EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
David Ellis
Berkley
Mystery
Hardcover: 0399154337
Paperback: 9780425222911

Full disclosure requires me to begin my review of EYE OF THE BEHOLDER by mentioning that David Ellis and I share the same hometown of Springfield, Illinois. We also are both attorneys who work in some capacity for the State of Illinois. Similarities come to an abrupt halt at this point because, although I write about and review books, I only wish that I could produce mystery novels as ingenious and enjoyable as those that flow from the pen of this talented Springfield lawyer.

Ellis serves as legal counsel for the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. For those of you familiar with the Machiavellian nature of Illinois politics, it may be that experience that provides Ellis with the imaginative and enthralling characters and plots that are produced in his novels. Several of Ellis’s works are comparable to those of John Grisham in that they only tangentially relate to the legal profession. Lawyers are central figures in the mystery, but they don’t spend a great deal of time in courtrooms. I make this observation not as criticism but simply to let readers know that EYE OF THE BEHOLDER is about lawyers and the law, though it’s much more mystery than courtroom fiction.

The novel opens with protagonist Paul Riley in the situation that most young prosecutors dream of but rarely experience. Riley is in charge of the investigation and ultimate prosecution of Terry Burgos, a serial killer whose macabre crimes are the type that make both media headlines and legal careers. For Riley, the Burgos prosecution does just that, but on the night that he’s executed, Burgos whispers last words to Riley that will haunt the prosecutor.

The story jumps ahead over a decade, and Riley is now a successful attorney with powerful clients and political connections. With a nod of his head, Riley can become a federal judge. But new crimes eerily similar to the Burgos killings threaten all of his success. Because of his intimate knowledge of the Burgos case, Riley is called upon to assist authorities in the new investigation. In that task, Riley has to go back to his 15-year-old investigation and second-guess decisions made in the original prosecution. Riley must ask himself the question that prosecutors fear most: “Did I send an innocent man to his execution?”

In the Burgos prosecution, Riley kept some secrets --- perhaps to achieve justice, but perhaps also to assuage some politically powerful people. Now, years later, those secrets begin to unravel and the onion-like peeling away of them threatens people Riley knows both personally and professionally. As the novel unfolds and secrets are exposed, readers will find many surprising twists and turns as authorities rush to solve a mystery that reaches to the highest levels of power. Ellis creates intricate plots but gives readers ample opportunity to solve the mysteries. After reading his newest book, you may want to go back and re-read sections to find some clues that you may have missed along the way.

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER is an entertaining book that will have you thinking about some significant legal issues, from the death penalty to the notion of equal justice. It should be near the very top of your summer reading list.

   --- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

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