Michael Connelly’s “The Lincoln Lawyer”

Michael Haller, a criminal defence attorney is a cynical yet rational lawyer who operates out of the back of his Lincoln town car. He had always feared he wouldn’t recognise innocence one day when it stood right in front of him. That time comes when he lands on a case of aggravated assault and attempted murder defending a wealthy realtor, Louis Roulet. Though the case looks like a slam dunk case for the prosecution, Haller finds a glimmer of a hope on further discovery to save his client. He throws the case wide open only to find himself at crossroads where he can save only one of his two clients.

With legal complications mounting, ethical obligations to be upheld and his own life at stake, will the Lincoln lawyer find a way out of this conflict of interest? Michael Haller, as a charismatic attorney with a blunt candour and an emotionally vulnerable father to his estranged daughter is a well written character. There are equally important well etched characters that come along.

An interesting premise and a seamless chain of events that ensue with a banger of a twist at half way through the novel makes this a gripping read. A point of no return with a brilliantly written courtroom drama in the second half finishes this novel on a high.

Highly recommended !!

"Misjudged" by James Chandler

In a small town of Wyoming... Emily, a divorce attorney is brutally murdered... Tommy, an ex- marine who was her client is charged with murder going by prima facie evidence... Polson, a honest detective who overlooks an evidence before making the arrest, later tries hard to get a fair trial for the defendant... Sam Johnstone, a disabled veteran suffering from PTSD decides to appear as the defense attorney... Ann Fulks, the prosecution attorney taking up her first murder trial, is desperate to get a conviction to boost up her career... Judge Daniels, at the verge of his retirement expects the case to be an open and shut one without any complications... A member of the jury is talking about the proceedings outside the court to a person who can be a suspect in this case too... 

With this interesting premise and well etched characters, does "Misjudged" manage to keep the readers hooked?

The novel introduces the primary characters with legal proceedings happening in the background. Though the idea is to introduce the nature of the characters and how the judiciary is run in the small town of Wyoming, the novel takes too much time dwelling into unrelated petty cases. But, once the stage is set for the murder trial, the novel picks up pace with some interesting courtroom moments and legal proceedings. The twists keep coming as the forensic evidence adds to more mysteries and some information is withheld from the defense due to the local politics. 

James Chandler

James Chandler builds up a brilliant legal thriller around the solid premise that is engaging for the most part. Though there are some loose ends, the novel is a decent thriller that has consistent high points and a convincing climax. 

“The Boys from Biloxi” by John Grisham

John Grisham’s “The Boys from Biloxi” is a riveting saga of friendship, betrayal, rivalry and justice that is set in world of crime. The novel is set in Biloxi, a happening city with pubs, casinos, gambling, prostitution and its connection with organized crime. 

Hugh Malco and Keith Rudy, two childhood friends who were once inseparable, part ways to follow the legacy of their fathers. Lance Malco, Hugh’s father makes money from vice whereas Jesse Rudy, Keith’s father is on the other side of the law as a honest lawyer turned district attorney. Over time, both families are often pitted against each other. With Keith and Hugh on the opposite sides of the law, how far will each one take things against the other?

The strength of the novel is the characterisation and attention to detail in staging a city of vice and violence. Despite the overwhelming list of characters, all the primary characters and protagonists have clear character arcs and get the much needed closure. In the first few parts,  there is everything happening in the novel - gambling, gang wars, murder, heist, drug trafficking, courtroom drama and at times the backstory and subplots diverge too much. However, the novel settles down as a tale of revenge at the later stage.

Though there are moments of brilliance in the courtroom showdown, most of the action happens outside the courtroom. The great detailing of the process of jury selection, choice of attire for the defendants, strategies employed inside the courtroom by the lawyers and jury tampering is John Grisham playing to his strengths. 

The novel is not a compelling page turner, but the staging and showcase of events makes it worth reading. The novel also touches upon the debate on death penalty but doesn’t make it preachy. The massive twist towards the end is a brave piece of writing.

The Boys from Biloxi has just enough to keep the readers engrossed!

சுந்தர ராமசாமியின் "திரைகள் ஆயிரம்"

சுந்தர ராமசாமியின் "திரைகள் ஆயிரம்", நாளிதழ் ஒன்றில் வெளியாகும் ஒரு வல்லுறவு சம்பவத்தின் செய்தியில் தொடங்குகிறது. பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண் தொடரும் வழக்கில் பல பெரும் பணக்காரர்களும், அதிகாரிகளும் பெயரிடப்படுகின்றனர். அதிகாரத்தின் ஆதிக்கத்தாலும், ஊடக சுதந்திரத்தின் துஷ்பிரயோகத்தாலும் உண்மைகள் விற்கப்படுகின்றன. எது உண்மை என்பதை எழுத்தாளன் ஒருவன் தேட முற்படுகிறான், அவனது கதையாடலில் இந்நாவல் பல திருப்புமுனைகள் கொண்டு பயணிக்கிறது. 

எது உண்மை எது பொய் என்பதை தாண்டி சமூகத்தில் பெண்களின் நிலை, அதிகாரத்தின் வரம்பு மீறல், மக்களின் ஒருதலை சார்பு மற்றும் preconceived notion, அரசாங்கம் மற்றும் பண பலம் படைத்தோர் நீதிமன்றங்களின் மீது செலுத்தும் தாக்கம் என சமகால அரசியல் மற்றும் சமூக சூழலுக்கும் பொருந்தி போகிறது இந்நாவல். 

ஒரு sensitive subject-ஐ சுற்றி பயணித்தும், அழுத்தமான வசனங்கள் இல்லாமல் தட்டையாக அமைகிறது இக்கதை.