Suspense

During LibraryThing's 2021 Christmas card exchange a reader friend suggested I might enjoy reading novels by Beverley MacLachlin. Best suggestion ever to a reader who enjoys legal thrillers! I missed the advertisement that "Full Disclosure" was the 1st title in a series about character Jilly Truitt, criminal defense attorney but both can easily be read as a stand-alone although with any series I prefer to read the novels in order.

If a married woman is found dead in the matrimonial bed with no signs of a break-in then it's always the husband who committed the murder right? The police have arrested and charged Vincent Trussardi with his wife Laura's murder. The crime scene is ghastly exhibiting the brutality that ended Laura's life. But all are innocent until proven guilty and Jilly Truitt, and associates Jeff Solosky and Alicia Leung are defense team for this case with Richard Beauvais contracted for the investigator work.

As a reader there doesn’t need to be a trial for me to designate it as a compelling legal thriller. However, when the courtroom drama of a trial is written by an author clearly understanding the structure of the court system, courtroom procedures, familiarity with prosecution and defense and the motivation of their actions, jury selection, evidence, disclosure, tunnel vision, and reasonable doubt the authenticity is all the more fascinating.

Adding depth to the legal thriller is the portrayal of Cy Kenge, prosecutor and former mentor to Jilly in the hours outside of their offices and the court. I only wish I was familiar with more artists as mentioned during the course of describing paintings in various homes. I did recognize the novels Jilly and/or her foster mother Martha were reading that made me smile.

I solved one aspect of interest to Tilly in her personal life. I did not succeed in unraveling all of the legal twists. I highly recommend you read this credible novel written by the 1st woman to hold the position of Chief Justice of Canada and the longest-serving Chief Justice in Canadian history.

I am hopeful that Beverley McLachlin is currently at work on another legal thriller. I’m eager to read more of her writing. ( )

A legal mystery set in Canada, written by our former Chief Justice. I enjoyed it! The BC system is a little different from Ontario's, which makes for some compelling turns. ( )

So-so. Legal intricacies are interesting. I figured out the ending quite early. ( )

Fair courtroom drama written by the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. For me, the ending was anticlimactic, a hurried wrap-up of all the story lines. Not my favorite book, but I like this genre, so my time wasn't wasted. ( )