For those who like a bit of contrast, here’s a Canadian legal thriller. And in keeping of contrasts, I’ve shown both book covers, American on the left, somewhat subdued with a techie background finish; and then on the right, a more old-fashioned but bloodier, hit-you-over-the-head cover used in Toronto Canada where this author hails from.
Lawyer stories always make good summer reading and this is a good one. The outcome is always clear (see the title.) It is the contrasting explanations of American versus Canadian judicial systems that were interesting to me: rules of evidence, cross examination, and other lawerly detail of that sort. My sister, who spent many years as a paralegal would love this book.
Of course, there are the usual twists and turns to catch the reader by surprise and plenty of sex to keep the action going. Canada, however, is a quiet place. There’s not much violence in this book, that didn’t seem to cross the border. Moreover, without violence, there aren’t any villains to stimulate our moral outrage.
Overall, the writing seemed like a retro throwback to American lawyer stories of the nineteen seventies. With the good writing, that made it easy and pleasant to read: a good book for the summer of 2011.
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