A Stain Upon The Robe

Mairead O'Clare Legal Mystery #3

by Terry Devane

A Mairead O'Clare Novel from the author of Uncommon Justice and Juror Number Eleven

The Honorable Barbara Quincy Pitt is presiding over an explosive new trial—that of a priest who stands accused of a shocking transgression. But the judge’s own problems are disturbing her as well. The young law clerk assigned to assist her in the case—who also happens to be her illicit lover—has disappeared. Enlisting the help of Boston lawyers Mairead O’Clare and Sheldon Gold is her last hope for preventing a scandal that could destroy her career. But with each new revelation in the case, O’Clare becomes more deeply ensnared in a conflict between defending her client and pursuing justice—and it’s not at all clear which will prevail...

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Jeremiah Healy, a graduate of Rutgers College and Harvard Law School, was a professor at the New England School of Law for eighteen years. He is the creator of the John Francis Cuddy private-investigator series and (under the pseudonym "Terry Devane") the Mairead O’Clare legal-thriller series, both set primarily in Boston.

Healy has written eighteen novels and over sixty short stories, fifteen of which works have won or been nominated for the Shamus Award. Healy's later Cuddy novels include RESCUE, INVASION OF PRIVACY, THE ONLY GOOD LAWYER, and SPIRAL. His O'Clare books from Putnam/Berkley are UNCOMMON JUSTICE, JUROR NUMBER ELEVEN, and A STAIN UPON THE ROBE, the last optioned for feature film in December, 2003.

A past Awards Chair for the Shamus, Healy also served as President of Private Eye Writers of America for two years. In October, 2000, he was elected President of International Association of Crime Writers ("IACW"). Books of his have been translated into French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and German. Healy has spoken about mysteries at the Smithsonian Institution's Literature Series, The Boston Globe Book Festival, the Sorbonne in Paris, and at conferences in England, Canada, Spain, Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. He was toastmaster at the 1996 World Mystery Convention (Bouchercon) and was the American Guest of Honour at Bouchercon 2004 in Toronto.

Series:
* Mairead O'Clare Legal Mystery

Reviews

[Carol]

This, the third book by Terry Devane, worried me a little when I started it. I did not want vivid decriptions of the crimes the defendant was charged with. My fears were unfounded, as the author continued to concentrate on the main characters. All 3 of these Terry Devane books were wondeful.

[Richard Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good plot which could have scored a higher rating however the writing I found let it down. There are a lot of characters and at times I missed we had switched from one character to another.

Note: Deals with issues of child sexual abuse, abuse by clergy. While it does not detail the abuse it is a theme that runs through the novel. As a survivor of abuse it did at times hit a nerve.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot. Well developed characters. Surprise ending. Horrible cliffhanger. Had me gripping the edge of my chair throughout.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed all three of Terry Devane's (Jeremiah Healey) books.