Mary N. (midnitebutterfly06) -
Helpful Score: 2
Set in the crowded courts, high-speed thruways and glamorous suburbs of So. California, this compulsively readable novel tells the story of Lily Forrester, a feisty, dedicated Asst.District Attorney on the rise in her professional career, and on the brink in her private life. Newly appointed as Chief of the Sex Crimes Div. she is eager to plunge into a job she has long coveted. At the same time she is coping with a floundering marriage and the lure of a man to whom she is strongly attracted. All that keeps her marriage together is her quirky 13 year old daughter. But when an intruder invades their home and commits an unspeakable crime, Lily heads out on a trail of vengeance beyond any law but that of her own rage. And with one shattering act, her life spins out of control. Suddenly she is alone, with a circle of danger closing in around her, leaving her nowwhere to run or hide and no one to trust. This is a novel that blends riveting suspense with an irresistible insider's look at the shifting dynamics between cops and killers, prosecutors and defenders, law and order.
Donna B. (ashoretink) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This novel blend suspense with an insider's look at the shifting of dynamics between cops and killers, prosecutors and defenders, law and order. This is the story of a fiesty dedicated Assistant DA on the risk in her professional career.
Susan W. (scaddybo) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 130 more book reviews
A thriller!
Linda F. (EASY22) - , reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 161 more book reviews
RAISES ETHICAL QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO RESOLVE. A GOOD STORY
Glamour review says it all -"Unstoppable...'Presumed Innocent' crossed with 'Thelma and Louise'!"
ISBN 0451176723 - Almost a sister to Nancy Wagner's All Our Lives (ISBN 0380778084), Mitigating Circumstances is not quite as good. Both books deal with a family dealing with the rape of a daughter and a marriage that's fallen apart, but Wagner's is just a little bit better.
Lily Forrester is an ADA who has just been made head of the Sex Crimes Division and sees her goal of becoming a judge within sight when her marriage finally unravels. Her daughter chooses to live with her father, but spends a fateful night at her mother's. The timing couldn't be worse, as a man who has been watching Lily is released from prison and stalks her to her new home and assaults mother and daughter.
Her own childhood abuse coupled with the horror of watching her own daughter raped drives Lily right over that vigilante line and she seeks justice outside the courtroom for the first time in her life. Now her career, her daughter, her marriage, her freedom, her sanity and her budding relationship with a fellow ADA are all on the line as one very good detective looks for answers.
The sex in this book tends toward graphic and violent and some of it is remarkably unnecessary, which wasn't too surprising since the main character works in Sex Crimes, but I did find a bit much now and then. Also a little off-putting was the sense that "all Latinos look alike", although that does get explained as "she wasn't wearing her glasses" - not a good excuse, but an excuse. On the funny side, Lily is a lawyer with a young teenaged daughter who borrows her clothes, which would be fine if they weren't her WORK clothes! No teenage girl wants to dress like their lawyer mother, unless their lawyer mother dresses really unprofessionally.
All in all, kind of an average book that would have benefitted greatly if Detective Cunningham had had a larger role and if John, Lily's husband had been an even remotely sympathetic character.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Lily Forrester is an ADA who has just been made head of the Sex Crimes Division and sees her goal of becoming a judge within sight when her marriage finally unravels. Her daughter chooses to live with her father, but spends a fateful night at her mother's. The timing couldn't be worse, as a man who has been watching Lily is released from prison and stalks her to her new home and assaults mother and daughter.
Her own childhood abuse coupled with the horror of watching her own daughter raped drives Lily right over that vigilante line and she seeks justice outside the courtroom for the first time in her life. Now her career, her daughter, her marriage, her freedom, her sanity and her budding relationship with a fellow ADA are all on the line as one very good detective looks for answers.
The sex in this book tends toward graphic and violent and some of it is remarkably unnecessary, which wasn't too surprising since the main character works in Sex Crimes, but I did find a bit much now and then. Also a little off-putting was the sense that "all Latinos look alike", although that does get explained as "she wasn't wearing her glasses" - not a good excuse, but an excuse. On the funny side, Lily is a lawyer with a young teenaged daughter who borrows her clothes, which would be fine if they weren't her WORK clothes! No teenage girl wants to dress like their lawyer mother, unless their lawyer mother dresses really unprofessionally.
All in all, kind of an average book that would have benefitted greatly if Detective Cunningham had had a larger role and if John, Lily's husband had been an even remotely sympathetic character.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Bonnie B. (Inkspo) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 6 more book reviews
Excellent book and excellent author!
Sandra H. (Sanandee) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 715 more book reviews
A Literary Guild Main Selection...NY Times says "Adrenaline-pumped..no woman...has ever had a stronger motive for vengence than Lily Forrester". I'll go on to tell you Lily Forrester is an ambitious Assistant District Attorney on the rise in her career, ready to step into the role as Chief of the Sex Crimes Division...
Patricia S. (ragdollmom) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 92 more book reviews
A good read. From the back cover: Lily Forrester is an ambitious Assistant District Attorney on the rise in her professional career and on the brink in her private life. ... What keeps her anchored is her quirky thirteen-year-old daughter, Shana. But when an intruder invades their home and commits a savage attack against them, Lily heads out on a trail of vengeance beyond any law but that of her own rate.
Crystal B. (Sunshine) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 142 more book reviews
I had never read this author. LOVED this book! In the middle of the book I was so enthralled I ordered the next book from this site. Characters that you can identify with and a real page-turner.
Lisa E. (ocnsangel) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 224 more book reviews
elexcellent legal thriller
Excellent overview of the beginning of our country
Debbie B. (dilitary) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 102 more book reviews
Lily Forrester is an ambitious Assistant District Attorney on the rise in her professional career and on the rink in ger private life. Eager to step into her new role as Chief of the Sex Crimes Division, she is also coping with a foundering marriage and the lure of an extremely attractive man. What keeps her anchored is her quirky thirteen-year-old daughter, Shana. But when an intruder invades their home and commits a savage attack against them, Lily heads out on a trail of vengeance beyond any law but that of her own rage. And suddenly, with one shattering act, she jinds her life is spinning out of control, leaving her nowhere to hide. But even as a circle of danger sloses in on her, Lily Forrester knows that she must find a way out, because there's no turning back. Written by a former policewoman, this riveting, edge-of-the-seat spellbinder bursts with authenticity, giving an irresistible insider's look at the shifting dynamics between cops and killers, prosecutors and defenders, law and order.
Candice J. (pibblegrl) -
The cover is different.
Sue E. (Susanaque) -
Lily Forrester is an ambitious assistant District Attorney on the rise in her profession. She is starting a job as Chief of the Sex Crimes Division. She is also coping with a floundering marriage. The only thing keeping her anchored is her 13-year old daughter, Shana. When an intruder invades their home and commits a savage act against them. Lily heads out on a trail of vangence, beyond any law but that of her own rage. She finds herself spinning out of control, and leaving her nowhere to hide. But even as the danger increases, Lily knows she must find a way out becasue there is no turning back. A look at the shifting dynamics between cops and killers, prosecutors, defenders and law and order.
Linda K. (readingyoga-fan) reviewed Mitigating Circumstances (Lily Forrester, Bk 1) on + 143 more book reviews
Lily Forrester is an ambitious Assistant District Attorney on the rise in her professional career and on the brink in her private life. Eager to step into her new role as Chief of the Sex Crimes Division, she is also coping with a foundering marriage and the lure of an extremely attractive man. What keeps her anchored is her quirky thirteen-year-old daughter, Shana. But when an intruder invades their home and commits a savage attack against them, Lily heads out on a trail of vengeance beyond any law but that of her own rage. And suddenly, with one shattering act, she finds her life is spinning out of control, leaving her nowhere to hide. But even as a circle of danger closes in on her, Lily Forrester knows that she must find a way out, because there's no turning back. Written by a former policewoman, this riveting, edge-of-the-seat spellbinder bursts with authenticity, giving an irresistible insider's look at the shifting dynamics between cops and killers, prosecutors and defenders, law and order.
The cover of mine has a different image, printed in 1993.
One corner of the back cover is slightly bent.
