No Physical Evidence

Rating:
Summary: An "Abuse" Legal Thriller With Surprises Aplenty
Review: Chinese American Writer Gus Lee explores an important area of criminal abuse in this new legal thriller. But Lee, author of four fine novels, experienced deputy district attorney, Army judge advocate, FBI trainer, and executive of the California state bar forgot to review his notes on how the system works. Lawyers and politicians will probably hate this drama. Readers will turn the last page knowing the law is not handled this way, yet will appreciate his passion for what is right, and his love for children and family. His window into the human soul saves this tangled story. A little polish would have helped as Lee creates great sentences in difficult paragraphs and confusing chapters.

This book is engrossing despite its flaws. Josh Jin's career and his personal life are slipping away due to his emotional collapse caused by the death of a daughter. Resulting mistakes caused him to lose respect and position. Jin is forced into a case in which he finds himself conflicted from grief, loss of status, ugly politics and morals, cultures, and outrage. A 13-year old rape victim refuses to talk. There is no physical evidence. He has nobody's confidence and no professional support. The accused ex-con may not be the one. Worse, his legal adversary is a powerful ex-girlfriend he once jilted who knows how to pull his chain. He cries in court and colleagues think he is without hope.

Jin struggles back from the edge while pulling another from disaster. The reader learns a bit about the Chinese-American culture and very real child sexual abuse, accurately rendered. As the story unfolds, there are surprises aplenty.

This BOMC alternate is awkward but remains a page turner. It is a complex crime story based on what is really happening, though a bit overplotted. A tale of lives in crises, untidy politics, horrifying crime, sleazy judges, shoddy legal work, messy lives, committment and personal salvation. Lee toys with the reader right up to the last few words. This is a book of passion dotted with clever observations and characters that resonate. Readers will think about this book for a long time despite it's rather unbelievable legal, political core. Gus Lee could do better and has done so(Honor and Duty) than this sometimes confusing book, but "No Physical Evidence" remains a worthwhile read.

Rating:
Summary: Evocative and fast -paced legal drama with pathos and humor
Review: Gus Lee scores again in this fast-paced and evocative legal drama with some characters you love to hate, and an unlikely hero you love to love. Unlike most writers, Lee creates a central character who, in the middle of his life, is overcome by personal tragedies that have depleted him, and as the book progresses, we can cheer him on as he rises from the ashes. It's refreshing to see a hero who feels not only his own pain, but also the pain of all the other hurting people around him. I love a book like this that combines great character development and a compelling story line into a wonderful morality play. If you like crime dramas with a human interest twist, you'll love this book. It will keep you guessing until the end when you're left marvelling at the Hitchcock-ian twist!

Rating:
Summary: A truly superior legal thriller.
Review: The story tracks the lives of many wonderfully developed characters all revolving around the horrendous rape of a 13 year old girl. The book reaches deep into your emotions as the author relates the efforts of district attorney Joshua Jin to save the girl, his marriage and the very fabric of the California legal system. This is a must read by anyone who loves a good Follett or Grisham tale. Placing this book in a particular genre would be almost impossible as it covers: love, detective, mystery, suspense, courtroom drama. The unabridged audio reading is superb.

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous reading experience!
Review: The story tracks the lives of many wonderfully developed characters all revolving around the horrendous rape of a 13 year old girl. The book reaches deep into your emotions as the author relates the efforts of district attorney Joshua Jin to save the girl, his marriage and the very fabric of the California legal system. This is a must read by anyone who loves a good Follett or Grisham tale. Placing this book in a particular genre would be almost impossible as it covers: love, detective, mystery, suspense, courtroom drama. The unabridged audio reading is superb.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling personal and court drama.
Review: This has been the most compelling crime drama I have listened to in along while. The author expertly combines the conflicts ethnic culture, personal tragedy, and work promblem into a into a court room drama. The plot is the difficulties of doing a child rape trial where the victim is silent. The author also shows the personal and work difficulties the D.A. Jin has to overcome to mount a successful. The only drawback is the subject of child rape is gruesome and I personal had to stop reading at times to control my emotions. I am anxious to look forward to more novels about D.A. Jin.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling personal and court drama.
Review: This has been the most compelling crime drama I have listened to in along while. The author expertly combines the conflicts ethnic culture, personal tragedy, and work promblem into a into a court room drama. The plot is the difficulties of doing a child rape trial where the victim is silent. The author also shows the personal and work difficulties the D.A. Jin has to overcome to mount a successful. The only drawback is the subject of child rape is gruesome and I personal had to stop reading at times to control my emotions. I am anxious to look forward to more novels about D.A. Jin.