Writ of Execution

Rating:
Summary: Not as Good as Previous Nina Reilly Novels
Review: Although I had read and thoroughly enjoyed all other novels in the Nina Reilly series, I was disappointed by "Writ of Execution." This novel concentrated less on Nina and more on the client, Jessie Potter, who hired Nina to assist her in collecting on a multi-million dollar slot machine jackpot. I always enjoyed the relationship between Nina and her acerbic secretary, Sandy, as well as Nina's relationship with her son, Bob. Neither relationship was developed or included to any extent in this novel. Paul von Waggoner was an abbreviated character in this book as well, and he's one of my favorites! I eagerly await the next installment in the Nina Reilly series--and hope that Nina receives a warm welcome from Paul when she arrives in Carmel.

Rating:
Summary: Writ of Execution will keep u on your toes!
Review: I really enjoyed the latest installment in the series of Nina Reilly. This was a quick fast-paced read from the moment Jessie Potter wins the the biggest jackpot ever from a casino. I love Tahoe and this series takes me back there everytime. Jessie has her secrets and hires Nina to help her collect her money without exposing her true identity. Unfortunately many people don't want to see Jessie ever get her money. From a cold-blooded killer to the wormy lawyer Jeff Reisner there are many who want to keep the money out of Jessie's hands. And once again as a side-bar we wait patiently for Nina to realize what a find she has in Paul van Wagoner. Can't wait for the next installment in this very exciting and entertaining seires.

Rating:
Summary: SO SO...
Review: This is a mediocre legal thriller, and my first introduction to this author. While moderately entertaining, I probably will not seek anymore novels by this author, as the writing tends to be pedestrian and formulaic. I also found the character of the attorney, Nina Reilly, to be uninteresting and an embarrassment to women in the legal profession. Perhaps, this was in part due to the fact that I listened to the unabridged audio book, where the reader infused Ms. Reilly's character with a breathy, little girl voice, that made her sound just this side of stupid.

Still, the book had its interesting moments. The plot revolves around a young woman, purportedly of Washoe Indian descent, who calls herself Jessie Potter and has just won a seven million dollar plus jackpot at a Nevada casino. She wishes to maintain a low profile, as she has a deep, dark secret, so she retains Ms. Reilly as her attorney, seeking to collect the jackpot, while maintaining her privacy. Unbeknownst to Ms. Reilly and her client, someone else feels entitled to that jackpot and will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get it.

In constructing the plot, the author, through one of the secondary characters, gives an interesting account of how these jackpots are designed to work, as well as a bird's-eye view of the gaming industry. Moreover, the courtroom scenes are of some interest. Still, this is not enough to make this a top notch legal thriller, as the writing never rises beyond hack status. The plot was too pat and contrived, at times, and the characters remain two dimensional throughout. I found myself neither caring for nor very much liking any of the characters. This over rated book remains simply a quick, throwaway read.