Rating: 
Summary: Close to 4 stars
Review: Film stage and television actress Margaret Whitton gives a multi-layered reading of Margolin's Portland based thriller. With equal ease she inhabits the most disparate of characters from lawyer Amanda Jaffe to state's attorney Tim Harrigan to a Hispanic gang leader. When last seen the once commanding Amanda had been so traumatized that she lost not only confidence but a willingness to once again do legal battle. However, she does agree to take on a case that no one else will consider - the murder of a U.S. Senator. Jon Dupre, operator of a for-the-wealthy call girl service stands accused. Claiming innocence, Dupre says he can prove that a group of influential men have formed a secret society to promote their political agendas, and will stop at nothing - not even murder. Sounds very much like a trumped up tale by someone trying to exonerate himself, does it not? However, Amanda will soon have reason to believe otherwise. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: A MULTI - LAYERED HIGHLY LISTENABLE READING
Review: Film stage and television actress Margaret Whitton gives a multi-layered reading of Margolin's Portland based thriller. With equal ease she inhabits the most disparate of characters from lawyer Amanda Jaffe to state's attorney Tim Harrigan to a Hispanic gang leader. When last seen the once commanding Amanda had been so traumatized that she lost not only confidence but a willingness to once again do legal battle. However, she does agree to take on a case that no one else will consider - the murder of a U.S. Senator. Jon Dupre, operator of a for-the-wealthy call girl service stands accused. Claiming innocence, Dupre says he can prove that a group of influential men have formed a secret society to promote their political agendas, and will stop at nothing - not even murder. Sounds very much like a trumped up tale by someone trying to exonerate himself, does it not? However, Amanda will soon have reason to believe otherwise. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: Another Lawyer Turn Detective Story
Review: First off, I'm going to start with the good stuff. In Ties That Bind Phillip Margolin writes another fun, attention keeping lawyer as detective thriller staring the damaged Amanda Jaffe. Here, not only must she deal with a political conspiracy, a possibly innocent yet dangerous client and a possible corrupt District Attorney but also a brutal group of men who aren't scared to use the horrors of her past against her. Margolin weaves together a lot of sub plots to come to his satisfying and actually surprising conclusion. Rarely anymore am I surprised by the ending of a book, with hundreds of mysteries behind me, it easy to suspect everyone. This time Margolin actually set me up pretty well, and threw a curveball past me.
On the negative side, and this isn't a criticism of Margolin alone, the legal thriller genre is quickly becoming more thriller than legal. These lawyers turn writers currently seem unable to end a book in a courtroom. In this novel, Margolin continues the trend with very minimal courtroom scenes and not all that much lawyering happening. Now granted, a good thriller has its place, and this one was pretty good, but I didn't start reading the likes of Margolin, Lescroart, Bernhardt and Freidman for your typical psycho stalker meets beautiful lady story. I like the courtroom maneuvering and the legal process, and yes, even a verdict. Hopefully once again we can get some books with verdicts.
Rating:
Summary: Something's missing...
Review: For the most part, men and women write differently. Not that this is a bad thing, just that there can be obvious differences. For example, a writing teacher told me once that men have a tendency to be more cut-and-dry, more blunt, and leave the bare minimum. Using this minimizing technique works well for analytical essays, and sometimes short stories, but it's not always successful when seen in a novel.
Margolin tells a story of conspiracy in the Portland legal community, and cuts out parts that would be more appropriate for a novel. At times, it seems as if he is trying to pull off a Dan Brown-sort of novel in the changing views and the hierarchy of conspiracy and deceit, but he lacks rich descriptions, as well as 'hit and runs,' or similes. Much of the dialogue is too blunt, and nondescript, leaving the reader wanting to know more about how the characters are talking, or what is happening while the talking is ocurring. Basically, there is no emotion in his words.
However, when there is emotion, it seems forced. Many times, I found myself reading a passage and thinking, 'You have got to be kidding me. I don't buy it.' The difference between Margolin and Brown's far-fetchedness is that at least in Brown's the absurd plot twists are not only believable, but make sense in a smart way. When I read 'Ties That Bind,' some of the twists were not led into, and were not smartly introduced.
More or less, I read the book just to get it done with. I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters, and I thought that much of what happened was implausible. Overall, I give the book three stars, for effort, and because the author is from the same town as I.
Rating:
Summary: Close to 4 stars
Review: I stumbled on Philip Margolin recently, this is his second that I've read. Before this, I read Wild Justice which also featured Amanda Jaffe. I like her though I feel I got to know her a little better in the first book than here. The book begins with a long ago shootout in a drug house - and a real surprise. Then it comes forward in time and gives readers some clever twists. One of my tests for any book is how many times I put it down. This one got second listed several times over two or three weeks. Still I liked it, and will read a few more from this guy, but I wish I had enjoyed it 4 stars worth.
Rating:
Summary: TOO MUCH SENSATIONALISM
Review: In Ties That Bind, criminal lawyer Amanda Jaffe returns, assigned by the court to defend the murderer of a U.S. Senator. While that case is somewhat circumstantial, what is more open-and-shut is her client's murder of his previous attorney, a brutal killing that has made most others reluctant to defend him. Jaffe, however, is willing to take him on and in the process, do battle with her own demons. As usual, Margolin is an adept writer, though this is far from his best work, as most of his plot twists are either rather easy to figure out (such as who is entangled in the conspiracy) or out of left field (such as the final solution of the whodunit). On the other hand, Margolin has presented his most clever villains since Gone But Not Forgotten, which does make the story exciting even as its ending seems foreshadowed. Jaffe herself is a well-defined character, and unlike most series characters, she doesn't just shake off the traumas she has previously undergone. Overall, I'd say this was a good, but not great, book. Those who read less suspense novels may be more surprised by the plotting, but for veteran readers of the genre, this will be a bit predictable. Nonetheless, fans of thrillers should be generally pleased with Margolin's latest effort
Rating:
Summary: Complex plot pleases with suspense-filled twists and turns
Review: Margolin is not as well known as Grisham or Scott Turow, but he can write a legal thriller with equal suspense. Here is his eighth novel to date; its complex plot had just the right number of characters so we could keep track, unlike his prior book, "The Associate", which seemed to us to be overpopulated with shallow characters and red herrings. It's difficult to report on much of the action without revealing the fine story line, but DA Tim Kerrigan, defense lawyer Amanda Jaffe (back from an earlier novel in the series), and a cast of thugs on both sides of the law create an entertaining ensemble of judges, pimps, and relatives! While at first we sympathize with Kerrigan, we find ourselves constantly shifting allegiances with the leading characters as Margolin's tale shifts from phase to phase. We could hardly wait to get to the end, where the outcome will surely surprise many a reader. We might quibble that literally the last couple of pages offered an ending distraction (wish they had been sliced by the editor), but otherwise, we were enchanted throughout. Shades of his first few novels, which showed a deliberate command of the craft and this genre, we're glad Margolin kept his imagination flowing while reducing the cast to a manageable size in "Ties". We think you'll be spellbound -- try it!
Rating:
Summary: Margolin back on track with this nail biter
Review: Phillip Margolin has the distinction of having written one of my all-time favorite novels (Gone, But Not Forgotten), and has been sporadic (at best) in achieving the success he gained through this one story. He HAS come close with a couple (After Dark & Wild Justice) but most of the rest of his books have been really good, but not great. 'Wild Justice' was one of his exceptional stories and it introduced us to Amanda Jaffe, our main character in 'Ties'. Following this we got the filler book, 'The Associate' which was okay, and I was beginning to wonder how many so-so novels we have to go through before landing another truly engrossing tale from Margolin. I personally believe that 'Ties That Bind' is both exceptional as well as difficult to follow. Several reviewers have noted that there are too many characters to follow, which really CAN be a problem especially at the beginning. I forced my way through only to become involved in a story that seemed interesting, but not compelling like some of he previous stories. However, around half-way through the book I found the plot really thickening into something quite diabolical. The story begins back in the early 70's when the Vaughn Street Glee Club is organized. Known only by a VERY select few, especially on the outside, and the only way INTO the club is through the worst of human acts: Murder. We skip ahead to the present when a really disgusting pimp gets nailed for killing one of his prostitutes. But is he the one who is really responsible? After discussing his current problems with his attorney, the lawyer informs him that without a rather sizeable retainer, he won't be able to continue to defend him, especially on murder charges. The Court then appoints him an attorney, but before he can even discover anything about the case, he kills his own defender. NOW he's in trouble for TWO murders. Amanda Jaffe becomes involved, but she's still having difficult time adjusting after the Cardoni case (see 'Wild Justice') and the traumatic experience that was for her. She reluctantly accepts, and becomes embroiled inside the Vaughn Street Glee Club and their attempts to place one of their members inside the White House. The DA scheduled to try the case, Tim Kerrigan has demons of his own. One night he succumbs to a terrifying greed and hires one of the pimps special prostitutes for an evening, and before long finds himself being blackmailed by the hooker to let the pimp off, or be exposed as the scum that he is. Tim's character is a multi-demensional one. On the one hand you despise him for his sordid actions, but on the other you see inside his head and how repulsed he is at himself and what he has done and things cascade and snowball into a life-altering visit with his surrogate father, who is also a judge. HOW can he handle this situation? If he ignores the blackmail, he'll be exposed, ruining his wife and daughters lives, but if he gives in he will sink to a new low by intentionally throwing an otherwise air-tight case against the pimp. The judge gives him an opportunity to erase the entire event, but the cost is VERY high. Would it be possible to actually eliminate the hooker and make all his problems go away forever? Slowly, Tim realizes that NOT accepting the judges offer creates a separate set of problems that are just as terrible. 'Ties That Bind' really does move along on a track that can be difficult to follow -- especially if you read a little each day and then put the book down for a couple of days, do that and you could be hopelessly lost in attempting to figure out where you were last. But through all of this, I still found the story worthwhile and quite entertaining. There are some genuine surprises along the way (especially at the end) and ultimately found the the entire book to be well written and thrilling. It was by no means up to the level of 'Gone, But Not Forgotten' and 'Wild Justice' but very fun to read nevertheless. I anxiously await Mr. Margolin's next story.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting conspiracy theory action
Review: Since she was kidnapped and tortured on an earlier case, lawyer Amanda Jaffe has lived with flashbacks and panic--to the point where she's considering abandoning her career in criminal law. Being a court-appointed attorney to a pimp accused of murdering a senator and his lawyer is close to Amanda's ultimate nightmare. But as she investigates, she starts to wonder if some horrible miscarriage of justice might not be taking place. Prosecuting attorney Tim Kerrigan should be happy. He's got a beautiful wife, a wonderful daughter, a Heisman trophy, and a father and friends pushing him for more--like becoming U.S. Senator and eventually even President. Tim has a problem with his self-worth, but his powerful friends are willing to make accomodations--and push him as far as he wants to go. But first, he's got to secure what should be an easy conviction in a death penalty case. Of course, there is the little matter of the blackmailing prostitute. As Tim and Amanda explore the case they share, each begins to learn that there are powerful currents hidden beneath the surface. Amanda picks up vague hints of some sort of cabel--the rich and powerful take care of themselves and others, and stop at nothing to preserve their power. They might even have sent a lawyer to kill his own client--the man who is now her client. But if they are that powerful and that willing to kill, is her own life safe--or has she stepped into her worst nightmare? Author Phillip Margolin writes a fast-paced and tight thriller. Although the paperback version is four hundred pages long, I tore through the book in a single afternoon, devouring the story as quickly as I could. The powerful cabel, the fears of the primary protagonists, and their feeling of helplessness they learned that the cabel's reach is long indeed added power to the story. I did have some problems with the characters--both Amanda and especially Tim whined a bit much for my taste, but Margolin's powerful writing kept them from becoming completely unsympathetic. One horrible editing error--where Tim's wife first reports that Tim is alive and then claims that she doesn't know whether he is alive or not did jar me out of the story, but not for long. If you like conspiracy-theory types of stories, you won't go wrong with TIES THAT BIND.
Rating: 
Summary: An author who always pleases
Review: This is the fourth Philip Margolin book I have read. Margolin spins interesting yarns with some creative twists that I do enjoy, but I classify Margolin as a "B" writer at best. His characters are one-dimensional stereotypes of the standard characters in the mystery/thriller genre. The books end neatly, but I feel no satisfaction for the characters in the outcome. There is also a graphic gratuitous nasty and sadistic thread in most of Margolin's books. Ties That Bind is typical Margolin as it follows a beautiful attorney, Amanda Jaffe, who is in recovery from an encounter with a psychotic sexual sadist in an earlier book. She finds herself defending a pimp accused of multiple murders (of a U.S. Senator on the fast track to be President and then his Attorney). This leads to Amanda uncovering a group of sociopaths (known as the Vaughn Street Glee Club) in high places that have Portland in their web and the Presidency in their sights. Amanda then goes through a new series of perils as she is stalked by a typically evil group of thugs who seem mostly concerned with sexually humiliating her. The other main character is Tim Kerrigan, a former college football hero and Heisman Trophy winner, who is the Prosecutor in Amanda's case. Although outwardly a role-model, Tim is plagued by guilt, self-doubts, and unhappiness with his marriage. Acting on these issues results in Tim being dragged into the Vaughn Street Glee Club conspiracy with a Faustian choice then set before him. Ties That Bind did entertain me and Margolin's ability to frame a plot saves the book from being a stinker. In the hands of a more talented writer (who also avoids the nastiness described above) it could have been great. Although I am giving it three stars, 2 ? would be a more appropriate rating.
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