Murder One
Robert Dugoni
Finalist for the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni delivers another book in his popular David Sloane series. With his signature fast-paced, page-turning action and exhilarating plot twists, Robert Dugoni has been named the heir to Grisham’s literary throne.
Vasiliev is found shot in the back of his head, Barclay [American female names can be confusing] is arrested and asks David Sloane, who has become her lover, to defend her in the criminal case. Sloane, a civil attorney, has never tackled a criminal case before and is tested by the complexities that arise.
Upon entering the back room, Stafford noted the single hole in the sliding-glass door, calling it a defect. They were trained not to say ‘”bullet hole”, as it could be considered a conclusion that a good defense attorney might later try to exploit.
This is an excellent legal thriller with strong well drawn characters, and the sort of forensic detail that is contained in the best of American TV crime series. As someone who enjoyed the Perry Mason series this blend of police procedural, legal thriller and courtroom drama was a pleasant diversion from dark Nordic angst and Nazi atrocities. The intriguing characters struggling to deal with personal tragedies, and an interesting series of plot twists made this a very satisfying read.
Review by Norman Price, CRIME SCRAPS REVIEW
I find that the mainstream media and large book chains continue to push the same old books with the same old blurbs about books that frequently turn out to be disappointing.
I am much more likely to find a new author worth reading from bloggers posts and recommendations, and so it turned out with Robert Dugoni’s Murder One.
Murder One is a fine legal thriller as attorney David Sloane, recovering from the murder of his wife Tina, is asked by attractive fellow attorney Barclay Reid to take her case for wrongful death against drug dealer Filyp Vasiliev, who she holds responsible for the death of her drug addicted daughter. Vasiliev has escaped prosecution for drug dealing on a technicality, but the burden of proof in a civil action is less demanding.
About Robert Dugoni:
Robert Dugoni was born in Pocatello, Idaho and raised in Burlingame, California. Growing up the middle child in a family of ten siblings, Dugoni jokes that he didn't get much of a chance to talk, so he wrote. By the seventh grade he wanted to be a writer. Dugoni wrote his way to Stanford University where he majored in communications/journalism and creative writing as well as working as a reporter for the Stanford Daily. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and worked briefly as a reporter in the Metro and San Gabriel Valley Offices of the Los Angeles Times before deciding to attend the UCLA School of Law. Dugoni practiced law full-time in San Francisco as a partner at the law firm, Gordon and Rees, and is currently of counsel for a law firm in Seattle.
Dugoni's debut novel, The Jury Master followed the next year and became a New York Times bestseller. Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine chose it as one of three "Best of the Best" debut novels of 2006. The Seattle Times and Library Journal likened Dugoni to a young John Grisham, calling The Jury Master, "A riveting tale of murder, skullduggery and treachery at the highest level."
His books have been published in 18 foreign countries. In addition to writing novels he teaches the craft of writing and writing novels throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.