Helpful Score: 3
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, fast-paced legal thriller, August 22, 2009
A very good book! I've read both of Hoffman's previous novels and this third one is another excellent legal thriller that intrigues the reader with an interesting perspective and a unique twist.
The young prosecuting attorney, Julia Vacanti, is a bit flawed and vulnerable with demons of her own to contend with as she prepares for the "trial of the century" and her first big case. She is second chair to an ambitious lawyer who is bound for government office and who needs to win a guilty verdict against David Marquette -- a physician who was found alive, but injured, in his own home though the rest of his family -- wife, two daughters and a son, were murdered. Reminiscent and similar in some ways to recent true crimes, the novel examines the mental disorder of schizophrenia and the defense plea of insanity. The research done by the author is obviously thorough and meticulous and is explained very well through testimony given by the psychiatrists sent to examine Dr. Marquette.
Was this successful Miami surgeon, reportedly a devoted family man, truly suffering from a devastating mental illness, or was he a cunning psychopath? Did he suffer paranoid delusions and did voices instruct him to kill his family or did he study psychiatric texts so that he could accurately mimic someone who was schizophrenic? The defense files a plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and the case is finally brought to trial.
In addition to the main plot of the book involving the trial of Dr. Marquette, Julia discovers something about her own family, a secret is unearthed, and she is drawn into confronting long-buried memories from her past.
This is a solid legal thriller that will keep you reading long past your bedtime. Enjoy!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
A very good book! I've read both of Hoffman's previous novels and this third one is another excellent legal thriller that intrigues the reader with an interesting perspective and a unique twist.
The young prosecuting attorney, Julia Vacanti, is a bit flawed and vulnerable with demons of her own to contend with as she prepares for the "trial of the century" and her first big case. She is second chair to an ambitious lawyer who is bound for government office and who needs to win a guilty verdict against David Marquette -- a physician who was found alive, but injured, in his own home though the rest of his family -- wife, two daughters and a son, were murdered. Reminiscent and similar in some ways to recent true crimes, the novel examines the mental disorder of schizophrenia and the defense plea of insanity. The research done by the author is obviously thorough and meticulous and is explained very well through testimony given by the psychiatrists sent to examine Dr. Marquette.
Was this successful Miami surgeon, reportedly a devoted family man, truly suffering from a devastating mental illness, or was he a cunning psychopath? Did he suffer paranoid delusions and did voices instruct him to kill his family or did he study psychiatric texts so that he could accurately mimic someone who was schizophrenic? The defense files a plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and the case is finally brought to trial.
In addition to the main plot of the book involving the trial of Dr. Marquette, Julia discovers something about her own family, a secret is unearthed, and she is drawn into confronting long-buried memories from her past.
This is a solid legal thriller that will keep you reading long past your bedtime. Enjoy!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I don't write many reviews, but with this book, I had to.
The book has 591 pages and I thought that I would never read a book that long. Well, was I wrong. This book had me reading every second I could and always eager for more.
from a review: "The trial will take young prosecutor Julia Valenciano on a painful personal journey back to a past she has struggled for for fifteen years to forget. And it will bring her face to face with a future that is so frightening, she's not sure she ever wants to see it."
That's the gist of the story, but there are many more interesting paths that takes Julia through the hardest times of her life and also the best.
I am going to order all of Jilliane Hoffman's books and hope that the rest are half as good as this one.
Happy reading.
The book has 591 pages and I thought that I would never read a book that long. Well, was I wrong. This book had me reading every second I could and always eager for more.
from a review: "The trial will take young prosecutor Julia Valenciano on a painful personal journey back to a past she has struggled for for fifteen years to forget. And it will bring her face to face with a future that is so frightening, she's not sure she ever wants to see it."
That's the gist of the story, but there are many more interesting paths that takes Julia through the hardest times of her life and also the best.
I am going to order all of Jilliane Hoffman's books and hope that the rest are half as good as this one.
Happy reading.
Helpful Score: 2
Assistant State Attorney Julia Vacanti is appointed to her very first big case:
David Marquette has to stand trial for the gruesome murder of his wife and three children. His defense pleas he's not guilty by reason of insanity on the basis of his family history and his brother being schizophrenic.
In the midst of the trial Julia learns that her brother, whose whereabouts haven't been spoke of since years, is still alive and locked away in a high security facility for the murder of his parents while Julia was on a sleep over. He's treated as being schizophrenic.
Rekindling with her brother Julia begins to understand the difficulties of being schizophrenic and develops doubts in her own allegation against Marquette and that in fact might not be guilty.
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Plea of Insanity was not what I'd expected after I've read lots of raving reviews about Hoffman's previous books.
The plot idea itself is not that bad but not really unique either. It has been there in several novels and movies and unfortunately better done as well.
I don't want to call the book a legal thriller although it was meant to be just that and more.
In the end it was entertaining but probably not enough to make me a fan.
David Marquette has to stand trial for the gruesome murder of his wife and three children. His defense pleas he's not guilty by reason of insanity on the basis of his family history and his brother being schizophrenic.
In the midst of the trial Julia learns that her brother, whose whereabouts haven't been spoke of since years, is still alive and locked away in a high security facility for the murder of his parents while Julia was on a sleep over. He's treated as being schizophrenic.
Rekindling with her brother Julia begins to understand the difficulties of being schizophrenic and develops doubts in her own allegation against Marquette and that in fact might not be guilty.
-
Plea of Insanity was not what I'd expected after I've read lots of raving reviews about Hoffman's previous books.
The plot idea itself is not that bad but not really unique either. It has been there in several novels and movies and unfortunately better done as well.
I don't want to call the book a legal thriller although it was meant to be just that and more.
In the end it was entertaining but probably not enough to make me a fan.
Helpful Score: 2
Suspenseful and well plotted, I really enjoyed this one as much as her two earlier works. I thought that the insight into a schizophrenic's mind was very interesting. Looking forward to her next effort.
Helpful Score: 1
I must give this book five stars due to the fabulous characters, intense subject matter and the focus it puts on mental illness. This is the third book I have read by this author and I have officially added her to my list of "must buys." Rather than writing the typical thriller with little background information on characters and the usual suspects, this one goes into much greater depth. It has murder, romance (although not the main focus), the hot button issue of mental illness as a legal defense, etc. etc. All of the police characters seem real, with fabulous dialogue, great courtroom scenes and a surprise ending. It left open the vague possibility of a series, much like Retribution did (the author's first novel, which was excellent)
