be annoying but also allows for very fast reading. Just what I needed.

If you enjoy Grisham's books, there is no reason you should pass up The Rooster Bar.

Published by Doubleday, 2017
Copy borrowed from family
368 pages

Rating: 4/5

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Book Review: The Warriors by Paul Batista

The Warriors is billed as a John Grisham-like legal thriller. And it is, but a bit gorier.

Raquel Rematti is a high profile New York attorney involved in an astounding case. Senator Angelina Baldesteri, former first lady and current presidential candidate, has been indicted for tax evasion, money laundering, and election fraud. As the trial progresses, Raquel realizes that this cold, calculating client will do anything to be acquitted, including lying...and possibly even more serious actions. It comes to the attention of the prosecutor that a witness is being bribed. And Raquel herself is being accused of being involved in the bribery.

Not only is Raquel in danger of losing her career, but even her life. It takes a while for the action to get going, but once it does, it is relentless. Many major players are losing their lives, and it isn’t quite clear until the very end if Raquel will escape.

Those fans of legal thrillers involving corruption at the highest level, and wanton violence, will enjoy The Warriors.

Published by Oceanview, December 18. 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
336 pages

Rating: 4/5

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Book Review: The Reckoning, by John Grisham

The Reckoning by John Grisham book cover and review

I really enjoy John Grisham's books, and I did enjoy The Reckoning. It just wasn't one of my favorites of his. Grisham is a great writer, and so the way the story was told helped keep my interest.

The first part of the book is about Pete Banning, who is a cotton farmer in Mississippi in the late 1940s after WWII. He is a decorated war hero, who was presumed dead for two years, before returning home injured after escaping the Japanese and working with some guerilla warriors in the Philipines. After having a final breakfast with his sister, Florry, at her house adjoining his farm, Pete goes to the Methodist preacher's office and shoots him in cold blood. Pete turns himself in and refuses to mount a defense as to why he gunned down this pillar of the community. He will not explain his actions to anyone. We go through the trial and sentencing. Pete's wife is in a mental institution. His children are away at college and haven't seen their mother since she was committed two years ago. Pete doesn't want them anywhere near his trial.

The second part of the book goes back and describes Pete's early life and how he met and fell in love with his wife. Then we hear in great detail, the ordeal Pete went through during his time in the war.

The third part of the book is about Pete's family, back after his trial, trying to pick up the pieces. There are wrongful death lawsuits, and many other issues to be overcome. But mostly everyone (including the reader) wants to know why Pete did what he did.

Yes, there is a surprise ending. What you think the reason for Pete's murderous rampage was, is kind of correct, but not really. I just didn't think the twist at the end warranted all the pages and pages of the middle section. Although I learned a great deal about the war in the Philipines, the Bataan death march, and how cruel the Japanese were. Maybe that was Grisham's point. He just wanted to write a WWII book, and this is how he did that.

I have no problem with it and enjoyed the read. Just don't expect his typical courtroom drama. And, really, it's been a while since he's written one of those, I think? A good writer can make any subject entertaining, and Grisham has succeeded.

Published by Doubleday, October 23, 2018
eARC obtained from NetGalley
432 pages

Rating: 4/5

Monday, August 6, 2018

Book Review: Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin

Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin book cover and review

While I wouldn't call Desperate Girls a thriller, I did find it interesting and enjoyed the twisted ending.

Brynn is a successful defense attorney about to begin defending a very big case. When a defendant from a previous case (when she was a prosecutor) escapes from prison and kills one of the other attorneys on that case, her life is turned upside down.

She is having to try to work on her case while being constantly distracted and waylayed by a plethora of bodyguards that her boss has hired to keep her safe. And the danger becomes very real as the escapee continues to kill people associated with his case.

Erik is the head of Brynn's detail. And there is a definite attraction between these two, even though it is highly unethical.

First of all, I don't understand the title at all. Who are the Desperate Girls? The victims of the escapee? We don't really learn much about them, and they are not the focus of the case. Brynn? Yes, she becomes a bit desperate, but she's only one girl. Not a big deal, but it doesn't really make sense to me.

Secondly, this is my bad, but I didn't expect the (very) hot and steamy romance. If you read the blurb, it isn't really mentioned. If you look at the subject headings, it does very clearly say "romance," but I missed that. So I was surprised, but not really disappointed. I was just expecting a straight-up thriller, and it was really a who-done-it/romance.

I was completely stunned by the twist at the end and appreciated that. I suspected that there was more to the story when it seemed like everything was settled with still ten percent of the book to read. That's too long for a denouement, and I was correct. But totally surprised too.

The story is exciting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the ending. The balance of romance/detecting was just right. Desperate Girls is an adult book and would be appropriate for mature teens.

Published by Gallery Books, August 7, 2018
eARC obtained from NetGalley
368 pages

Rating: 4/5

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult @jodipicoult

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult book cover and review

Small Great Things reads just like a Picoult novel, and that's a good thing! She has the ability to put the reader inside the story.

Ruth, an African American, has been a labor and delivery nurse for 20 years. She is stunned when the parents of a newborn ask that she not be allowed to touch their baby. She's even more stunned when her supervisor puts a note in the chart adhereing to those wishes.

During an emergency, when Ruth is the only one available to watch the baby, he goes into cardiac arrest, and Ruth is torn about what to do. I turns out the baby dies, and Ruth is charged with murder. Can you say "moral dilemma?"

The other main character is Ruth's white public defender, Kennedy, who has never handled a murder case before. It's a rocky road, given that Kennedy is adamant that you don't mention "race" in a courtroom, when Ruth knows that's exactly what this case is about.

As a white person, I was most intrigued by Kennedy's journey. It's a book that made me think about racism and what that really means.

Yes, Picoult is white. She discusses that in her note at the end of Small Great Things, and how she didn't know if she was "qualified" to write this story. I won't give an opinion, because I suppose that's up to the African American people that read the book. But, I will say (again) that Small Great Things gets you thinking, and I would highly recommend it.

I don't buy many adult novels for my high school library -- I just don't have the budget -- but I think Small Great Things needs to be read by teens as well as adults, so I'm going to order it.

Funny story: I read this book on my iPad, and since you never see the cover, I didn't think this was by Picoult. I have a book by another author that I intend to read soon, and I thought this book was by her. All through the book, I kept thinking, "Boy, she writes a lot like Jodi Picoult!" Duh....

Published by Ballentine, October 11, 2016
eARC obtained from NetGalley
480 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Monday, November 10, 2014

Book Review: The Doubt Factory, by Paolo Bacigalupi

The Doubt Factory is an exciting page turner, that also gets you thinking about our legal system and how it can be manipulated.

Alix leads a pretty normal life, for a rich teenager. She attends a private school, has some friends, and her home life is pretty normal even though her father is a work-a-holic.

Things fall apart when Alix realizes she is the target of a stalker. Strange things happen at school, but the same kid keeps appearing, and Alix is confused. All he says is, "ask your dad -- he knows what this is about." So, she asks her dad. But he doesn't know anything.

As things come to a head, the stalker tries to convince Alix that her dad is the president of a public relations company that has caused hundreds of people's deaths, because they keep the truth about dangerous products from the public He tries to get Alix to help them expose her father for what he truly is. He and his rag-tag crew have all been hurt by something her father has made millions of dollars on by covering up the dangers.

So, should she believe him? Does she believe all these horrible things about her dad? Alix begins to do some investigating herself, and what she finds puts her in a lot of danger.

I really loved this story. Bacigalupi really makes you feel for these characters. The gang of misfits who are highly intelligent come up with some creative ways to elude the authorities. I also loved Alix's brother, who is the trouble maker in the family, but ends up being an OK kid.

There's some romance, and I won't go into detail, but it's OK. I feel like since this is YA, it is a requirement, but I didn't feel it necessary.

The story is well paced and interesting. Although you think you may know what is going to happen, I think you will be surprised.

Recommend The Doubt Factory to those who like adventure, suspense, and survival stories, with a little spying mixed in.

Published by Little, Brown BFYR, October 14, 2014
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
496 pages

Rating: 4.5/5