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.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Night Lawyer by Michelle Spring


I have just returned from the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary. It was approximately the 19th Cup I have covered in my 42 years of reporting. I thought I would have time to post last week but it was not to be between going to Grey Cup events and writing columns and visiting our sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. If you want to read my columns they are available at www.humboldtjournal.ca. It was a good week. Not having written a review in the past 8 days I am posting an unposted review I wrote in 2008.
****
16. – 426.) The Night Lawyer by Michelle Spring – A brilliant premise as lovely young English lawyer, Eleanor (Ellie) Porter, starts work for the Chronicle, a London tabloid, as the night lawyer vetting articles at night for the paper. The part-time job suits Ellie as she has just recovered from a nervous breakdown triggered by the betrayal of her lover, William Du Quoyne. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to expectations. The story had really nothing to do with her job. For an intelligent lawyer, who is vigorously training to gain her brown belt in karate, her gushing willingness to resume the relationship with Du Quoyne lacked credibility. Her relationship with a Goth neighbor was bizarre. It did not seem realistic to ignore a stalker for much of the book. Her reluctance to establish a relationship with the handsome dependable editor, Jonathan, because of her hopes to renew her relationship with Du Quoyne was too much the romance novel approach. A casual sexual encounter with her karate instructor just confused me on her relationships with men. There was an interesting twist at the end that brought the themes in the plot together. Too often I found myself doubting the plot.  (Apr. 12/08)

2 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had a good time covering the Cup, Bill. It sounds busy and tiring, but very much worth the effort. And thanks for posting this review. I've not read Michelle Spring's work before, but I'm sorry to hear this one didn't live up to your expectations.

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    1. Margot: Thanks for the comment. Grey Cup Week is Canada's biggest party. Spring had an excellent concept.

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