Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

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A Game of Proof
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SS04) A Game of Proof (July 1)
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Hi everyone! Happy summer, and thanks to Leena for the recommendation on our July read! Looking forward to it. I just have to finish Anatomy of a Murder...reading too many books at one time, as always ;)
Is anyone having trouble finding this one? There's not even a listing for it in my library system, which is very rare.
Lisa wrote: "Ah, I did just find the Kindle edition free on Amazon!"
It's not in my library system either BUT I also got the kindle version FREE on Amazon. Score!!!
It's not in my library system either BUT I also got the kindle version FREE on Amazon. Score!!!

Leena, that’s so interesting. It has to be pretty good if it’s such compelling reading despite those issues.



Judge Stuart Gray and Julian Lloyd-Davies (view spoiler)
Her husband, Bob (view spoiler)
Detective Terry Bateson(view spoiler)
I’m a few chapters in, and I surely understand the comments about the chauvinistic tone. Yikes. The writing is a bit odd to me, sort of unpolished. Interested to see where this goes.

And the chauvinistic comments are also true- but again we are used to it being glossed over or utterly by the negative characters I was taken aback by the hero and the husband thinking so of the heroine.

It’s unusual for me to read a book where no men have any redeeming value. I can understand two or three ( heroine overcomes antagonist; showing character growth). I wonder if the author did this intentionally?


Also is Sarah right in cross examining the detective (acquaintance, family or friend) the way she did?
Nancy, your first question is something I think about a lot. I was recently talking to someone who is a criminal defense lawyer, and I asked her if it was difficult to defend someone she knew was guilty. She said not at all, happens all the time. Everyone gets a right to a defense lawyer in the US, so it didn't bother her. She said what is nervewracking is defending someone she knows is innocent, as this person's freedom is now at stake.
Leena wrote: "And then the tone changes - Sarah is just so focused on succeeding in her career, I'm.notnsure I've come across such a single minded heroine still. It shook me a little , one is so used to that ste..."
Leena, there is definitely a different perspective here. It's really interesting. I've read so many crime/mystery novels with the errant male hero being devoted to his work and falling down on the home front or in his personal life. I like the spin. I'm enjoying this book more as I go. Was unsure in the first few chapters, but I'm all in now.
Anyone else still reading?
Leena, there is definitely a different perspective here. It's really interesting. I've read so many crime/mystery novels with the errant male hero being devoted to his work and falling down on the home front or in his personal life. I like the spin. I'm enjoying this book more as I go. Was unsure in the first few chapters, but I'm all in now.
Anyone else still reading?

Thanks for the answer.

I am. I had some things this week but will be back to reading it this weekend.
I agree that if you’re a defense lawyer then you do your job - defend. Same as a prosecuting attorney. I think either may be difficult at times.
I can’t muster any sympathy for Sarah or anyone else yet.
I can’t muster any sympathy for Sarah or anyone else yet.

I can’t muster any sympathy for Sarah or anyone els..."
I have to greenish you Sheri. I’m a up to chapter 15 and I don’t find myself caring about ant of the characters. Considering this is first in a series, you think the author would want us rooting for the main character.
“Trials” meaning both the actual trial and trials in her personal life
Nancy wrote: "So I’m up to chapter 14
Her daughter, Emily [spoilers removed]
Also [spoilers removed]"
Totally agree with your first spoiler.
That second spoiler is a good question. I hadn't thought about the "intended target."
Her daughter, Emily [spoilers removed]
Also [spoilers removed]"
Totally agree with your first spoiler.
That second spoiler is a good question. I hadn't thought about the "intended target."

I agree on the dislikability of the characters, particularly Sarah. And, wow, the chauvinism! I can understand, for example, why Terry doesn’t like Sarah, but he just resorts to thinking, “Bitch!” lol. That word is so gender-specific. Call her an a-hole and I’m on board. This makes it hard to like Terry, too, and I feel like he’s set up to be a character that the reader empathizes with. I’m really kind of bowled over by the portrayal of Sarah, and her single-mindedness in favor of work vs her family. Even when her daughter goes missing, she speaks so poorly of her, not lovingly, or with concern.


I like the basic premise of the story - a person who has made several bad decisions pulls themself up and becomes successful, but I didn't sympathize with any of the characters and didn't care much about who did or didn't do it.
I'm getting close to finishing and have been waiting for Simon's redeeming moment...still waiting... What a lout.
Lisa wrote: "I'm getting close to finishing and have been waiting for Simon's redeeming moment...still waiting... What a lout."
Get back to us on that one :)
Get back to us on that one :)
˜”*°•.˜”*°• Sheri •°*”˜.•°*”˜ wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I'm getting close to finishing and have been waiting for Simon's redeeming moment...still waiting... What a lout."
Get back to us on that one :)"
LOL!
Get back to us on that one :)"
LOL!
Just finished. Meh...it kept me interested throughout the first half, but it was way too long and repetitive. And such unlikeable characters. In a way, I give the author credit for going all in with the crappy personalities of Sarah and Simon, and not ever going the redemption route. But, it makes a story less engrossing. And then (view spoiler) So much of the text in this book was the same ideas and circumstances, stated over and over again - here are the challenges, here are the facts, here are what the characters are like, and not in an interesting way. It struck me that I was riveted during the trial scenes in our last book, Anatomy of A Murder, and just trying to get through them in this one. Both restated the cases at hand, but in such different ways.
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Summary
A mother's worst nightmare - can her son be guilty of murder?
Sarah Newby, who left school at 15, and was living as a teenage single parent on an inner-city estate, has worked her way up to begin a career as a criminal barrister. Then in a terrible irony her own son, Simon, is arrested and charged with a series of brutal rapes and murders. The evidence against him appears so strong that his QC advises a guilty plea, but Simon swears he is innocent and begs his mother take on his defence. There is no law against a mother representing her son, so Sarah agrees. The only other obvious suspect for the murders, however, is a man who has already been acquitted once - with Sarah acting as his defence lawyer ...
Has Sarah, in her single-minded determination to create a career for herself, neglected her son so much that she no longer knows him? Since he has often lied to her in the past, how can she trust him when he says he is innocent this time? And what should she do when she herself uncovers evidence that seems to suggest his guilt?
It seems that telling the whole truth must be weighed in the balance against keeping certain information well hidden ...