Defending the Truth: A Joshua Robb Novel (Joshua Rabb Novels)

Rating:
Summary: his best.
Review: I raed a lot of legal thrillers and I can say, he gives grisham a run for his money.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful orator tells a frightening story
Review: There are many instances when the political climate of the country dictates national policy. Sometimes these instances give rise to demagogues such as Senator Joseph McCarthy and several of his minions. One such individual is William Maitland, the Junior Governor of Arizona, who plans to be the next Vice President of the United States. Obtaining McCarthy's approval, Maitland has one of his lackeys, ADA Essert convene a grand jury to look into the affairs of University of Arizona professors, who allegedly belong to a "pinko" group, Professors Against the War. Through this investigation and media manipulation, Maitland plans to gain national attention.

Maitland and his cronies are convinced that no reputable attorney will defend the beleaguered professors, but he fails to understand the passionate ideals of Joshua Rabb, who takes on the case. When one of his clients and a McCarthy supporter are both murdered, Rabb realizes the difficulty of the case. At the hearing, protesters, including his daughter, rally in support of the professors. However, they are all arrested when a bomb blast kills a U.S. marshal. Rabb knows that the case has become personal as he must uncover the truth even though it means challenging some of the most powerful people in the nation.

DEFENDING THE TRUTH is a must read novel that demonstrates clearly how demagogues come into power and maintain their position through terror tactics dedicated to keeping the masses under control. Richard Parrish is a powerful writer, whose convictions are evident as he skillfully employs his everyman protagonist against overwhelming forces. Mr. Parrish is on a level with the great legal thriller authors of today such as Cornwell and Turow.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Very predictable, very disappointing...
Review: What could have been a very thought-provoking and original piece on a yeasty time in our nation's history instead received the usual liberal, elitist treatment. Gee, what a shock, Mr. Parrish- all of the likeable, sympathetic characters are all liberals of good conscience, while the villains are all conservatives, or business and community leaders, or (preferably) both. Clearly, this is a work of fiction, particularly as Parrish attempts to paint former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater as some sort of racist, particularly toward native Americans (in contrast to his actual record as one of their most stalwart defenders; and BTW, Mr. Parrish, Sen. Goldwater was also of Jewish descent, like many of the other "heroes" in this piece). What could have been a truly groundbreaking novel about a particular time and place in America instead falls on its face due to Mr. Parrish's inability to leave his heavy-handed politics aside. A very disappointing work...