Review - Flesh and Bones

“I was sitting at the end of the bar sipping single-malt Scotch when I spotted the tall blond woman with the large green eyes and the small gray gun.”

The next thing Jake Lassiter knows, the woman pumps three bullets into the man on the next barstool.

And Jake, the linebacker-turned-lawyer, has a new client.

She’s stunning model Chrissy Bernhardt, and the dead man is her wealthy father. The defense? Chrissy claims that she’s recently recovered repressed memories of having been sexually abused by her father. Jake wants to believe her but suspects that the memories were either implanted by a shady psychiatrist or fabricated by Chrissy herself. Complicating the situation, Jake falls for his client, clouding his judgment. Is she an anguished victim or a cold-blooded killer? And what about her brother, who stands to inherit a fortune if Chrissy goes to prison? Jake wades into a quagmire of dirty water deals, big money, and family corruption, all leading to an explosive finale.

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My Review:

I went into this story not entirely knowing what to expect. I was hoping for a good crime novel with some twists and I was not disappointed. Paul Levine is a really good writer that knows how to weave a story.

The first half of the book is mostly spent introducing you to the characters and settings. While at times this seemed to drag a bit. All the info given was useful and contributed to the story.

There are two main characters - Jake, the former football player turned lawyer and Chrissy, the model who he is defending for killing her father. But they are surrounded by a cast of great and interesting characters. From her shrink and her step-brother to his Granny and his nephew (Kip). The shrink and step-brother are more on the serious end of the story. While Granny and Kip are characters you love from the moment you meet them. They are entertaining and fun and really help liven up the story.

By far the best part of the book though is the courtroom scenes. Here is where the author's writing really shows its skill. During this part you have Jake weaving his questions to get reactions and eventually the truth as to what has really happened. Until the end you really don't know if she was abused or even if she really killed her father. But it all comes out skillfully during the trial in scenes that would make an amazing movie scene.

If you are looking for a good crime fiction novel with a great court scene. Don't pass this one by.