Pamela Callow's Indefensible ~ Reviewed

Indefensible
Pamela Callow
Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
Publisher: Mira; Original edition (December 28, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780778329220


Description
When Elise Vanderzell plummets from her bedroom balcony one gorgeous summer night, her children awaken to a nightmare.

Their mother is dead.

Their father is charged with her murder.

Lawyer Kate Lange knows all about nightmares. She's survived the darkest period of her troubled life and the wounds are still raw. Now she's been handed a case that seems utterly unwinnable: defending her boss, high-profile lawyer Randall Barrett. A prosecutor's dream suspect, Randall is a man who was cuckolded by his ex-wife. A man who could not control his temper. A man who had argued bitterly with the victim the previous day in full view of the children.

With limited criminal law experience, Kate finds herself enmeshed in a family fractured by doubt. Randall's teenage son is intent on killing him. His daughter wants only to feel safe again. And the entire legal community would like nothing better than to see Randall receive a public comeuppance. As Kate races to stay a step ahead of the prosecution, a silent predator is waiting for the perfect time to deal the final blow.

Review:

Attorney Kate Lange returns, this time with different demons breathing down her back and invading her sleep. She barely survives a brutal attack in Damaged and though all seems well careerwise, she is a celebrated hero at her law firm, clouds loom over her and someone she cares about.

One dark terrible night brings horrific "fact" upon horrific "fact" and Kate is forced to sort these out to save Randall Barrett from a fate worse than death. With everything against her, including Randall's partners, Kate races the clock to prove that he could not do what they say he did. Unknown to them all, a predator lurks, planning even more horror, and holding the key to the terrible truths in the case.

Callow writes a page turning story. Brutal at times, horrific at others but with characters who are fleshed out and sympathetic. The violence, language and sex may overwhelm some more sensitive readers. But nitty-gritty legal/police procedural/psychological thriller lovers may find much to like in this well-written novel. The villain tends a little toward stereotype in his behavior and motivation but that may be because he doesn't get as much play time because of the amount of story covered in just a few short days.

Bottom line: Indefensible would be a great vacation read.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer