Book Review: The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller

ISBN: 978-0778326052
Publisher: Mira Books
Paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Legal Thriller
First Line: "We turn now to the issue of what constitutes an appropriate punishment for your various infractions," said the judge in the middle, the gray-haired one whose name Jaywalker always had trouble remembering.

One Word Review: Suspenseful

Publisher's Description:

Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, better known as Jaywalker, has just been suspended for using "creative tactics and receiving "gratitude" in the courtroom stairwell from a client charged with prostitution. Convincing the judge that his other clients are counting on him, Jaywalker is allowed to complete ten cases. But it's the last case that truly tests his abilities - and his acquittal record.

Samara Moss - young, petite, and sexy... - stabbed her husband in the heart. Or so everyone believes. Having married the elderly billionaire when she was an eighteen-year-old former prostitute, Samara appears to be the cliched gold digger. But Jaywalker knows all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Who else could have killed the billionaire? Has Samara been framed? Or is Jaywalker just driven by his need to win his clients' cases - and this particular client's undying gratitude?

Josheph Teller spent thirty-five years as a criminal defense attorney, and he uses his first hand knowledge of the criminal justice system to craft an intricate and well-thought-out legal drama that will hold readers' attention until the very last page. The Tenth Case is fast paced and exciting, with a tightly woven plot and interesting and well-written (if not always likable) characters. Teller's courtroom scenes are full of fascinating details, but it's never tedious. I completely enjoyed this book and found that I didn't want to put it down. It had enough twists to keep me guessing as well, and I was completely taken by surprise in the end - which isn't a common occurrence.

If you enjoy the works of authors like John Grisham, Steve Martini, and William Diehl, you don't want to miss this terrific debut novel.

Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Written in Blood by Sheila Lowe

ISBN: 978-0451224873

Publisher: Signet

Paperback: 320 pages

Genre: Suspense Thriller

First Line: The man heaved himself out of the driver's seat of a Mercedes C350 sedan, holding on to the doorframe until his feet were settled on the asphalt.

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Claudia Rose is a forensic handwriting expert whose latest client is the widow of a rich, older man, Paige Sorensen. Paige made enemies of her stepchildren when she was awarded her husband's entire estate, including the Sorensen Academy, school to the rich and famous. When Paige and a troubled student go missing, Claudia is determined to discover the truth and find them before it's too late.

I wasn't sure what to expect from a book that's protagonist is a handwriting expert, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed Written in Blood. There were a few moments when I questioned just how much information Claudia could really gather from simply looking at a few words written on a page, but for the most part it was believable and exciting. The story moves at a nice quick pace, and it's definitely entertaining throughout the story. The characters are well fleshed out, and Claudia is a very likable heroine. The interactions between Claudia and Annabelle, the student, are particularly engaging. While the ending may not come as a complete shock, there is enough suspense and action to keep the reader interested through the end. I'd recommend Written in Blood to anyone looking for a fun and exhilarating read.

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Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell

Blue Smoke and Murder is a romantic mystery thriller set amidst the world of Western art and its collectors. When her great aunt is killed in an 'accidental' fire, Jill Breck inherits a dozen beautiful paintings that may or may not prove extremely valuable. Along with her inheritance comes a great deal of danger as it seems there are people who will stop at nothing to see those paintings destroyed. Enter Zach Balfour, a handsome consultant for a corporation that's primary goal is the safety of their clients. Jill and Zach encounter myriad obstacles as they try to discover the identity of the artist, but their increasing feelings for each other seem to be a destraction that may prove disastrous.

I didn't realize this until after I'd read the book, but Blue Smoke and Murder is the latest in a series surrounding the St. Kilda Consulting group (that employs Zach Balfour). I think it would be interesting to read the other books in the series to get a better feel for the back story, but it is certainly not necessary reading. It works perfectly well as a stand alone book.

Having never read anything by Elizabeth Lowell prior to this, I didn't have any expectations. In the early chapters, I had trouble following some of the art speak. However, as the story evolved, it became clearer, and I began to enjoy learning about the world of art as I read this story which was fast-paced and exciting. It reads, to me, as a suspenseful mystery with a romance thrown in, not the other way around. I would compare it to Nora Roberts mysteries with a little more meat in the story. It was obvious Mrs. Lowell either did a great deal of investigation into the world of Western art, or she already had a vast knowledge about the subject. She weaves the mixture of intelligent mystery with the romance so well that it doesn't feel forced. I would recommend the book even to those who aren't particularly keen on romantic novels. I didn't feel like the romance overshadowed what was otherwise a solidly written thriller. Not only did I enjoy the book, I learned quite a lot, too. I will definitely be adding Elizabeth Lowell to my 'to read' list.

The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver

The Bone Collector has been sitting on my 'To Be Read' shelf for a while now. I don't really even remember buying it. Anyway, I was looking for something to read, and I've been doing a lot of children / young adult books lately, so I decided to take a break with something decidedly adult. It was either this or The English Patient, and I'm just not there emotionally right now. So, The Bone Collector it was. I had read about 20 pages when I had this feeling of familiarity. Aha! This was that movie from several years ago with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Well, crap. Ok, so what do I remember about that movie? Hmmmm....not much. I remember not feeling that it was extrordinarily wonderful. I remember caves or tunnels or something dark and dank. Yeah, that's about it. Well, ok, so I'll keep reading, but I'm not expecting much.

I have to say that I was really surprised by this book, in more ways than one. First of all, it was far better than I had figured. The plot was superbly written, the pacing was perfect - it didn't feel rushed nor did it lag in places, and the characters we were supposed to root for were believable and endearing. The other thing that surprised me was the ending. Rarely do I read a 'mystery' that ends with an 'ohhhhh, so that's who it was.' Generally, I've got it figured out pretty early on. I wouldn't necessarily use the word shocked, but I will say that I was far from disappointed in the ending. Deaver has masterfully crafted a magical blend of page-turning action with a smartly written plot. Because the story focuses on a great deal of forensic science, there were probably aspects of the book that were a tad dated (it was first published in 1997), but to a non-criminalist they don't really stick out.

Most books that I'd qualify as thrillers generally go the way of something to read for fun - not much on substance, but high on entertainment. The Bone Collector had huge helpings of both.

The Last Oracle by James Rollins

The Last Oracle, by James Rollins, is the latest in a series that follows the men and women of Sigma Force, a science-minded group of former Special Forces soldiers. Set against a backdrop of the nuclear devastated area of Chernobyl, it shows just how far some are willing to go to achieve their goals.

As an intellectual thriller, The Last Oracle works. It's smart enough to be enjoyable without being too cerebral. Some of the action sequences were a bit over the top - lots and lots of shooting with very few injuries on the part of the Sigma Force team (think Bruce Willis in Die Hard , who's constantly being shot at, yet never really getting hit). However, the plot was well-planned and executed, with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages, and with an ultimately satisfying conclusion. I found the afterword in which Rollins gives insight into his inspiration to be particularly fascinating.

This was my first experience with James Rollins' Sigma Force, and it can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I think following the characters from the beginning would add another level of enjoyment to an already fun read.