The other books on the shortlist were Exposed by Lisa Scottoline and Testimony by Scott Turow. I have read both of them and have been planning to read Proof but it had not been easy to find a paper copy of the book in Canada. Ironically, the copy of Proof I ordered from the Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore in Toronto arrived today and I started reading Proof tonight.
Following a personal tradition, upon my completion of Proof I will put up a review of the book and then a post on which book from the shortlist I thought deserved to win the Prize.
This year's winning author, Cindy Tobisman, is a newcomer to legal fiction compared to Scottoline and Turow.
The ABA Journal article states:
Tobisman is a partner with Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
in Los Angeles, where she practices appellate law. Under the
name C.E. Tobisman, she has published two novels, Doubt and
Proof, and a comic book series, Inside the Loop.
The news release of the Award from the University of Alabama sets out Tobisman's reaction:
"I am honored, humbled, and frankly, totally stunned,"
Tobisman said. "The spirit of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is the
spirit of one person's ability to make the world a little more
fair. That the selection committee saw that spirit in my book is
something that I will treasure forever."
As has been the case in recent years readers of the ABA Journal were invited to help select which book would win by casting their vote at the Journal. The winner of the readers poll was a 5th vote joining the 4 individual judges.
This year the votes were 11.61% for Testimony, 16.42% for Proof and 71.98% for Exposed. I was a little surprised to see such a public landslide for Exposed.
The Prize will be awarded at the Library of Congress duing the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Congratulations to Cindy and a thank you to the University of Alabama for sending me the news release.
I'll be interested in what you think of Proof once you've digested it, Bill. And, of course, congratulations to C.E. Tobisman.
ReplyDeleteMargot: Thanks for the comment. Proof is off to a good start.
DeleteExposed was fun. Two strong women lawyers and the Italian families were just plain funny. And the story was easy to follow and had a lot of ethical breaches and then much reconciliation.
ReplyDeleteI bet people like Mary and maybe Benny and certainly the relatives. Also, moral questions open and shut. Everyone likes to catch corporate culprits.
Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment. I agree with your thoughts on Exposed. Once I am done Proof I will put up my post on which I think is the best book on the shortlist.
DeleteSounds interesting, and I look forward to your review. And your pick of those nominated.
ReplyDeleteTracyK: Thanks for the comment. Probably a week away.
DeleteInteresting public vote there! I will be interested to read your review of the winner.
ReplyDeleteMoira: Thanks for the comment. Still working my way through Proof.
DeleteEager to read which is your favorite of these books.
ReplyDeleteTrying to figure out if I should read Proof. I love legal mysteries, but it's not out in my library in hardcover.
Kathy D.: Reading a touch slow at the moment. Will have a review of Proof this coming week.
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