Rating: 
Summary: "Trust" Buffa when it comes to legal trillers
Review: "Breach of Trust" is an excellent example of both a writer's and a character's progression. Although D.W.Buffa set himself a difficult benchmark with his best novel, "The Judgment," this latest effort comes close to the superior effort that that one was. Set in New York and DC, Buffa shows that he's not just a left coast man who can only spin a tale of Portland, San Francisco or LA. The continuing introspections of his main character, trial lawyer Joseph Antonelli, as that character has aged through six novels (as well as becoming an extremely famous trial lawyer) are a welcome addition to the usual run-of-the-mill courtroom thriller. Antonelli's on-going problems in relations with the women who enter his life continue to be chronicled, too. Will Antonelli ever find true love? Maybe the seventh novel will be lucky for him. If Buffa keeps on writing such intriguing plots with their appropriate twists, his seventh effort is worth looking forward to for both his readers and Antonelli.
Rating:
Summary: "Trust" Buffa when it comes to legal trillers
Review: "Breach of Trust" is an excellent example of both a writer's and a character's progression. Although D.W.Buffa set himself a difficult benchmark with his best novel, "The Judgment," this latest effort comes close to the superior effort that that one was. Set in New York and DC, Buffa shows that he's not just a left coast man who can only spin a tale of Portland, San Francisco or LA. The continuing introspections of his main character, trial lawyer Joseph Antonelli, as that character has aged through six novels (as well as becoming an extremely famous trial lawyer) are a welcome addition to the usual run-of-the-mill courtroom thriller. Antonelli's on-going problems in relations with the women who enter his life continue to be chronicled, too. Will Antonelli ever find true love? Maybe the seventh novel will be lucky for him. If Buffa keeps on writing such intriguing plots with their appropriate twists, his seventh effort is worth looking forward to for both his readers and Antonelli.
Rating:
Summary: Trust Buffa - He Delivers
Review: D.W. Buffa has written several very good novels. In this one, he has written a classic. It has a melange of elements. A murder trial - political intrigue at the highest levels - romance - mystery - danger and suspense. All stirred together along with some very interesting political philosophy and social commentary it becomes a very difficult book to put down and one you will reflect on after the last page is turned.No need to recount the plot as others have already done so. There are many interesting characters and some lively trial scenes as Joseph Antonelli defends an old friend charged with a decades old murder. But, it is the larger story that is being told that will hold your interest and what makes this such a memorable book.
Rating: 
Summary: Lighten Up, Mr. Buffa!
Review: D.W. Buffa's "Breach of Trust", while not exactly a page-turner, is an interesting novel. Buffa's super-defense attorney Joseph Antonelli is back, this time the reluctant defendant of his former Harvard law school roommate, Thomas Browning, who happens to be the Vice President of the United States. A decades-old death - apparently accidental - of a young woman from the Antonelli/Browning circle of friends resurfaces with a politically motivated vengeance. What follows is a convoluted plot of conspiracies and politics, dredging up long buried secrets while challenging friendships, loyalties, and values.
Unfortunately, "Breach of Trust" suffers from Buffa's pretentious - if not bombastic - windy and preachy prose. Characters are philosophically somber and cynical to a fault, lending to a setting unnecessarily morose and humorless. The left-leaning Buffa definitely has a political axe to grind, bordering on yet another thinly veiled attack on the current Bush administration. But to give credit to the author, the end salvages some sense of political ambiguity and neutrality. At its best, it is a stinging indictment of politics in America, while at its worst, "Breach of Trust" is a bleak and pessimistic assessment of government and justice in America. Intelligent fiction? For sure, but at times frustrating, occassionally simply boring, and A book one you'll not find hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: No light to be seen in this one.
Review: For the young and rich at Harvard Law School, parties that went on for days in the 1960's were common. Of course, nothing too scandalous that would come back to haunt you when you became part of the rich and legal elite and whatever secrets there were - well, they were expected to be kept hidden for the good of all. A law school reunion brings all the players together, with the guest of honor being one of their own. The heir to a fortune, the odd member of their group from their university days went on to become the Vice President of the United States.
Thomas Stern Browning has made a request of his old school friend, Joseph Antonelli. Forty years ago, at a party held at the Plaza Hotel, a young woman fell to her death. Though loved by all that met her, Annie Malreaux had two suitors at the time who were desperately in love with her and both were at the Plaza when she died. In the present day, a murder case is brought before the court; the result of which will put one of these men in jail and end the rising career of the other. Browning has only one more step to go before he reaches his ultimate political goal, and there are many who would like to stop him getting here. Defense attorney Joseph Antonelli must dig into the past that they all share to end the nightmare of the present.
D.W. Buffa undoubtedly has an elegant and meticulous style of writing. Infusing his latest work with a melancholic air Buffa has written a sombre novel of regret and lost love. The courtroom scenes do not take up a lot of time in "Breach of Trust" though the novel could be aptly described as a legal and political drama. What detracts from the read is the pompous speeches of the characters and the inherent selfishness common to most of the major players. It's difficult to care one way or another what happens to there ultra urbanized souls who spend all their time in cities and around people that they all secretly seem to despise.
"Breach of Trust" is the author's sixth novel featuring Joseph Antonelli. This work serves well as a standalone but seems more of concluding piece than an entry in a continuing series. If you don't let the darkness drag you down you will appreciate the careful deliberations that have led to the present day conflict in this thoughtful and unsettled novel.
Rating:
Summary: fabulous legal thriller
Review: Harvard Law School graduate Joseph Antonelli agrees to come back for a reunion only because his old roommate Thomas Browning, the Vice President of the United States, asked him to attend as a favor. At the reception, Thomas says glowing, but untrue things about Antonelli. Afterward Antonelli meets Jimmy Haviland, who blames Thomas for the death of another student, Annie Malreaux who fell to her death from the eighth floor of Manhattan's Plaza Hotel. The police ruled it an accident. Later that night Antonelli meets Browning who asks for his help. Apparently, the death of Annie is being reopened as a witness has surfaced claiming murder occurred. Browning feels his run for the Oval office could die with the scandal that he was part of a cover-up even if it proves false later. He wants Antonelli, the best defense attorney in the country, to defend whoever is accused of the homicide. Antonelli wants to say no, but agrees to handle the case especially since the accused is Jimmy, a person who never really recovered from the death of his beloved Annie. Fans of legal thrillers will take immense delight from the wonderful BREACH OF TRUST. The story line is loaded with action in and out of the courtroom and the White House. The cast is fabulous and is led by a remarkable caring hero though much of the show is stolen by the charismatic VP. Readers will never guess who did what to who as the ending is so buffed. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: fabulous legal thriller
Review: Harvard Law School graduate Joseph Antonelli agrees to come back for a reunion only because his old roommate Thomas Browning, the Vice President of the United States, asked him to attend as a favor. At the reception, Thomas says glowing, but untrue things about Antonelli. Afterward Antonelli meets Jimmy Haviland, who blames Thomas for the death of another student, Annie Malreaux who fell to her death from the eighth floor of Manhattan's Plaza Hotel. The police ruled it an accident. Later that night Antonelli meets Browning who asks for his help. Apparently, the death of Annie is being reopened as a witness has surfaced claiming murder occurred. Browning feels his run for the Oval office could die with the scandal that he was part of a cover-up even if it proves false later. He wants Antonelli, the best defense attorney in the country, to defend whoever is accused of the homicide. Antonelli wants to say no, but agrees to handle the case especially since the accused is Jimmy, a person who never really recovered from the death of his beloved Annie. Fans of legal thrillers will take immense delight from the wonderful BREACH OF TRUST. The story line is loaded with action in and out of the courtroom and the White House. The cast is fabulous and is led by a remarkable caring hero though much of the show is stolen by the charismatic VP. Readers will never guess who did what to who as the ending is so buffed. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: I am not very good with words so forgive me if this sounds amateurish. I am only on page 258 out of 371 pages so maybe this isn?t a fair review but I spent $25.00 on this book based on the praises it was given on Amazon. I was expecting a ?legal masterpiece? as one reviewer put it but I am extremely disappointed. Buffa?s style of writing leaves a lot to be desired. As booklover10 put it ?the book's main weakness is Buffa's writing style, which is uneven. Too often, he pads his sentences with overwrought prose, rambling descriptions, and too much repetition.? That is the understatement of the year. I skipped over whole pages because of the ?rambling descriptions?. It is hard to be interested in the story when you are too frustrated to care about what happens because you have to waste your time reading paragraph after paragraph about something that has nothing to do with the story. There is no character development. The trial doesn?t start until page 231 and only lasts for 10 pages and 6 of those pages was Antonelli?s opening statement. Right now I can?t think of anything nice to say about it. Maybe the last 113 pages will be better but somehow I doubt it.
Rating: 
Summary: From idealism to disillusionment.
Review: In D. W. Buffa's latest legal thriller, "Breach of Trust," criminal defense attorney Joseph Antonelli takes the case of Jimmy Haviland, an old friend from law school. Back in Harvard, Joseph had a tight circle of acquaintances, including Jimmy, Thomas Browning, now Vice President of the United States, and the beautiful Annie Malreaux. Both Thomas Browning and Jimmy Haviland were in love with Annie, but tragically, she either fell or was pushed to her death at the Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve in 1965. Now, many years after the event, Jimmy Haviland is being tried for Annie's murder. Thomas Browning has enlisted Joseph Antonelli, one of the country's most eminent and successful attorneys, to take Jimmy's case. Browning is convinced that Jimmy is being railroaded by the Vice President's political enemies. These individuals, Browning believes, want the public to think that years ago, Browning saw Jimmy pushing Annie to her death. According to this scenario, the Vice-President of the United States was once involved in the cover-up of a murder. Buffa's exploration of the ruthless and polarizing world of politics is both timely and relevant. He ably shows how our justice system can be undermined to suit the needs of ambitious and self-serving individuals. These themes resonate in today's cutthroat political climate. "Breach of Trust" is not just about politics. Buffa effectively shows the contrast between the idealism of youth and the disillusionment of middle age. When he was young, Antonelli looked forward to a fulfilling career. Years later, although he is well off and has achieved professional success and recognition, Antonelli is lonely and his personal life is barren. Antonelli fears that he will grow old alone, and he embarks on an affair with Gisela, a reporter with ambitions of her own. It turns out that most people in "Breach of Trust" have hidden agendas, and the characters generally operate at cross-purposes. The book's main weakness is Buffa's writing style, which is uneven. Too often, he pads his sentences with overwrought prose, rambling descriptions, and too much repetition. However, the engrossing characters and the thought-provoking plot make "Breach of Trust" worth reading, and I was pleasantly surprised by the bittersweet and poignant ending.
Rating:
Summary: From idealism to disillusionment.
Review: In D. W. Buffa's latest legal thriller, "Breach of Trust," criminal defense attorney Joseph Antonelli takes the case of Jimmy Haviland, an old friend from law school. Back in Harvard, Joseph had a tight circle of acquaintances, including Jimmy, Thomas Browning, now Vice President of the United States, and the beautiful Annie Malreaux. Both Thomas Browning and Jimmy Haviland were in love with Annie, but tragically, she either fell or was pushed to her death at the Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve in 1965. Now, many years after the event, Jimmy Haviland is being tried for Annie's murder. Thomas Browning has enlisted Joseph Antonelli, one of the country's most eminent and successful attorneys, to take Jimmy's case. Browning is convinced that Jimmy is being railroaded by the Vice President's political enemies. These individuals, Browning believes, want the public to think that years ago, Browning saw Jimmy pushing Annie to her death. According to this scenario, the Vice-President of the United States was once involved in the cover-up of a murder. Buffa's exploration of the ruthless and polarizing world of politics is both timely and relevant. He ably shows how our justice system can be undermined to suit the needs of ambitious and self-serving individuals. These themes resonate in today's cutthroat political climate. "Breach of Trust" is not just about politics. Buffa effectively shows the contrast between the idealism of youth and the disillusionment of middle age. When he was young, Antonelli looked forward to a fulfilling career. Years later, although he is well off and has achieved professional success and recognition, Antonelli is lonely and his personal life is barren. Antonelli fears that he will grow old alone, and he embarks on an affair with Gisela, a reporter with ambitions of her own. It turns out that most people in "Breach of Trust" have hidden agendas, and the characters generally operate at cross-purposes. The book's main weakness is Buffa's writing style, which is uneven. Too often, he pads his sentences with overwrought prose, rambling descriptions, and too much repetition. However, the engrossing characters and the thought-provoking plot make "Breach of Trust" worth reading, and I was pleasantly surprised by the bittersweet and poignant ending.
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