Mean Streak

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL book, part of a PHENOMENAL series
Review: Although I have read -- and enjoyed -- virtually every book in every series by the most famous female mystery writers, Carolyn Wheat unequivocally remains my favorite.

This series is about a Legal Aid attorney named Cass Jameson. As such, it introduces fascinating glimpses into seldom-seen areas of the legal system -- along with providing excellent mysteries. This is one series I buy in hardcover as soon as each book is published.

The books are all very well-written, fast-moving, and entertaining. I cannot sufficiently recommend them. IMHO, this is the best mystery series available.

Rating:
Summary: Crooked cops align themselves with shyster lawyers
Review: Carolyn Wheat tells a mean and believable story of a lawyer tangled in his own deceitful web. When mob lawyer Matt Riordan seeks the help of his ex-lover, Cass Jameson, he may be asking for more trouble than he is ready to deal with. Because Cass is street-tough and honest--an unbeatable combination in a regular courtroom, but how about in Federal Court? Cass faces a prejudiced judge (against her client BEFORE his day in court), a conniving prosecutor and an assistant who scores big on her back. How Cass solves the mystery of mob deaths and obtains justice for her client make a good read and a classic mystery. Parts of the book are slow, but hard to put down because you want all the loose ends knotted before you stop reading. If you enjoy Grisham, you will love Carolyn Wheat--she is Grisham with a bite!

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL book, part of a PHENOMENAL series
Review: The title refers to the thrilling roller coaster the protagonist enjoyed after initial reluctance. "Mean Streak" had little of the thrills of a roller coaster and more of the plodding of a old steam engine.

The references to the wild new legal territory for the attorney were too great in number to be justified. Characters were introduced with little coloring to match their supposed epic status. Some of the courtroom passages were intriguing, but I found it hard to visualize much of the other narratives. Maybe that's my own weakness, but I think some editing could have made for a more direct, hard-hitting novel.

Rating:
Summary: More of a Ferris Wheel
Review: The title refers to the thrilling roller coaster the protagonist enjoyed after initial reluctance. "Mean Streak" had little of the thrills of a roller coaster and more of the plodding of a old steam engine.

The references to the wild new legal territory for the attorney were too great in number to be justified. Characters were introduced with little coloring to match their supposed epic status. Some of the courtroom passages were intriguing, but I found it hard to visualize much of the other narratives. Maybe that's my own weakness, but I think some editing could have made for a more direct, hard-hitting novel.