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Automaton
A 126,000 word intrigue suspense legal thriller by Australian author Alana Woods , the Intrigue Queen of thriller fiction
Set in Australia's atmospherically beautiful bush capital, Canberra.
Heaven help Elisabeth Sharman! She has a secret. A big one. One that could derail her life and career.
Her instructing solicitor, Robert Murphy, has a problem--Elisabeth. She's not playing by the legal rules in a murder trial in which the victim's wife has her own secrets.
Elisabeth knows her secret will become known. The wife wants to obliterate hers from existence.
The crime?: a stabbing murder with a Bowie knife.
The accused?: a 19 year old amnesiac.
His friends say he's guilty. His lawyer, Elisabeth, is desperate to prove he isn't.
And all the while the victim's sons are closing in like wolves, wanting revenge.
Set in Australia's atmospherically beautiful bush capital, Canberra.
Heaven help Elisabeth Sharman! She has a secret. A big one. One that could derail her life and career.
Her instructing solicitor, Robert Murphy, has a problem--Elisabeth. She's not playing by the legal rules in a murder trial in which the victim's wife has her own secrets.
Elisabeth knows her secret will become known. The wife wants to obliterate hers from existence.
The crime?: a stabbing murder with a Bowie knife.
The accused?: a 19 year old amnesiac.
His friends say he's guilty. His lawyer, Elisabeth, is desperate to prove he isn't.
And all the while the victim's sons are closing in like wolves, wanting revenge.
- GenresThriller
410 pages, Paperback, eBook
First published October 3, 2011
137 people want to read
About the author
Alana Woods
14 books36 followersI'm the Intrigue Queen of thriller fiction.
Website: http://alanawoods.com/
Website blog: http://www.alanawoods.com/apps/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alanawoodsauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanaEWoods
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/alanawoods
Amazon author pages:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Alana-Woods/e/B...
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alana-Woods/e...
Book sites
Automaton:
books2read.com/automaton
Imbroglio:
books2read.com/imbroglio
Tapestries and other short stories:
books2read.com/tapestries
25 essential writing tips: guide to writing good fiction: http://www.amazon.com/25-essential-wr...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 7, 2014
REVIEW FOR AUTOMATION BY ALANA WOODS
4/5 ANGEL WINGS
REVIEW BY R.L. BAILEY
I love reading a great mystery. I love it even more if I can’t figure it out by Chapter three. Well, Automation, by Alana Woods has that and a whole lot more! Set in and around the courtrooms of Australia, Miss Woods takes the reader on a journey from a brutal murder, a defendant who can’t remember a thing, (or can he?) to an end that you can’t wait to get to!
The story centers around Russell, charged with a murder he can’t remember. His lawyer, or as they say in Australia, his barrister, is a young cocky way too sure of herself woman by the name of Elizabeth. She’s not the most tactful tool in the box, and soon has the entire office looking at her in disdain. Her boss, Robert, oh what a man he is. And modest as well. You just know that the tension between him and Elizabeth is going to be electric!
Elizabeth digs into the case, going all out in defense of her client, and incurs the wrath of any number of people who want to see Russell convicted of murder. Elizabeth believes in her client though and pushes through, sometimes at her own peril.
This is a good read. It kept my attention throughout, and even though I am an American, I could still understand the Aussie terms used in the book. My only complaint, like Miss Woods other book I read, Imbroglio, was too may second tier characters who take up too much of the story.
4/5 ANGEL WINGS
REVIEW BY R.L. BAILEY
I love reading a great mystery. I love it even more if I can’t figure it out by Chapter three. Well, Automation, by Alana Woods has that and a whole lot more! Set in and around the courtrooms of Australia, Miss Woods takes the reader on a journey from a brutal murder, a defendant who can’t remember a thing, (or can he?) to an end that you can’t wait to get to!
The story centers around Russell, charged with a murder he can’t remember. His lawyer, or as they say in Australia, his barrister, is a young cocky way too sure of herself woman by the name of Elizabeth. She’s not the most tactful tool in the box, and soon has the entire office looking at her in disdain. Her boss, Robert, oh what a man he is. And modest as well. You just know that the tension between him and Elizabeth is going to be electric!
Elizabeth digs into the case, going all out in defense of her client, and incurs the wrath of any number of people who want to see Russell convicted of murder. Elizabeth believes in her client though and pushes through, sometimes at her own peril.
This is a good read. It kept my attention throughout, and even though I am an American, I could still understand the Aussie terms used in the book. My only complaint, like Miss Woods other book I read, Imbroglio, was too may second tier characters who take up too much of the story.
May 18, 2012
It’s difficult to decide where to begin with Automaton. This is an exemplary novel by a master of the craft. Set in Australia, it is so deep, so well written, so intelligently thought out and flows so smoothly that I felt like a participant and personal observer within the events, rather than a reader who was sitting comfortably in my office as the story unfolded. Woods’ experience as a Court reporter makes her tale as authentic, intriguing and interesting as any you’ll ever read. It’s not a shallow, quick read – it’s a real novel.
A young man named Russell, who claims to have no recollection of the crime for which he is to be tried, stands accused of murder. He apparently has amnesia, the result of a brutal beating suffered shortly after the victim’s death. Or does he? The government’s case is overwhelmingly strong, replete with solid circumstantial, forensic, and eye-witness evidence. Russell is looking at some very serious prison time.
Enter Elisabeth Sharman, a beautiful, intelligent, rather pushy, aggressive, sometimes tactless barrister, the newcomer to the office by the way, who is assigned to defend the accused at trial. She encounters her senior instructing solicitor, the dashingly handsome, egotistical Rob Murphy, and some other office staff members who are less than receptive to her presence. And you know the sparks are going to fly, in several different directions.
The interactions among the various characters in the law office (it is a legal thriller, after all) are very true to life. I say that from having worked for nearly two years as an investigator with the Colorado Public Defender’s Office. From the professionally driven, all-business barrister Elisabeth Sharman, to the investigators who dutifully carry out her legal legwork, you’ll feel as though you know each of them personally. One situation in particular, wherein the task master Elisabeth gathers her troops in the office and begins to assign their work, actually had me wanting to get out of the room. I caught myself almost squirming in discomfort. Call it PTSD, perhaps. Alana Woods created the scene exactly as I recalled it from some of my investigative experiences with tyrannical lawyers.
The love story (yes, there’s also a love story here) within the plot is handled skillfully and tenderly. And the actual murder trial, which is central to the entire book, will keep you on the edge of your seat. Alana Woods writes the novel with the expertise and skill of one who has actually been there and seen it. Conviction or acquittal? Prison or freedom? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Fictional stories, like real life, don’t always end happily, do they? I’ll never tell you.
Regretfully, I can only give this one five stars. I assure you I’m waiting for Alana Woods’ next novel.
A young man named Russell, who claims to have no recollection of the crime for which he is to be tried, stands accused of murder. He apparently has amnesia, the result of a brutal beating suffered shortly after the victim’s death. Or does he? The government’s case is overwhelmingly strong, replete with solid circumstantial, forensic, and eye-witness evidence. Russell is looking at some very serious prison time.
Enter Elisabeth Sharman, a beautiful, intelligent, rather pushy, aggressive, sometimes tactless barrister, the newcomer to the office by the way, who is assigned to defend the accused at trial. She encounters her senior instructing solicitor, the dashingly handsome, egotistical Rob Murphy, and some other office staff members who are less than receptive to her presence. And you know the sparks are going to fly, in several different directions.
The interactions among the various characters in the law office (it is a legal thriller, after all) are very true to life. I say that from having worked for nearly two years as an investigator with the Colorado Public Defender’s Office. From the professionally driven, all-business barrister Elisabeth Sharman, to the investigators who dutifully carry out her legal legwork, you’ll feel as though you know each of them personally. One situation in particular, wherein the task master Elisabeth gathers her troops in the office and begins to assign their work, actually had me wanting to get out of the room. I caught myself almost squirming in discomfort. Call it PTSD, perhaps. Alana Woods created the scene exactly as I recalled it from some of my investigative experiences with tyrannical lawyers.
The love story (yes, there’s also a love story here) within the plot is handled skillfully and tenderly. And the actual murder trial, which is central to the entire book, will keep you on the edge of your seat. Alana Woods writes the novel with the expertise and skill of one who has actually been there and seen it. Conviction or acquittal? Prison or freedom? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Fictional stories, like real life, don’t always end happily, do they? I’ll never tell you.
Regretfully, I can only give this one five stars. I assure you I’m waiting for Alana Woods’ next novel.
February 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. The story and characters had my interest from the beginning and I found it difficult to put down. I read it in two days! You can tell that the author knows her stuff ... the court scenes were riveting. I have lived in Canberra and really enjoyed reading about places that I was familiar with - it made me miss my old home town! This book is a 10 out of 10 and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great read.
April 16, 2012
If you are looking for a book that has a great storyline, deep characters, action and intrigue, you need to read this. In Automation, the author draws the reader in with descriptions so vivid you feel as though you are living the book. The main characters are people to be discovered and delved into. And once you discover them, you realize that things aren't always as they seem. The twists and turns of this book keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. Just when you think you have everything figured out, your heart and mind will be gripped by the unfolding of events. This is a book for the intellectual and the romantic. Automation gains my 5 stars and so does the author.
January 9, 2013
Needed a severe edit, especially the first half. The writing style was strange. It was as if the author was trying not to use 'was'. Perhaps she was told to avoid 'was'. I know the Narrabundah shops very well, but had difficulty recognising them in the book. There was an overemphasis on the heat of Canberra. Saying the characters could feel the hot heat rising just before dawn is wrong. This is the coldest part of the day. It could have been a good story, but needed more work, thought and a strong edit.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews