On
Tuesday I posted my review of Stray
Bullets and on Thursday I put up Questions and Answers with Robert. Tonight
I am adding my thoughts to the Q & A.
****
Robert
outlined the financial challenges faced by private defence counsel taking on
complex cases when Legal Aid provides very limited fees. He spoke of the dream
of every defence lawyer to find a wealthy defendant ready to spend a million
dollars on the defence. While rare such defendants do exist. In The Guilty Plea, Robert was clearly
inspired by his landlord, famed Toronto criminal defence lawyer Eddie
Greenspan, on how to handle a knife delivered to defence counsel. He could draw
on Eddie’s experiences again. Eddie was reported to have been paid $1,100,000
to defend Helmuth Buxbaum 25 years ago. Buxbaum, a nursing home owner, was
charged with hiring the murder of his wife. More recently, Conrad Black’s
defence team was paid millions as he fought fraud and obstruction charges in
U.S. Federal Court. Eddie was also a part of that defence unit. Black was released from prison in the U.S. this weekend having served his sentence.
****
Robert
lamented that defence counsel, Nancy Parrish, does not listen to him on
developing her personal life. He sounds like her father. Maybe it is time for a
senior respected member of the criminal defence bar to speak to her about the
need for a life that is more than clients and trials.
****
On
the absence of diagrams Robert set out his conviction that they do not work
well and “a novel has to live in the readers mind”. It is a rare current
mystery with diagrams comparable to those in The Judas Window by John Dickson Carr writing as Carter Dickson.
The diagrams in that book even extended to the cover of the edition I reviewed.
Having not seen diagrams in contemporary crime fiction I would be interested in
the reaction of readers to diagrams. I hope a current author will take a chance
on charting a crime site.
****
With
regard to creating an ensemble cast Robert set out that “it’s the way I see my
world”. For an author who does not know mysteries he creates excellent plots.
Based on the rotation of characters in the three books of the series I believe
I know who will be the next Crown prosecutor to be the focus of a book.
****
Robert
forthrightly assured me that he “underplayed the sex lives of Toronto criminal
lawyers” and invited me to drive straight to Toronto to share in the fun. I
have avoided having my wife read this answer and suggestion. I am declining
Robert’s offer.
****
Robert
indicated he had not included experts for the defence as they “slowed up the
drive of the courtroom scenes”. I was surprised by the comment. Both in legal
mystery fiction and real life I have found experts at the heart of many cases
providing critical evidence. Maybe Robert could add some expert witnesses with
as active sex lives as the lawyers.
****
On
creating tight lipped clients Robert emphasized the mantra provided by every
defence counsel to clients - remain silent of voice and refrain from all other
forms of communication. As there are few Trappist monks accused of crime I
expect defence counsel, in fiction and real life, will have to keep defending
clients who cannot learn silence is golden.
****
Bill - Thanks for your thoughts on that very interesting interview! I've often wondered just how many well-heeled clients there really are out there and was not surprised to find they're rare.
ReplyDeleteAbout diagrams... I very much agree with you. I like it when novels have graphics such as diagrams and family charts and maps. They aren't as common as they were and I wish they were.
I look forward to your review of Dos Equis. I'm very much looking forward to reading it, too.
Margot: Thanks for the comment. Maybe diagrams can be the next great "thing" for mysteries.
ReplyDeleteSounds very sensible to avoid that challenge, Bill! I was amazed that Conrad Black got out after only 3 years.....his antics in the UK were legendary. Will Bernie Madoff be next?
ReplyDeleteMaxine: Thanks for the comment. It was not a suprise his sentence was reduced when his appeal succeeded on most of his convictions. What is striking is how all the members of the Board (staunch members of the American Establishment) escaped prosecution for approving the actions for which Black was partially convicted. There is a teapot tempest in Canada as he has returned to his home in Toronto. At issue is that he renounced Canadian citizenship to be able to get an English peerage. He is an excellent writer if you have not read any of his books. Bernie had best prepare himself to spend the rest of his days in jail.
ReplyDelete