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Chain of Custody
Esteemed surgeon-turned-attorney Dr. Michael Malone is living a nightmare. DNA evidence places Malone at the blood-soaked murder scene of his estranged wife, a deputy DA who was suing him for custody of their only child. But Malone fears he is more than the prime suspect. He is the prime target--in a far-reaching conspiracy of merciless revenge and police cover-up. As the legal system threatens to crush an innocent man, a cat and mouse game with a shadowy adversary becomes a matter of life and death. Plunged into a vortex of deception and betrayal, Malone races to clear his name, following the only truth he has left: Trust no one.
340 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 12, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 2, 2018
Run of the mill person accused of crime that he did not commit, solved during the trial. If this is your type of book (and it is mine) William Bernhardt does it much better.
July 3, 2014
Grabbed this one only because I needed something to read between trips to the library and was very pleasantly surprised. A nicely paced and crafted courtroom drama.
December 30, 2020
This is the way to do a courtroom crime thriller. Other than the fact that Malone seems to manage his role as the punching bag from every devious corrupt corner of New York City with a rather blase deameanor, everyone and everything else hit just the right tone.
So many of the characters are, well, characters (Figlio, Glimcher, Gramb most notably). Not at all stereotypes, but maybe the genetic material that stereotypes are based on--crafty cop, deft attorney, weasely power broker--all with ethnic, racial, and/or gender differences that seem to simmer under the surface.
The wronged-man plot is itself a staple of this sort of book. Although it's naturally appealing to root for the underdog, the appeal of this device (like his treatment of characterization) lies in how it's crafted. Malone's conflict is both mental and tangibly real. The actual courtroom stuff is elegantly done. It's not overly formal, and never tedious. Therefore, these scenes are all the more believable.
Likewise, the language. Crude? Yes. But that's how a lot of people talk, especially when excited, and/or stressed. I would almost say it's creative swearing (ok, I swear a lot too). By contrast, we see how the civilized discourse is often a ruse for sinister, underhanded acts.
Clearly the theme of power corrupting couldn't be clearer; to the point where it can be caricatured, as the insignificant-looking Grumb is the most powerful of all. His dandy-like appearance reeks of privilege, the sort of by-product of power. At the bottom of these have lies the implicit theme that the more mediocre and amoral personalities rise above the authentic and honest.
Very well-written, with some superb metaphors and descriptions, Chain Of Custody is a fine read. The pacing is taut, the atmosphere both menacing and vibrant. We can get to know these characters and their places on the plot's slippery slope.
So many of the characters are, well, characters (Figlio, Glimcher, Gramb most notably). Not at all stereotypes, but maybe the genetic material that stereotypes are based on--crafty cop, deft attorney, weasely power broker--all with ethnic, racial, and/or gender differences that seem to simmer under the surface.
The wronged-man plot is itself a staple of this sort of book. Although it's naturally appealing to root for the underdog, the appeal of this device (like his treatment of characterization) lies in how it's crafted. Malone's conflict is both mental and tangibly real. The actual courtroom stuff is elegantly done. It's not overly formal, and never tedious. Therefore, these scenes are all the more believable.
Likewise, the language. Crude? Yes. But that's how a lot of people talk, especially when excited, and/or stressed. I would almost say it's creative swearing (ok, I swear a lot too). By contrast, we see how the civilized discourse is often a ruse for sinister, underhanded acts.
Clearly the theme of power corrupting couldn't be clearer; to the point where it can be caricatured, as the insignificant-looking Grumb is the most powerful of all. His dandy-like appearance reeks of privilege, the sort of by-product of power. At the bottom of these have lies the implicit theme that the more mediocre and amoral personalities rise above the authentic and honest.
Very well-written, with some superb metaphors and descriptions, Chain Of Custody is a fine read. The pacing is taut, the atmosphere both menacing and vibrant. We can get to know these characters and their places on the plot's slippery slope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
Great story. Fairly abrupt ending.
October 23, 2021
Some parts seemed rushed over but it was fine, wouldn’t bother with another. Maybe 2.5 stars
January 28, 2016
Kept me guessing!
End of Chap 3: Though he mostly represented women, it would probably be a mistake to characterize Arnie's law practice as atonement, for his clients were more likely to be the wives, mistresses, and one-night stands of the rich than the downtrodden in need of nurture.
End of Chap 3: Though he mostly represented women, it would probably be a mistake to characterize Arnie's law practice as atonement, for his clients were more likely to be the wives, mistresses, and one-night stands of the rich than the downtrodden in need of nurture.
July 5, 2009
A good fast paced medical/legal thriller. Only drawback is how rapidly the book is drawn to a conclusion. It felt rushed.
August 28, 2009
Dr Michael Malone -- Lawyer
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews