Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When I review books there is always a reason. I've been doing book reviews for a long time, but it is not often that something strikes close to home. In this case, I chose this book from my Kindle First selections solely because of the author. Marcia Clark is a well know entity. Well, at least if you are old enough to remember the O.J. Simpson trial. You see, Marcia Clark was a prosecuting attorney for the Los Angeles District Attorney in the trial of O.J. Simpson. I remember her well.... Since that time Ms. Clark has written several novels and I've now read two of them. This book, Blood Defense, is the best of Marcia Clark's efforts. It is tightly written and well plotted with a well-developed story line. I noticed very few errors that would cause reading discomfort anywhere in the book. The proof readers and editor have done a very nice job. The characters have been highly developed and although the book resides solidly within typical crime and courtroom procedurals, the characters do not seem type cast or stereotypical in any way. In fact, just the opposite. These characters seem almost plebeian by comparison to most others in this genre. They all seem fully capable and yet quite "common" in nature, and never afraid to get their hands dirty or use coarse language if the situation calls for it. Rough and tumble female leads that take part in difficult law environments. Not your typical stuff..... Unlike some courtroom dramas that seem to plod along in places, Ms. Clark writes in a manner that keeps her characters active and alive. The dialogue is very well done and seems to be almost too realistic. The language gets a little coarse at times but it always seems to be appropriate to the situation. I remember thinking several times as I was reading that the dialogue sounded exactly like what I would have expected to hear from those people in those situations. That type of reality makes for an easy reading book. When you combine excellent dialogue with believable characters, a great story line, multi-layered plot twists, and situational awareness... you have the makings of a fine piece of fiction. The protagonist in this story, Samantha Brinkman, is a really tough cookie. She is very situationally aware and at the same time capable of making errors in judgement. I am not sure how you describe that particular character trait other than to say "human". She is well trained, unafraid, and capable of critical thought. Surround her with associates that support the story, and you have everything necessary to generate a great deal of empathy for the characters. The layers of the plot demand some careful consideration, the twists make you wonder, the level of evil that is exposed keeps you on edge, and overriding it all is the necessity for right to triumph over wrong. Only you are never sure that it is going to happen..... Ms. Clark definitely knows her way around law and the justice system. She writes her characters into tricky situations and then rescues them when it seems they are doomed. She knows the law and uses it to her advantage by allowing her characters to take advantage of it.... situationally. She knows what the courts will allow her characters to get away with and uses every bit of the rope they give her. In the end, the case hinges on details and the ability of the protagonist, Samantha, to outwit and outplay her adversaries. I started reading this book early this morning and did not stop for over two hours. After a quick coffee break I went back to the book and finished it. Although I typically read most books in one day, this book went faster than most. I credit that to the style of the author and the excellent plotting and story line. I am completely impressed. Marcia Clark has given us a wonderfully complex and interesting piece of fictional crime drama.......Highly recommended.!!