The Judge by Steve Martini
California attorney Paul Madriani becomes the defense attorney for Judge Armando Acosta, who has been busted for soliciting an undercover vice operative found murdered and left in a dumpster.
The judge claims it is a setup linked to a grand jury he has overseen looking at a possible police cover-up of a different murder.
DA Coleman Kline fires assistant DA Lenore Goya as she starts into the case herself, and she then moves questionably to head up Acosta's defense. The DA seems obsessive in his pursuit of the judge. Lenore's fingerprint is found at the murder scene, and she's forced off the case, forcing Paul to step in.
Author Steve Martini brings some insightful dialog and experience to what comes next and that takes place during the trial. Madriani’s skills in jury selection show us quickly that he is on top of his game and is experienced, polished and leads us through the story.
This was an excellent legal thriller. Well done.
1st To Die, by James Patterson
In this, the first of 18 books in the series, inspector Lindsay Boxer is overcome with emotion when she sees the young corpses of newlywed David and Melanie Brandt. She tries to calm herself down in the ladies' room moments but runs in again to an upstart reporter, Cindy Thomas, who offers some sympathy.
Soon the facts of the case involve not just Lindsay and Cindy but two others women and they forming the “Women’s Murder Club” determined to find the killer of newlyweds.
Lindsay Boxer is a homicide inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Claire Washburn is a medical examiner, Jill Bernhardt is an assistant D.A., and Cindy Thomas just started working the crime desk of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Each member of the club seems to be able to solve a key piece of the puzzle and The club becomes the beginning of a long successful series by Patterson, of course.
The side stories make the bonds that the women form with each other seem real. The crimes have stunned everyone and the identity of the killer is unexpected right up to the shocking conclusion.
Books in the Series
1st to Die, 2nd Chance, 3rd Degree, 4th of July, The 5th Horseman, The 6th Target, The 7th Heaven, The 8th Confession, The 9th Judgement, The 10th Anniversary, The 11th Hour, The 12th of Never, Unlucky 13, 14th Deadly Sin, 15th Affair, 16th Seduction, 17th Suspect & the 18th Abduction.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens →
“Marsh is not a swamp. Marsh is a light space where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky. Slow moving creeks wander, carrying the sun’s orb to the sea, and long-legged birds lift with unexpected grace- as though not built to fly- against the roar of a thousand snow geese.”
Delia Owens continues telling us, “On the morning of October 30, 1969, the body of Chase Andrews lay in the swamp” We eventually learn what happened, and we learn about Kya Clark, the Marsh Girl.
Kya has been the subject of rumors for years in the small town of Barkley Cove on the North Carolina coast. She has survived for years alone in the marsh that is her home. Her friends are the birds, and she knows the swamp better than anyone.
Two young men from town are intrigued by her, touch her life, and she opens herself up to being touched by love. Kya’s life feels us, and the story brings a melody and feeling that helps us fold into the account ourselves.
Both a murder mystery and a coming-of-age story show us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were. A book that we won’t forget.
Quotes
“Autumn leaves don't fall; they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.”
“His dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.”
“Why should the injured, the still bleeding, bear the onus of forgiveness?”
“Sometimes she heard night sounds she didn’t know or jumped from lightning too close, but whenever she stumbled, it was the land who caught her. At last, the heart pain seeped away like water into the sand at some unclaimed moment. Still there, but deep. Kya laid her hand upon the breathing, wet earth, and the marsh became her mother.”
“Unworthy boys make a lot of noise.”
“a lot of times, love doesn’t work out. Yet even when it fails, it connects you to others and, in the end, that is all you have, the connections.”
