Rating: 
Summary: As good as it gets
Review: Even when Central California Federal Judge Daniel Solman asks for his help, attorney Greg Monarch says no even though this is the woman's last appeal. Five years ago, a local jury convicted the death row inmate of killing an elderly geologist. Six months from now she will visit the chair. As he reads her petition, an angry Greg knows he must dive into another death row case because the convict is his former lover, the tumultuous Sarah Trant. Greg begins to attain background information, but finds roadblock after roadblock. Sarah's attorney refuses to cooperate. The sheriff and the District Attorney reject Greg's inquiries. However, Greg immediately sees a fatal flaw in the prosecution's case. The victim's alleged final words accuse Sarah of murdering him, but his gutted throat made it impossible to speak. As Greg digs deeper, he realizes that other individuals had stronger motives to kill the victim, However, with official inertia slowing him down Greg wonders if he has enough time to prove his client's innocence. ACTUAL INNOCENCE is an intriguing legal thriller that centers on a small town's conspiracy to hide a scandal. Though it's obvious what is going on, the story line is well written and provides insight into the bumbling efforts of the leading town officials to hide their ignominy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Splendid entertainment
Review: Having four leisurely days of holiday in Singapore this was exactly the sort of book I needed; a very well written, fast paced thriller. Attorney Greg Monarch is handed a "final appeal"of a woman sentenced to death for murder by a federal judge who, although not seeing exactly how to appeal legally senses that there is some truth in the story of the women. It turns out that the simple murder case was part of a conspiracy much beyond what was obvious in the first place and it turns into a story of greed and selfishness of a whole community. Mr.Siegel, like in his first book, has a tremendous capability of drawing believable characters into a well conceived storyline. A book which entertains and will not dissapoint. It is not a story of good guys versus bad guys ( although there are some genuinely despicable people) but more of a number of people in doubt of the right course to take leading to enormous consequences. Highly recommendable indeed for a couple of hours next to a swimming pool!
Rating:
Summary: Makes your blood boil !
Review: Highly recommendable book. However, be prepared to go for a walk to get the anger and sense of injustice out of your system! Just can't believe that legal processes are more important than the state saving face...
Rating:
Summary: A Damn Good Read!
Review: If you like legal murder-mystery thrillers, you'll love this book. Great plot, fully realized characters, butter-smooth writing. Author Barry Siegal really knows what he's doing. I read his other book, "The Perfect Witness" and really enjoyed that also. My only complaint is that Segal does not turn these books out fast enough. The ending surprised me and it was much more like real life than anything I had imagined. I enjoyed this book from page one. Please write faster, Mr. Siegal!!
Rating:
Summary: A Damn Good Read!
Review: If you like legal murder-mystery thrillers, you'll love this book. Great plot, fully realized characters, butter-smooth writing. Author Barry Siegal really knows what he's doing. I read his other book, "The Perfect Witness" and really enjoyed that also. My only complaint is that Segal does not turn these books out fast enough. The ending surprised me and it was much more like real life than anything I had imagined. I enjoyed this book from page one. Please write faster, Mr. Siegal!!
Rating: 
Summary: Actual Innocence or Actual Guilt
Review: This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give `ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.
Rating:
Summary: Actual Innocence or Actual Guilt
Review: This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give 'ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.
Rating:
Summary: Audio Book Review
Review: This book was quite ordinary. The audio done by Ed Asner was awful. His voice is so hoarse sounding that he is often barely understandable. His female voices were OK except for one or two that were too low in volume. Several of the male voices were so loud that I was constantly adjusting the volume. I might possibly read another Siegal book, but I will never buy another audiobook with Asner as the narrator.
Rating:
Summary: The most amazing legal suspense book yet!
Review: This book will get you glued to it until you reach the end.
Rating: 
Summary: What Did I Miss?
Review: This was beyond all doubt, the most disappointing book I have read in years. In fact, I must admit I did not finish "Actual Innocence". I gave up and gave it to Goodwill! Was this reallly the same author who produced "Death in White Bear Lake"? Oh well.....
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