Rating: 
Summary: Bias makes it a very good, not great book
Review: Let me start of with saying there is nothing wrong with this book from an entertainment standpoint. The story is plausible, the characters are interesting, the writing superb. The research done for this book is amazing. It revolves around a number of complex subjects (abortion, Supreme Court confirmation politics, campaign finance, Senate politic, media's prying into private lives)& the entire thing was well done from that regard. Most of the arguments are well thought out & cogent- Does the media prying into public lives discourage good people from running for office? Why should something someone did 25 years ago be important today? Is PAC money free speech? & lastly, & mostly- the late term abortion debate & the propaganda spread by both sides of the issue? Have the zealots gone to far & clouded the issue? (Yes, it's become a way too political issue) This is all wrapped into a story w/sympathetic & involving people from Pres. Kerry Kilcannon to Caroline Masters to Sen. Chad Palmer & Mac Gage & The Tierney Family.Now for my beef- It's so obvious which side Patterson falls down on that it hinders the book. All the right wing conservatives are pious hypocrites, the pro-life organization is a group of media hungry zealots with no regard for people. Among the pro-life people only Martin Tierney is even remotely sympathetic. I'm a pro-choice Republican, so i was constantly saying "Not all Republicans are like that".. I got past it for the most part..
Rating: 
Summary: As a pro-life Democrat, I found this book VERY disturbing.
Review: While this book was very well written, it troubled me that the author seemed to portray ALL Democrats as pro-choice and ALL Republicans as pro-life. He made Republicans seem callous and rigid, while making Democrats appear caring and flexible. It was NOT a fair portrayal of either.
Rating:
Summary: Ham Fisted
Review: I have deeply mixed emotions about reviewing this book. I also had an extremely difficult time finishing it. To be fair, Richard North Patterson is an excellent mystery writer--I discovered him 6-7 years ago and not only have read everything he has written since, but I went back and dug up paperback copies of all his early works. Some of his books are truly great, and all are above-average. All are recommended. "Protect and Defend" reprises familiar names like Kerry Kilcannon and Caroline Masters, something Patterson does very well in his novels. But while many of his stories center around solving a murder, this one deals with an abortion case and takes place in court. It's arguably Patterson's best writing--this is an extremely well-written novel and is most involving. Problem is, Patterson doesn't just hint at his side of the abortion issue--he bludgeons the reader with it. There's no mistaking whatsoever that the pro-choice crowd are the good guys, from President Kilcannon to Supreme Court Justice Masters on down...these are the folks who are doing the right thing day after day, fighting the good fight and setting examples for the way things ought to be. There's a group moderate of Republicans who are looked upon quite favorably, but the tried and true conservatives are absolutely villified--Patterson paints this group as the right-wing-wacko good old boys who are making the sleazy, back-room deals, getting rich and taking care of their own while being out of touch with what's really going on in the world. The best fiction often offers an agenda of some kind, but in my estimation, truly brilliant writers are able to write powerful books which weave in said agenda with finesse and subtlety. Patterson has done that successfully in the past, but his pro-choice stance is trumpeted so ferociously that it overwhelms what was shaping up to be a terrific novel. I barely made it through the book because of my disgust with the approach, and I've been so flattened by Patterson's politics that I have serious doubts about reading anything else of his in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Politics Aside..
Review: Let's first agree that if you're against abortion on any terms, then you won't like this book. It's obviously pro-choice for late-term abortions under certain circumstances, but straddles the fence on earlier ones. If you can get past this, then this is quite a good read which only gets better as the book goes along. Some of it can be considered simplistic, but there's enough weaving and bobbing to maintain considerable interest. The farther I got in this book, the more trouble I had putting it down. Definitely a satisfying read deserving of 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: well written and very balanced
Review: This was a very well written book and very balanced in the topic examined. I suspect those who didn't like it don't like the idea that some people don't agree with their Anti-Choice views. That's all.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a courtroom drama
Review: This political/legal novel follows the efforts of a newly-elected president to appoint a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; meanwhile, a case testing a law requiring parental approval of abortion for minors is working its way through the courts - right toward the president's nominee. The long but well-paced story includes a look at the political maneuvering involved in getting a controversial nominee approved by a narrowly divided Congress as well as thoughtful consideration of diverse viewpoints on the abortion debate. The author appears to favor the pro-choice stance, but rejects the actions of extremists on both sides of the issue and never loses sight of the real people (including the fetus) caught in the eye of the political hurricane. The fact that ALL the major characters have personal experiences with abortion or adoption raises the stakes but seems a bit too coincidental. However, there are enough interesting twists to keep you turning the pages right up to the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Well written but VERY biased
Review: I have read most of Richard North Patterson's books and enjoyed them greatly. This one is equally as well written but I can't get past the obvious pro-choice slant, to the point where I can't finish the book. That he voices his opinions is fine, but I feel as though I have been beaten over the head by his villification of the pro-life movement. I feel also that I have been misled, as the previous Kerry Kilcannon book did not have such an obvious slant.
Rating:
Summary: Examining the Politics of Abortion
Review: Although I have read and appreciated many of Richard North Patterson's books, I found Protect and Defend to be truly outstanding. He does an excellent job of characterizing both sides in the abortion debate, and covers well the several arguments used by the warring factions. In addition, he bravely disclosed the drastic measures that the most rabid proponents and opponents of abortion are willing to embrace, as well as the extremes to which those seeking to gain or retain policital power are willing to go. Altogether an excellent read and an important resource for those involved in the debate.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating look at a complex issue
Review: I am a pro-choice Democrat, and that might be part of why I liked the book so much. It is an interesting story about last trimester abortions and the process of confirming a Supreme Court Chief Justice. The book's heros and heroines are generally pro-choice Democrats too, although Patterson tries to give a balanced look at this very emotional and complicated issue. My only real concern about the book was the use of cliched characters, e.g. a John McCain type who is a Republican Ex-POW Senator pushing for campaign finance reform. There is even an internet news site a la The Drudge Report! All in all, I enjoyed this book and will be sharing it with my adult daughter.
Rating: 
Summary: propaganda
Review: The author can write, but the book is not much more than a thinly veiled promotion of his political agenda. Abortion is the main theme but he can't resist throwing in gun control issues here and there even though they aren't part of the plot. Lest you think I'm just a right-wing zealot, I'll tell you I agree with his position on abortion and this still offended me.
If he wants to write about issues, be up front about it. Does he think we don't see?
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