Rating: Summary: The Nina Reilly series just keeps getting better! Review: I have read all five Nina Reilly books and agree that this is the best so far. The authors very deftly bring Nina's life outside her law practice into the story allowing readers to learn more about her and the people around her without loosing any of the previous books legal edginess. As Nina spends more time with her client and those people who know him best, the situation becomes more than an ethical dilemma - it is a matter of life and death for her and her loved ones.My only complaint is this: I consider myself well read and with a fairly sophisticated vocabulary, however, I found myself looking up at least ten words in my thesaurus. I welcome this kind of challenge when I am reading scholarly books, but find it annoying when I'm just reading for pleasure. Granted, the meaning of all of these words was apparent in the context of the sentence, it just seems to be an unnecessary hindrance that doesn't belong in pop fiction. OK, off my soapbox. I am anxious for some of my reading friends to perhaps help fill in some big blanks in the story for me. I won't mention them here for fear of "spoiling" the read for someone else, but there are some unanswered questions.
Rating: Summary: "Gripping Legal Thriller" Review: Couldn't put it down. As always, the O'Shaughnessy sisters provide their wonderfully complicated protagonist--attorney Nina O'Reilly--, a taut storyline, a malicious villian, great courtroom scenes, a suberb supporting cast, and a chilling and unexpected denouement. Don't miss this one, and if you haven't read Perri O'Shaughnessy's four other novels, read them, too!
Rating: Summary: Another fantastic read! Review: O'Shaughnessy has done it again! I've read all her books, and she doesn't disappoint! Each one gets better and better! I'm looking forward to the next Nina O'reilly installment!
Rating: Summary: Another sure-fire bestseller! Review: Nina Reilly's got her hands full this time with impossibly handsome client, Jim Strong, an expert skier accused of stomping his brother to death. Vacillating between relief when the facts seem to exonerate Jim and terror when the evidence seems to call into question his version of the events, Nina faces her toughest challenge yet - defending a man she's not sure is innocent. To complicate matters, Nina falls in love with Collier Hallowell, a man whose professional survival may well depend upon his winning the very case Nina can't emotionally afford to lose. A page-turner from start to finish, ACTS OF MALICE proves Perri O'Shaughnessy to be a master of intrigue and suspense and one of the best of America's contemporary mystery writers. This fifth book in the Nina Reilly series gives the readers what they've come to expect from its talented writer: a rip-roaring good read.
Rating: Summary: Nina Reilly at her best Review: Attorney Nina Reilly operates a highly regarded practice in Lake Tahoe even as she raises her sixteen-year old son by herself. Since her divorce, she rejects all men until Assistant District Attorney Collier Hallawell reenters her life. He wants her back though he rejected her just last year. Nina refuses to allow him back in her life because she fears the pain when he leaves again as she expects of him. Adding to her skittishness is that the two lawyers are on opposite sides of a case. Though her client Jim Strong leaves Nina uneasy, she defends him from the state's accusation that he killed his brother. As Nina and Collier work closely together, he manages to penetrate her personal defenses. At the same time, evidence begins to prove that Jim is not the innocent he claims to be. If this turns out to be true, Nina and all those she cherishes are in considerable danger. The fifth Nina Reilly novel is the best of this wonderful series as a different side of the lead character's personality surfaces. This makes Nina seem more vulnerable and, in turn, human. The legal procedural story line comes across as realistic as the prosecution and defense thrusts and parries each other in the courtroom. Observing the personality of the defendant change over the course of the novel will leave chills up and down the spine of the audience. ACTS OF MALICE is Perri O'Shaugnessy at her best, which is at a higher level than most authors will ever achieve. Harriet Klausner
Rating: Summary: Acts of Misery Review: I'm a mystery reader but this book was horrible. I mean the plot was thin, their were cardboard characters, and overall nothing in the book revolved around a mystery. It focused more on the main character's (Nina) love life than an actual mystery. It was like a romance novel revolved around a mystery. I was disappointed and I am still disappointed I can't believe I waste time and energy reading this book. It was so boring I found myself scanning and skipping pages just to get through it.
Rating: Summary: Not Bad, But Not Enticing Enough To Try Another Review: Although the book was a fast read, there were too many negative points for me to try another in the Nina Reilly series. A summary of my main points of contention: way too much dialogue and not enough descriptive action; unbelievable 'love story' that leads to an intense coupling and a tragic loss; the assistant, Sandy, is unsympathetic and annoying rather than inscrutably intuitive or compassionate; and the villain was far too immature in his actions and verbiage to provide real suspense. Back to Fairstein, Kava and Coulter...
Rating: Summary: A lot of soap opera, a little legal thriller Review: I listened to this book as an abridged book on tape and I'm hoping some of the problems I have with the book were really due to the abridgement.
Problems:
1. her son Bob - he never speaks. He never does anything but be the perfect son who never, ever does anything wrong while mom sometimes spends outrageous hours out of the home. Watch out for this kid - he's going to be trouble!
2. Her son Bob says nothing, nothing at all about mom getting married to a man she just started re-dating while he's off on a trip to Germany (apparently unplanned since the tapes bring it up as he's packing the day before).
3. I don't know about you, but I think it would be pretty unethical to start dating the prosecutor during your defendent's murder trial.
4. The book spent much more time on the character's conflicted feelings (not conflicted about how this affair would affect her client's case, mind you, just hot and bothered about dating this man again)and not much on the case. If the story had focused, a 3 hour book on tape would have lasted about an hour. That means I was listening to 2 hours of romance novel on tape! Aaaargh!!
Rating: Summary: Cliche Review: With a Perri O'Shaughnessy novel, one can rest assured that two heads are definitely better than one! The Nina Reilly Series introduces the reader to Nina Reilly, the new kid on the block just trying to survive, not only in her chosen profession of the law, but in her family life as well. Throughout the novel Nina's experiences are believable, complicated and life altering. I totally enjoy all the characters in the book lending support to Nina and one in particular, Nina's -- more than just a secretary - Sandy - who somehow seems to help Nina keep afloat. Additionally, the series shows compassionate writing with a closeness for family and friends. Repeat characters are a favorite read for me and when I pick up one of the Nina Reilly series, it's like have old friends in the house, a little older and a little wiser with each book and each situation but the same dedication and loyalty. The authors have a a true knack for realistic story telling and realistic conclusions. I thank the authors.
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