Gerry Spence

Blood on the Table by Gerry Spence

Compelling critical look at situations that were often difficult to unsee. The law is supposed to be blind and see innocence rather than prejudge or indict without facts. It is supposed to be honest and just but that is not always true. This story made me think and care and wonder and wish…and in the end it left me with a bit of hope.

What I liked:
* Ringo: honest, loving, kind, artistic, giving, good son, admirable, stalwart, a good man, someone I would like as a friend/on my side.
* Ben: father, husband, shepherd, father, honest, a good man, taciturn, quiet, bottled up emotionally, falsely accused, intriguing in the way still waters sometimes run deep.
* Sarah: mother, wife, secret keeper, lonely, would do anything for her family, hard worker, conflicted, dreamer, enjoys beauty, dreamer, made me think about what I would have done in her situation
* Hampton: lawyer, husband, truth seeker, honest, intelligent, interesting in the courtroom
* Meg/Isabelle: college student, artist, pragmatic, traveled, deeper than expected
* Ham & Jamey: two boys that deserved so much better
* The way all the pieces came together eventually…though I wondered at times if they would.
* Kind of liked the ultimate outcome and decision of the jury…though had hoped for something else
* That the story made me think and care
* The 1940’s era
* The location in Wyoming
* Mrs. Foley – the foster mother
* That though I thought about giving up in the beginning as it seemed slow…I was once again drawn in and could not put the book down.

What I didn’t like:
* Those I was meant not to like…and they were many. It was easy to hate them and hard to see the shenanigans they got up to.
* The way some were willing to use their power negatively and too often got away with it
* The damage done to so many

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (plus d'informations)

Beautiful Lillian Adams is going on trial for the murder of her wealthy husband before Judge John Murray. The prosecutor, Haskins Sewell, however, is consumed by political ambition. He plans to advance his own career by framing Lillian for murder one and by railroading the judge into prison. A fast-paced, up-all-night courtroom thriller, Court of Lies is also a harsh indictment of today's legal system.

This story had a lot going on in the courtroom with good questions, contentious objections and other lawyer strategies. I didn’t strongly like any of the characters but I did grow to hate the prosecutor. The prosecutor was presented as purposely lying and making false accusations to win his case. The author is a successful defense lawyer and I think this may be his view of many prosecutors he encountered over the years. The characters were a bit over the top and not always believable. Still, the story was entertaining.… (plus d'informations)

Court of Lies by Gerry Spence

In 1954 Jackson Hole, Wyoming we meet Judge Murray talking about his life and as the story progresses we meet the man who will become his law partner, the woman who will become his wife, a man that will be a thorn in his flesh for decades and a woman that is as close to him as a daughter. aa story is narrated by a true storyteller but one that is not in a hurry to share the tale. I had moments when I questioned if it would be worth the time to read this book but have to say that it definitely was.

My emotions were definitely involved as I read about abuse, misuses of power, lies, hate, bigotry and more. I was warmed by the love and friendship and caring of some for others. I felt anger more than once and wanted to reach in and smack some of the characters. I guess the main thing I felt at the end of the book is that the law is not always all that it could and should be but that people can be good even when they sometimes choose not to stay within the law’s boundaries.

This is a book that will stay with me for awhile and one that I will ponder. I can relate to the older characters in the book and how they are looking at the world in a way that I perhaps might not have been able to a couple of decades ago.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read another book by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Tor-Forge for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars… (plus d'informations)