Act of God [Hardcover]

Susan R. Sloan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2002

"The Seattle Family Service Center is a city landmark. For more than half a century, its health services have reached out to every sector of the community, from the homeless who come for comfort to the working parents who use its day care facility. The center also provides complete obstetrical and gynecological services, including legal abortions. At two o'clock on a chilly February afternoon it becomes the target of a deadly bomb - one eventually responsible for the deaths of over a hundred men, women, and children." "Dana McAuliffe, a partner in a prestigious Seattle law firm, is given the daunting task of defending the accused bomber. Despite the career-enhancing potential of the high-profile assignment, she has serious misgivings. She leans toward being pro-choice and has never tried a capital case. Yet she agrees to represent the defendant, Corey Dean Latham, a young naval officer." Although Corey's chances of acquittal seem slim, Dana hires her own investigator to challenge the state's evidence. Amid the clamor of extremists from both sides of the abortion issue demonstrating outside the courtroom and using the case to promote their agendas, she begins to see a glimmer of hope for her client. Then the media further feeds the frenzy by exposing Dana's personal life to public scrutiny, even as a conspiracy stretching far beyond the courtroom works to manipulate the verdict using the attorney as its unwitting pawn.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books; 1St Edition edition (2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762878622
• ISBN-13: 978-0762878628
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,903,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent...A MUST read!, April 1, 2002

By 

Nick G - See all my reviews

This review is from: Act of God (Hardcover)

The Seattle Family Service Center is a landmark. The Center's health facilities have catered to a wide range of city people; from feeding the homeless, providing day-care services for working parents, to providing complete gynecological services including abortions, that's why it comes as a great shock when, on a chilly afternoon, a bomb goes off killing hundreds of men, women, and children. The city is stunned, and the mayor wants answers. After a few weeks of investigating, the police come up with their first (and only) suspect, young Navy officer Corey Latham.

Attorney Dana McAuliffe is a partner in a very prestigious law firm, and was a patient of the Center for many years so imagine her surprise when her senior partners approach her and ask if she will take on the defense of Corey Latham. Outraged, Dana wants to turn down the case, but after meeting Corey she has her doubts about his guilt. It seems the police have rushed to judgment with Corey for one reason only...his wife had an abortion without his knowledge, and after she told him about it he became very angry. Dana does not believe this information proves her client's guilt so she takes on the case and begins her own investigation.

After looking into several (shady) corners of this case, Dana realizes everything is not what it seems, and the further she probes, the further the media exposes every aspect of the case, as well as bringing to light things from Dana's personal life. With her life spinning out of control, Dana begins a battle with an unknown assailant hell-bent on using her as a pawn in a vast conspiracy that reaches far past the courtroom.

`Act Of God' is not only an excellent page-turner, but a novel of a very controversial topic. The plot takes off on page one, and does not let up for 500 pages more. Every character in this novel is well-drawn, and the plot twists come fast and furious. You will not only stay up late to find out the answers to this perfectly plotted mystery, but also to find out what will become of the main characters. Everything in this novel works, from it's hot topic, to it's heart racing suspense.

Susan Sloan is the author of two previous best-sellers; `Guilt By Association', and `An Isolated Incident' both of which happen to be two of my favorite all-time novels. This time around Ms. Sloan raises the stakes with a legal thriller that not only thrills, but makes you think.

I can't recommend this novel highly enough, at a whopping 530 pages I finished it in one sitting, and was sad to see it end. Buy this book, you will not be disappointed.

A MUST read!!!

Nick Gonnella

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Susan Sloan has done it again!, May 4, 2002

By 

BeachReader (Delaware) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Act of God (Hardcover)

Susan Sloan has written another book that had me reading the last two pages over and over again to be sure that I had read it correctly. She is the master of surprise twists, that is for sure. "Guilt by Association" remains my favorite of hers, the ultimate suspenseful thriller.

From the very first page, I was pulled into this story and the intensity never let up. I hated to put the book down to attend to the necessary chores of daily living! And when I finished, I was sorry that I no longer had this book to look forward to.

No need here to go into another synopsis, because other reviewers have ably done so before me.

Sloan's characters are fully fleshed out, as is her plot. She never got preachy about the abortion issue but presented a balanced view. At times I found the politics/policies a little confusing as each "side" tries to present its case in the best light.

If you get this book, be sure to put aside a good chunk of time to read it, because you will not be able to put it down!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A well- crafted and engrossing thriller, June 30, 2002

By 

Narayan Radhakrishnan (Trivandrum, Kerala, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Act of God (Hardcover)

Former Attorney & author of An Isolated Incident & Guilt by Association, Susan Sloan explores in this superb courtroom drama Act of God, an area that doesn&3146;t often become the theme of a legal thriller - the question of abortion rights vis-Â-vis the rights of the unborn.

Corey Latham, a young naval officer has been accused of bombing the Seattle Family Service Center - a clinic that provided health services to the poor & homeless, as well as legal abortions. The bomb has killed more than a 100 people, most of them women & children.

Gritty & determined attorney, Dana McAuliffe is assigned the task of defending Corey. She gears up for action, but finds herself in the midst of a media frenzy, where the pro-choice & the anti-abortionists have decided to use the trial as an epitome of their agenda. Corey, it seems had every reason to feel hatred towards the Center, for it was in there that Corey-s wife had an abortion without his consent. With evidence loaded against Corey, a chance for acquittal seems almost nil.

McAuliffe hires her own investigator & begins to probe into the State-s case, slowly finding some points in favor of Corey.

The highlight of the work is the balance the author maintains in the courtroom action, & the "legalese" that is strong & steady for both sides, culminating in an exciting & even-sided battle in the courtroom.

Often we have seen courtroom drams dissolve into mere courtroom antics. Act of God is a noble exception, as Sloan maintains the sobriety of the issue throughout.

The question of pro-choice & pro-life have rarely made its presence so strongly felt in the legal thriller arena - save for a Robert Shapiro's Misconception or Richard North Patterson's Protect and Defend.

Act of God also poses another important question of whether abortion should remain exclusively within the zone of individual privacy or whether, & if so, to what extent, the law or State can exercise control over such actions of a person.

Act of God is sure to excite the connoisseur of good legal-fiction. It makes a thrilling &, at the same time, poignant & savory read.