About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Deep Blue Alibi by Paul Levine

9. - 472.) The Deep Blue Alibi by Paul Levine – Standing on a beach at Key West, Victoria Lord has just told Steve Solomon she is dissolving their partnership when a boat blasts out of the water at them. In the wreckage are Victoria’s Uncle Grif and Washington EPA bureaucrat, Ben Stubbs. The latter has the spear from a speargun in his chest. When Stubbs dies Uncle Grif is charged with murder. Steve is ready and eager to lead the defence. Victoria is determined to lead and no longer be second chair. She wants “autonomy” from an oft overbearing Steve. At the same time Steve is petitioning to have his father, Herbert re-instated as a lawyer. Herbert had resigned from the bench rather than face a corruption trial. Steve is certain his father was never guilty. It is a rollicking story. The action is non-stop. The dialogue is clever. The characters are fascinating. (Steve’s nephew, Bobby, is a flawed budding genius.) Steve continues to be beyond flamboyant. Victoria is the solid diligent litigator who could use some flair in the courtroom. The court scenes are well done reflecting Levine’s legal background. There are incredibly dramatic action sequences. It would be interesting if Solomon & Lord met Claire Matturo’s Lily Cleary. How can it be that Florida has the three funniest mystery lawyers in American fiction? Solomon’s laws are great:

4. You can sell one improbable event to a jury. A second “improb” is strictly no sale, and a third sends your client straight to prison.

Excellent. Hardcover or paperback. (Feb. 19/09)
****
See also my reviews of other books in the series - Solomon v. Lord and Kill All the Lawyers

2 comments:

  1. Bill - I like that quote very much! And I'm so glad you enjoyed this latest entry into the Lord/Solomon series. One of the things that appeal about series like this is that the characters have complementary flaws and skills. And of course the humour...

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  2. Margot: Thanks for the comment. I think Solomon's laws are the best in crime fiction. They are certainly the most entertaining.

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