Dying Declaration

Rating:
Summary: A Fast-Paced, Well-Executed Story
Review: How could Christian parents allow their young son to die without seeking medical help? When does belief cross the lines into legalism?

In this fast-paced, well-executed story, Randy Singer pens the troubling tale of Thomas and Theresa Hammond, two radically conservative Christians who belong to a church where seeking medical attention is viewed as sinful, and sickness comes from a lack of faith. When their toddler son Joshie becomes critically ill, they delay seeking medical attention. Joshie dies, and unscrupulous deputy attorney Rebecca Crawford (a.k.a. "the Barracuda") seizes the incident as a way to garner media attention and boost her chances of career advancement. The devastated parents are charged with negligent homicide and their remaining two children are taken from them. Charles Arnold, a divorced African-American law professor and street preacher who has recently been victimized by racial profiling, reluctantly takes the white Hammond couple's case.

But there's more, of course, going on than meets the eye. The married doctor who failed to save Joshie has a checkered past and a suspicious relationship with Crawford. During a night spent unjustly in jail sparked by his street preaching, the endearing Arnold rubs shoulders with a criminal awaiting trial who could be a key player in the Hammond case. Singer salts surprise twists for the reader throughout almost every chapter.

Singer, a street preacher and trial lawyer, knows firsthand many of the things he writes about, and has the craftsman's ability to bring his knowledge alive on the page in a way that makes for believable, exciting fiction. As the story unfolds, Singer weaves in multiple sub-themes, including racial discrimination, greed and betrayal. In the end, it is one person's "dying declaration" --- the statement made before a person dies that is almost always true and admissible as evidence --- that tips the outcome.

One of Singer's strengths is his multifaceted characters. He paints Theresa and Thomas as flawed Christian characters who are in need of the knowledge of God's grace, and the reader, while appalled at the Hammonds' actions involving Joshie, finds the couple believable and worthy of sympathy. Arnold is engaging and conflicted, and his romance with special advocate Nikki Moreno and his concern for her lack of faith are penned with a deft touch. The portrayal of the Hammonds' middle child, "Tiger," provides some memorable moments as he struggles to understand what has happened to his parents and his little brother. The only disappointment in characterization is with Crawford, who readers will love to hate and who rather unbelievably fails to show some endearing trait or glimmer of decency.

Although he never crosses the line into sentimentality, Singer also knows how to pluck at the heartstrings, and poignant moments throughout the story are sure to evoke a tear or two. The point of view changes are handled with aplomb. Strong pacing keeps the pages turning, as does the hooks at the end of each chapter that make it difficult to put the book down.

Singer, a 2003 Christy Award winner for suspense, gets better with each subsequent novel, and he excels in DYING DECLARATION. Fans of Singer's earlier novels, IRREPARABLE HARM and DIRECTED VERDICT will recognize some of the characters that make appearances in DYING DECLARATION, although it reads beautifully as a stand-alone novel.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Rating:
Summary: I'm Not Afraid
Review: I discovered Randy Singer through his debut legal thriller, "Directed Verdict." Since that time, he has released a book each year, providing some of the most intelligent and fun books to be found in the market. "Dying Declaration" surpasses his previous achievements--and that's high praise.

Once again, Singer draws us into a plot full of intrigue, colorful characters, and snappy dialogue. This time, his story revolves around a strict religious couple who lose their child due to a "faith" decision to avoid doctors and hospitals. When they do take their child to the hospital, it's too late. This sounds like a simple premise, but it allows room for issues of faith to be explored, and of course Singer brings in a number of other threads--prison scenes, money schemes, and themes of family and love. Using the legal backdrop, he puts the pieces of the puzzle into place at the appropriate moments. And a few of the pieces will surprise you!

Yes, I'll admit that I've become friends with Randy after reading his second novel. No, that doesn't change my objectivity toward his writing. This guy is good--and I'm not afraid to tell anyone I think so. Way to go, Singer!

Rating:
Summary: I'm Not Afraid
Review: I discovered Randy Singer through his debut legal thriller, "Directed Verdict." Since that time, he has released a book each year, providing some of the most intelligent and fun books to be found in the market. "Dying Declaration" surpasses his previous achievements--and that's high praise.

Once again, Singer draws us into a plot full of intrigue, colorful characters, and snappy dialogue. This time, his story revolves around a strict religious couple who lose their child due to a "faith" decision to avoid doctors and hospitals. When they do take their child to the hospital, it's too late. This sounds like a simple premise, but it allows room for issues of faith to be explored, and of course Singer brings in a number of other threads--prison scenes, money schemes, and themes of family and love. Using the legal backdrop, he puts the pieces of the puzzle into place at the appropriate moments. And a few of the pieces will surprise you!

Yes, I'll admit that I've become friends with Randy after reading his second novel. No, that doesn't change my objectivity toward his writing. This guy is good--and I'm not afraid to tell anyone I think so. Way to go, Singer!

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable read
Review: This is the first book I have read of Mr. Singer's, and it was good enough that I intend to read more.

It was such a nice change of pace to read a "suspense" novel without having to read all the cursing and sexual content of most books.

Please know that, while the Christian message is there, it is definitely not so strong as to put off readers who don't consider themselves to be Christians.


Rating:
Summary: Court drama.
Review: Thomas and Theresa Hammond are very religious and believe in stern discipline. When their youngest son, Joshua, is sick, they turn to their faith. After three days, they rush Joshua to the hospital but the boy dies while there. The Hammonds are then faced with charges of negligent homicide and child abuse.

Nikki Moreno is the Special Advocate. The judge presiding places five-year-old John Paul "Tiger" and his little sister, Hannah "Stinky", in Nikki's care pending their parents' trial. (Yes, unusual. The author did well on explaining how and why.)

Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rebecca Crawford (A.K.A. the Barracuda) is up for election soon and uses the case to her advantage for good press. With the public watching her every move, she pulls all the tricks in her arsenal against the Hammonds.

Nikki goes for back up in the form of Professor Charles Arnold. Charles teaches at Regent Law School and is a street evangelist. Between the two of them, they know every legal trick in the books ... and some that are not.

**** This is a wonderful story for all fans of court TV or fictional legal books. I estimate that about half the book is set in the court room. So if you do not care for that, avoid this novel. However, the author does an incredible job of explaining it all in terms that any layman can understand. Nothing will overwhelm you. A terrific legal drama! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Dying to read more by Mr. Singer!
Review: Well, we have a somewhat somber toned book that keeps the pages turning! The action in this doesn't stop, folks.

Join Charles Arnold, attorney at law, slash, preacher as he takes the side of Thomas and Theresa Hammond to fight for their rights as parents. When they are faced with tragedy, Arnold steps in to face Rebecca Crawford, A.K.A. the Barracuda.

I love Randy Singer. I love the way he mixes humor that you might slightly compare with Jefferson Scott, and he comes at you 80 miles per hour, and doesn't bother stopping, just makes you sweat a little bit more.

I thought that it was something you don't see every day in the case of Buster Jackson. Buster makes a statement that can make everyone who is a Christian think when he said, "Christians don't return hate for hate." That choked me up. Picture Michael Clarke Duncan as Buster, and possibly David Chappelle as Charles. This could be best described as a story of forgiveness, piety, but also very much a story of redemption. In saying that, I am in the middle of Irreparable Harm by Mr. Singer. We want more! Can't get enough of this man!

This man should be as popular as courtroom authors such as Steve Martini and John Grisham. I say that because he's better than they are! OH YEAH!! This pumps you up!!!