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Hyperion, Feb 2002, 24.95, 320 pp. ISBN 07868 66209 Joanne Kuhlman, an assistant district attorney in Ventura County, California, is not having an easy time of it personally or professionally. Two years ago her husband became so involved in gambling that he stood to lose everything they jointly owned. He ran, taking their two children with him and giving them all different IDs so they couldn't easily be traced. It took a private detective two years to find them and return the children to Joanne. While the threesome struggle to bring a bit of normalcy into their lives following the trauma, Joanne is assigned a robbery case that led to the arrest of three defendants. Since none of them have a violent background they are released on bail. One of the defendants Ian Decker is mentally disabled and a loose cannon. After he vanishes, everyone including Joanne thinks that the co-defendants, brothers who also dropped out of site, killed him. A shattered Joanna takes step beyond that required by law to see that Ian receives justice. Nancy Taylor Rosenberg does an astonishingly keen, but believable job of misdirecting the audience on several different levels. CONFLICT OF INTEREST features a protagonist who is strong enough to hold herself together during the worst of times yet remain honest and true to her values when seeking justice in her personal and professional endeavors. This latest Rosenberg work deserves best selling status, as legal thriller fans will relish every delightful reading moment. Harriet Klausner | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of story - Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Legal Thriller Yes Legal Plotlets Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - insanity How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting United States Yes The US: - California Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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