Conflicts with Interest

by Michael Ruddy

T.R. Morgan, a seasoned building professional, finds himself entangled in the combined corruption of the high profile law firm that is attacking him and the insurance companies that are supposed to defend him. Still enduring the painful memories brought on by the tragic death of his wife, he soon finds out, nothing involving lawyers and insurance companies happens quickly. Instead of resolution, T.R., unwittingly enters a world of human trafficking, drugs, and illicit sex taking place behind the scenes. And his story comes forward to an explosive climax that no one could possibly foresee, least of all T.R. himself. This suspenseful tale of contemporary fiction is packed with enlightenment and high-stakes characters; provoking thought on a new subject in a new light.

334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Heather]

I thought the description of this book here on Goodreads was quite promising. I expected lots of action, lots of suspense, and lots of feeling to keep me interested. I feel these expectations weren't met at all. It was a struggle for me to finish. If I hadn't agreed to review it for a blog tour, I don't think I would have finished it. I didn't hate it, but it just wasn't holding my interest. I found it boring and, at times, confusing.

What was so confusing? Well, for one, too many characters. Especially lawyers. I couldn't keep everyone straight. There'd be someone mentioned at one point, then not again for a couple of chapters, and I'd have to thumb back to figure out who it was. By the last half of the book, I gave up and stopped trying to keep it all straight. It wasn't worth the effort. Also confusing was the "shop talk" within the book. Both legal "shop talk" and home-construction "shop talk" were hard to sort through at times. I could get a vague idea of what was going on, but I prefer to know exactly what I'm being told.

I gave this two stars because I didn't feel it deserved one star. I didn't dislike it, but I also didn't like it. I know, semantics, but in this case they make a difference. Would I recommend this book to anyone? No. Would I read this again? That's highly unlikely. What makes it OK? I liked T.R. and Catherine. I also liked Donald Hayes – and was glad to see there was a good, ethical lawyer in the story. (Although for most of the book I was wondering if he was trustworthy.)

I read in the blurb about the author that this is inspired in part by the author's personal experience working in the construction industry. That's a scary thought, as I was QUITE pissed by the main lawsuit in this book! So wrong, so very wrong. The whole Sanderson character was a complete selfish jerk, and the greediest character I've read about in a long time! To think there are people out there who exploit the legal system by jumping through every tiny loophole in the laws is just sickening. I don't doubt it's a very real reality in some areas, and I find that infuriating. So, I guess, one of the merits of this book is the awareness that it brings to what likely is a very real problem in the construction industry. For that, on my blog, I will give it 2.5 stars.

[Cheryl]

T.R. Morgan of Morgan Homes is pretty good at building homes. He is also a bit of a gambler. Mogan Homes has just been served by the law firm of Sinclair, Sanderson & Starr for defect litigation. The law firm informs Mr. Morgan that the only way they are willing to settle is if his company repairs the wall due to a water leak form a window as well as other damages free of charge to the homeowner, otherwise Mr. Morgan can take his chances in court but currently Mr. Morgan not dealing with a winning hand.

Conflicts with Interest focus on the topic of defect litigation. Before reading this book, I had no clue what defect litigation was or that you could sue a construction company for it. Defect litigation is basically where a homeowner can sue the construction company for a poorly built home if things like cracks in the wall appear, uneven flooring, etc. One thing that the homeowner can sue for is to make the builder replace everything out of their pockets and possibly the cost for the homeowner having to live somewhere else till their home is fixed. I thought this was a pretty good book. I only say pretty good because while I found the story interesting, the characters except for T. R. didn’t grab me and I wanted them to. I felt sorry for T.R. but was glad to see that he didn’t just let Sinclair, Sanderson & Starr get the best of him without a fight. Mr. Ruddy’s knowledge of the construction industry really shows in this book. For anyone who is looking for something different to read, then Conflicts with Interest may be the book for you.

[Jennifer]

From My Blog..[return][return]A fascinating insight into the world of construction, corruption, and litigation, Conflicts With Interest by Michael Ruddy is an eye-opening legal thriller about a homeowner suing the homebuilder. The builder, T.R. Morgan, is being sued by the ethically questionable lawyer Sanderson of the law firm Sinclair, Sanderson & Starr, a firm that just happens to seek out these types of cases. T.R. learns of the lawsuit while in Las Vegas, gambling with rather large stakes. Michael Ruddy writes an exceptionally good and informative novel regarding the home building community as well as the legal ramifications of some frivolous suits, and others far more serious. While the book is fast paced with plenty of legal action and definite thrills, it lacks character depth. One learns for example that T.R. has recently been widowed and is addicted to gambling yet I never felt a connection. Conflicts With Interest is a legal thriller like no other, with gambling metaphors, high stakes, and filled with enough legalese to keep the reader on their toes. This novel is indeed a page-turner, but do not expect to truly know the characters. I found myself enjoying Conflicts With Interest and recommend it to readers who enjoy legal thrillers.

[Crystal]

I have read plenty of suspense/thrillers and my fair share of legal thrillers, but Conflicts with Interest is very different from all I have read before. It's a fascinating look at lawsuits involving the construction industry and an overview of the lawyers involved and the insurance industry as well. It focuses on corruption on one case against a father and son construction company.

There are many players in the story and they make all the layers that this story entails. I did get lost a few times with some of the legal terms but most of the book flowed very well for me. The plot never lost my attention for one moment.

I liked T.R. and Ryan from the first page and enjoyed the addition of Catherine as a character and interest for T.R. All of the lawyers had very different personalities and outlooks and that made it real and interesting. There was one lawyer I particularly liked - he really told it like it was. I also liked T.R. because he often used sarcasm to make a point and I love sarcasm.

A well-written debut entry into the thriller genre - I hope Mr. Rudd continues what he has started and has more books in store for the future.

[Ziaria]

This was an interesting read. I will admit I was surprised with how quick I got caught up in the story. The story is about being sued by, what I would call, an ambulance chaser, only for the home building sector. There is a ton of legal jargon and so many players involved, I was often confused by it all and it makes me wonder if lawsuits are really this involved and complicated. The characters, while not totally polished, were enjoyable.

Even though I found the story to be a tad confusing at times, I found that I was enjoying it. This is a good start for a debut author. (review copy from publicist)

[Vistar]

This should be required reading for legislative aids in the California Assembly. It is an example of good intentions gone awry. Regulations and laws thought to be assisting people, often cost more to citizens than the regulatory benefit. The writer provides a good education in the facts of insurance coverage. You aren't buying protection, you're putting a downpayment on a level of legal defense the carriers will use to mitigate losses - it's all about covering their butts, not yours. The book weaves in a great plot and there is a payoff in the end. I really enjoyed the read and the book will now be passed on to my legal counsel.