Maximum Security: A Crime Novel

Marty Nickerson #3

by Rose Connors

Back to defend the ex-lover of Harry Madigan, attorney Marty Nickerson must juggle her own undeniable intrigue of her law partner and lover’s past and her gut feeling that this murder was driven by something far more personal than anyone suspects in this crime novel by award-winning author Rose Connor.At the request of her law partner and lover, Marty Nickerson has taken on the case of Louisa Rawlings, the ex-lover of Harry, who happens to be Marty’s law partner and current lover. While defending Louisa against the charge of first-degree murder in the bludgeoning death of her wealthy husband, Marty finds herself both intrigued and disturbed by Harry’s ex-girlfriend, as the girls of his past and his present have nothing in common.As Marty builds her client’s defense, she encounters Louisa’s handsome ex-husband, her surly stepdaughter, and the girl’s deadbeat boyfriend. But as evidence against Louisa mounts and Marty is unable to count on her male associates who are dangerously bewitched by Louisa, she finds she must rely on her own well-honed legal instincts and passion for justice to make sure a brutal killer doesn’t go free.“An enjoyable legal thriller… a nicely detailed Cape Cod setting, appealing and realistically rendered characters, and an engaging romantic relationship.” – Booklist

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Legal Thriller

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2004

About the author

Rose Connors is an author of mystery fiction. She has written four books about her fictional attorney Marty Nickerson, but hasn't been published in more than a decade. Connors, whose debut novel, Absolute Certainty, won the Mary Higgins Clark Award, grew up in Philadelphia and received her law degree from Duke in 1984.

Reviews

[Heidi Hilty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the third installment in the Marty Nickerson series for a Book by a Massachusetts Author category in my library book bingo challenge. In this novel Marty ends up defending a law school classmate and ex-lover of Harry’s whose husband ends up dead. The storyline was fine but I didn’t feel the same energy as with the previous two books. Still, always lovely to read something based in my beloved Chatham. 3.5⭐️

[Cecy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jen Frankel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and this series! Marty is the unlikeliest heroine, but only because no one writes a heroine like Rose Connors. Earthy, earnest, and ethical, Marty is a woman you could really be proud to be, warts and all. In a landscape of tortured, overly pretty young things solving mysteries with gun-toting studs and tormented mentors, the Marty Nickerson series is a serious pleasure: expertly and unexpectedly plotted, there is no formula that Connors won't break.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as her other books, but excellent nonetheless. The factor of the old girlfriend wasn't written well -- the character interactions.

Also, I am sorry she didn't write the way that Marty and Harry got together except as a memory. That suspense would have been nice as the characters developed.

Still enjoyable and if she'd write mroe I'd read them.

[Lawrence Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another local author book based here on Cape Cod - unfortunately, it appears that she has stopped wrsting novels for now as there are no more in this series - I was returning the book to the library and Rose Connors was coming out and she said, hey that is my book - small world

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed after the 1st 2 books. Hope #4 is better.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in this legal fiction set in Chatham, on Cape Cod. I really like these Marty Nickerson mysteries. Good series so far.

[Joi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of. Purse I enjoyed this book. It was a quick simple read

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Bernadette Dunne

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this book

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense story about finding the truth and the justice of a falsely accused murder. Humorous at times and enjoyable court room banter.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 - the book started off slow, in my opinion, and then gradually started to picks up.

[Betsy]

Marty Nickerson Series, Book 3

[Kathleen Hagen]

Maximum Security, by Rose Connors. A.
narrated by Anna Fields, produced by Blackstone Audio.

Well this is the last one in the series that is currently available as an audio book. I hope there are more to come.
This book finds one main case, and the case is Marty’s. This is because the woman she is representing, Louisa Rawlings, is an old girl friend of Harry’s. Louisa’s husband has disappeared. His body is found one week later, and it is clear he has been murdered. Louisa, his wife is the main suspect for a variety of reasons, she’s the only one to profit by his will, there’s a life insurance policy with a double indemnity clause, the death seemed to be made to look like a suicide, and the weapon had her finger prints on it. But Marty, although irritated with Louisa’s “southern charms” and her ability to charm any male in her view, including the judge, does not believe she committed the murder. Again we see trial scenes, Marty and Geraldine, (the prosecutor) going at it, and other marginal characters who always people these mysteries. I hope there will be more of them.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you picked up a book called Maximum Security, wouldn't you expect that the main character would be in prison, in that state? Well, no, this was just a threat for a woman whose husband ends up dead. She is being represented by three lawyers--one a former lover, another who is a woman, and the third a young man whom she beds. There is a disagreeable step daughter, a financial advisor who shows up just two days after the man goes missing--what's with that? It is fairly amusing and entertaining.

[Gwen P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not really care for this book. I read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this one just fell flat for me. The dialogue was really stilted, and the attempts at humor felt stiff and awkward. To top it all off, it was more of a traditional mystery than a courtroom drama like the first two, and the mystery itself wasn't even that good. The solution to the mystery was telegraphed from very early on, and the final reveal was lackluster and felt rushed. I probably won't continue with the Marty Nickerson series after this one.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish Rose Connors was more prolific, because her novels are always a great ride, and this book is no exception. I love her main character, Marty Nickerson, a Cape Cod former assistant DA turned defender. As courtroom novels go, Connors' are some of the most fun. This book was slightly less suspenseful than some of her other tales, but still worth the read.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this in a used book store on Cape Cod looking for local books. It's set on the cape and written by someone who lives there. Here's hoping the story's as good as the cape :-)

I enjoyed this. The story was good and it was a fun easy read.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa is one slick lady. She goes to one of her old boyfriends when she needs an attorney. Gets his lady friend to be her attorney. Finds a boy toy, with her husband just missing. Goes to jail with her stepdaughter pushing for that. This is a good story line. I liked it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book a grade of only fair in a series of books that are generally much better than fair. If you like courtroom drama/mysteries, this series is generally a good choice. This particular book was somewhat uninspired. I was able to see the "whodunnit" almost immediately.

[Lynn Calvin]

ereader ebook

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. Just a fast read if you need one. Not her best work though.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good balance of character & plot. I've enjoyed the series thus far. Interesting to have a character who has been on both sides of the legal advocacy / criminal justice system.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Marty Nickerson series!

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

One star for good cover and good title. Other than that, it was god-awful boring. Lots of convoluted plots that lead nowhere.

[Teri Pre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first 2, but still enjoyable. Not many thriller authors get humor just right, but Ms. Connors does a great job.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Absolute Certainty. Some good characters and a few interesting plot elements, but mostly pretty boring.

[Jane Mohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't as good as the first two books in the series. Still a good mystery though, and I like the author's writing style.

[Jim Moffett · Rating 3 out of 5]

11-07

[Ann Farnsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good, I felt like I should know the characters from another book but couldn't place them.