The Perfect Witness

Rating:
Summary: Another lawyer finds redemption in another convoluted case
Review: "The Perfect Witness" tells another version of the familiar story of the down on his luck lawyer who finds redemption in taking a case against all odds to save a friend. In this case the lawyer in question is Greg Monarch, who has been reduced to doing contracts and wills when his former partner Ira Sullivan is arrested for the brutal murder of old Bob Wilson, the Postmaster. Sullivan insists on Monarch taking the case, which involves a lot more than the murder of one old man. Eventually everything from drugs to the Devil's Peak power plant are involved, but the heart of the case against Sullivan is Sandy Polson, "The Perfect Witness." At least that is what D.A. Dennis Taylor believes in his traditional quest for political power built on the reputation of nailing the killer in a sensational case. Polson fingers Sullivan for the crime and although he is certain she is lying, there is nothing Monarch can do to stop her from convicting his friend and sending him to the gas chamber.

Barry Siegel is an above average writer: his characters have some depth despite being recognizable types from such stories and his courtroom confrontations are the most enjoyable parts of "The Perfect Witness." My problem is one I have had with such crime fiction since "Basic Instinct," to wit, we need to have a willing suspension of disbelief regarding the use of scientific testimony to have a decent mystery story now a days. Sandy Polson might be a great witness, but without evidence supporting her story any decent lawyer would be able to drive a truck through her story, even if he is out of practice and tends to drink too much for his own good. The mind boggles over what a good forensic pathologist like Kay Scarpetta would do with this case. Still, "The Perfect Witness" is a good read, certainly above average in that regard and the courtroom duels between Monarch and Polson are pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: a miss
Review: A great read for anyone who wants to get away, at least for an evening or two. Vivid in its narrative and true in its dialogue, the book lets the reader become a fly on the wall as the story unfolds. Characters are people you'd want to be friends with (or in some cases not). Keeps you going down to the end, then you wish it wasn't over.

Rating:
Summary: Legal Thriller Reveals Layer Upon Layer of Suspence
Review: Barry Siegel's legal thriller The Perfect Witness begins like a typical murder mystery, but develops into much more as Siegel begins to weave a complex plot that reveals all of the foibles of the legal system and the elusive search for the truth. The conclusion, that only by playing by the corrupt rules of the game can an innocent defendeant find relief are sobering. Siegel is very convincing in showing how things can go very wrong. The portrait of a power hungry prosecutor more concerned with getting a conviction that convicting the guilty party has a ring of truth. Siegel writes with the assurance of one who knows of what he speaks. He also does a good job at conveying a sense of place in the foggy California town. Personally, I didn't feel the characters were fully realized, but the complex plot structure and intriguing ethical issues carry the book. The Perfect Witness is a good read that got steadily more exciting as I went along. I found at the end, I couldn't put it down, and I was a bit disappointed when it was over. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: Good formula, I expecially liked the realistic feel of the story. I like David Baldacci Ford, too, but he's too childish sometimes. This is a good, not "perfect", but really enjoyable book.

Rating:
Summary: liar,liar
Review: perjurious testimony and witness coaching as hinge wings to decision-making within the adversarial trial system.melancholic tone, broken souls.

Rating:
Summary: A well-written legal challenge
Review: This is the first book by Barry Siegel that I have read, and I am looking forward to reading his previous ones. The book has excellent characterization and makes you ask yourself how you would react if you were one of the characters--a bit of an ethical question or two. It is predictable up to a point, but it keeps you wanting to get to the next chapter to find out how an innocent man can be freed when up against huge odds.

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Book I ever Read!
Review: This was absolutely the worst book i ever read. The characters were not developed at all, and the plot was not only predictable but stupid, and seemed to be thought up by a first grade student. If you are physically capable of reading any other book, read it instead of this piece of trash.

Rating:
Summary: The Worst Book I ever Read!
Review: This was absolutely the worst book i ever read. The characters were not developed at all, and the plot was not only predictable but stupid, and seemed to be thought up by a first grade student. If you are physically capable of reading any other book, read it instead of this piece of trash.