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Why would anyone want to frame themselves for a murder they did not commit? And for a
murder for which they would be a primary suspect, in any event? This is the conundrum
presented in MOMENT OF TRUTH, the latest in a series of legal thrillers by Lisa
Scottoline.
Scottoline, a Philadelphia trial attorney, draws on her courtroom experience to paint
interesting and complex pictures of how the wheels of justice not only drag, but
occasionally grind. In MOMENT OF TRUTH, Attorney Jack Newlin arrives home to find his
wife, Honor, murdered. Newlin, believing that he knows what has occurred, immediately
begins framing himself for the murder. To make matters worse, he hires inexperienced Mary
DiNunzio to defend him. What chance does DiNunzio have of defending a client who really
doesn't want to be vigorously defended against an experienced, take-no-prisoners Assistant
District Attorney who has never lost a capital murder case? Well, quite a big one,
actually. For what DiNunzio lacks in experience she more than makes up for in intelligence
and tenaciousness. We learn, along with Mary and with Jack, that things are not always how
they seem.
Now, let me tell you this much ahead of time. Those of you who read a lot of these
mystery/procedural thrillers are going to think you have this all figured out. Newlin
thinks his daughter murdered his wife. We know from the get go that this isn't true.
You'll figure out by page 30 or so who really did murder her. But you'll never figure out
why. And you'll never figure out who was behind it all. And there really isn't any sleight
of hand or misdirection here. Scottoline plays fair.
One word of warning here. This is a book that you are going to read for the plot, as
opposed to the characterization. Mary DiNunzio is unfortunately not interesting enough to
be a main character in MOMENT OF TRUTH. Almost everyone in here --- her client, her
family, the detectives, the D.A., even the victim (who is dead throughout the entire book)
--- is more interesting than poor Mary. This misplaced focus is a little disconcerting, as
this is a well-paced book, and would have been a better one but for the fact that it drags
when Mary is in it and picks up when she is offpage --- except, of course, for the climax.
Other than for this minor quibble, MOMENT OF TRUTH will be welcomed by Scottoline's fans
in particular and fans of mysteries in general.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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