A Life on Trial: The Case of Robert Frisbee

by William Deverell

Originally published as Fatal Cruise — now in trade paperback, with a new foreword by the author.

This is the true story of a bizarre murder and the controversial trial that took place in Victoria, B.C., and made headlines across Canada. It is also the story of Robert Frisbee, who, after a scarred early life, became the secretary and friend of Muriel and Philip Barnett. Then, on board the Royal Viking Star cruise ship, Muriel was murdered – and Robert Frisbee stood accused. With penetrating insight, William Deverell probes the mind of the accused and explores the legal system that tried him. His superb writing skills combine brilliantly with an insider’s knowledge of the courtroom, and the result is a seamlessly constructed, gripping narrative whose suspense never lets up.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

William Deverell was born in 1937 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He put himself through law school by working as a journalist for the Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun, and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Deverell served as counsel for over a thousand criminal cases and is a founding director and former president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. He created the television series, Street Legal, and has written screenplays and radio plays. Deverell lives on Pender Island, British Columbia.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting story. William Deverell, besides being a best selling author, happens to have been a practicing lawyer, partner in a Vancouver firm.

This is the trial of an unfortunate man, Robert Frisbee, forgotten by the world, he spent his life in the service of very rich and dynamic people. Controlling could be a better description to Frisbee's submission. He found himself in a set of circumstances he had no control over, in fact, he had no control over anything in his life and became a victim to a system that didn't understand one such as he.

The description of the trial was fascinating.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about a real trial that the author acting as defense counsel lost. There's a rich woman, a gay man, a cruise ship on the border of Canada and the US and a murder....

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Deverell who is best known for his thrillers is actually a practicing lawyer and sometime journalist. This true crime account of a case he became involved in almost by happenstance is actually quite abosrbing.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when this murder happened on a cruise ship just after it left Victoria on the way to San Francisco, so was intrigued to read the book about the crime and the trial. I read it really fast, two days or so, and enjoyed it a lot, particularly as the trial took place here in Victoria.