Customer Reviews

Act of God

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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!

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.

Susan Sloan comes through again with another page-turner. She is one of the country's best-kept secrets. As with her first two books, she keeps the reader on edge. As a reader, you know there is going to be a twist, but it is always beyond comprehension what that twist will be. The most difficult thing about a Sloan novel is resisting the urge to turn to the back and see "who did it." Susan, as one of your greatest fans, please do not make us wait as long for the next thriller.

Act of God is the author's third novel and like the previous two is a five star read. Once again, Ms. Sloan has produced a fast paced novel about a contemporary social problem which attracts the reader's attention and requires the reader to examine preconceived assumptions. While the plot concerns the bombing of a medical clinic, which performs abortions as part of its services, and while the book scrupulously examines both sides of the abortion debate, the book is not about abortion. Instead it is an examination of the consequences when both sides loss all sense of civility and proportion and resort to extra-legal measures and extreme rhetoric. My only criticism is that Ms. Sloan is so successful in creating her characters, in describing the ripple effects of the act of terror which is at the core of the novel and in recreating the trial the that I was let down by the ending.

The author really hooked me from page 1-all I know is I couldn't put the book down-outstanding in all categories, including the courtroom action-kept me guessing until the very last page-very little distracting, trivial information included in the 500+ pages which made the book even more readable-she is now #1 on my list for legal thrillers, by far surpassing John Grisham, who pales by comparison-hope she has another one in the works!(By the way, I very rarely give 5 stars-I'm a tough grader-read 2-3 mystery/thrillers a week,and recently there have been plenty of the "same old, same old" 2-3 star forgettable books, but not this one!)

Susan Sloan has written a gripping legal thriller. There has been a horrific bombing at the Seattle Family Services Center killing and maiming many innocent men, women and children. The police think they have the person responsible for this terrible crime in custody - but do they really. Dana McAuliffe, defense lawyer, undertakes the representation of Corey Latham, the accused bomber. Thus, unfolds a compelling story that makes you feel as if you are a part of the jury sitting if judgement of Corey.

This is one of the best legal thrillers I have read in sometime. I could not put it down. Hopefully, Ms. Sloan has her next novel underway. I can't wait.

The explosion reads like a real-life story and you ache for all the victims. The relationships between the female lawyer, her best friend, and her family feel genuiune. These could be people you know, especially with recent events in the news. The suspense and plot twists are skillfully done; you're never sure which end is up and who the "good guys" are. The author successfully demonstrates that there are no black-and-white issues; each side of the story holds weight. This title should climb the bestseller lists in the tradition of John Grisham. Spread the word to all your book friends. And bravo to you, Ms. Sloan!

When it comes to books I'm a bit of a sexist. Yeah, I can admitt it. When scanning down the racks at my local bookstore and I see the name of the author is female, I usualy keep scanning. Not that I haven't tried. Yet often when I decide to take the chance to read a female author I struggle through the book trying to relate with the characters.
I really can't tell you why I picked up this book. Not only my horribly sexist outlook on reading but the fact that the last two books I read on the subject of abortion were at best mediocre. Both books were full of cliche situations and took them selves way to seriously.
Then I read Susan R. Sloan's Act of God. What instantly impressed me was the humor of the novel. Often when author's take on such a sensitive subject they try to handle in with sensativity, henceforth a dry and humorless tale. Here Sloan attacks the situation with an almost Hiaasenesque flare which borders on over the top. Yet the humor doesn't overshadow the seriousness of the situation.
The other thing I really liked about the book was the courtroom scene. More and more of our legal thrillers have turned into lawyer as detective stories, never really entering the courthouse. When they do actually try a case rarely does it ever play out to its natural conclusion. Usually some big secret is revealed and the defendents life is never place in the hands of the jury. Here Sloan takes us step by step through an exciting trial with to likeable adversaries.
Whatever your take is on this subject matter, I recommed reading this book. Maybe I have finally found the female author I can relate to.

Act of God is a compelling, richly detailed legal thriller with a bit of an edge. As such it stands in a class by itself, apart from other formulaic courtroom dramas.

The crime--a horrible act of violence and destruction at a Seattle health clinic.

The alleged perpetrator--Corey Dean Latham, a young clean-cut naval officer.

The defense attorney--prestigious law firm partner Dana McAuliffe, who comes across like a modern-day Superwoman with her solid, upwardly moving law career and her loving, supportive husband and young daughter.

The jury--a group of interesting and unique individuals faced with the daunting task of condemning a man to death for his supposed actions--if he's guilty.

The verdict--in the court of public opinion, Corey Latham has already been tried and convicted before the case even goes to trial. Proving her client's innocence will be the most difficult case Dana has ever had, but despite her initial misgivings, she thinks she's ready for the challenge.

From the lawyers on opposing sides, to the members of the jury, to Corey's friends and family, to the victims and survivors of the incident at Hill House, everyone believes they know the truth. But Sloan's neatly unfolding story proves that the truth is never as simple as it might seem.

Susan R. Sloan has created a very real, very human cast of characters in a a story that just may change the way you think--about the American justice system and the explosive issues of abortion, violence in the name of religion and morality, and making difficult and possibly deadly choices. Act of God is full of plausible twists and surprises, from the beginning to the last startling sentence over 500 fascinating pages later.