Customer Reviews

Actual Innocence

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Even when Central California Federal Judge Daniel Solman asks for his help, attorney Greg Monarch says no even though this is the woman's last appeal. Five years ago, a local jury convicted the death row inmate of killing an elderly geologist. Six months from now she will visit the chair. As he reads her petition, an angry Greg knows he must dive into another death row case because the convict is his former lover, the tumultuous Sarah Trant.

Greg begins to attain background information, but finds roadblock after roadblock. Sarah's attorney refuses to cooperate. The sheriff and the District Attorney reject Greg's inquiries. However, Greg immediately sees a fatal flaw in the prosecution's case. The victim's alleged final words accuse Sarah of murdering him, but his gutted throat made it impossible to speak. As Greg digs deeper, he realizes that other individuals had stronger motives to kill the victim, However, with official inertia slowing him down Greg wonders if he has enough time to prove his client's innocence.

ACTUAL INNOCENCE is an intriguing legal thriller that centers on a small town's conspiracy to hide a scandal. Though it's obvious what is going on, the story line is well written and provides insight into the bumbling efforts of the leading town officials to hide their ignominy.

Harriet Klausner

This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give `ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.

This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give `ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.

This book was quite ordinary. The audio done by Ed Asner was awful. His voice is so hoarse sounding that he is often barely understandable. His female voices were OK except for one or two that were too low in volume. Several of the male voices were so loud that I was constantly adjusting the volume.

I might possibly read another Siegal book, but I will never buy another audiobook with Asner as the narrator.

Actual Innocence

"Actual Innocence" is a legal term that refers to the wrongfully convicted. Being 'actually innocent' is not grounds for a release from prison in the criminal justice system without a new trial (Sheppard vs. Ohio). This decision must be made in a court of law, not in some laboratory. The 'Preface' tells of the beginning of the "Innocence Project" which uses DNA tests to free convicts who were innocent (p.xiv). This has "exposed a system of law that has been far too complacent about its fairness and accuracy" (p.xv). It can be due to: mistaken eyewitnesses, racism, rigged lab tests, inattentive defense lawyers, lying prosecutors. [We know how DNA evidence can be forged or fabricated, like fingerprints. There is no limit to human error.] But DNA tests only work with biological evidence, and they wonder how many were wrongfully convicted in other crimes? "Eyewitness error remains the single most important cause of wrongful convictions. If the prosecution holds back the evidence for DNA tests, a conviction prevents the right to have them done" (p.xvi). William Rehnquist agreed! Government statistics do not keep track of the number of innocent persons who are convicted (p.xvii).

Eyewitness testimony was known to be unreliable in the 19th century (Mass. vs. Borden), especially when the people are not well-known to each other. Are false confessions the obverse of misidentification? Chapter 4 explains why you should never talk to the police without your lawyer present. Police are rewarded for closing cases not leaving them open. Prosecutors are also responsible for false convictions (p.101), especially in this case (p.105). Chapter 5 discusses "scientific evidence"as it has been presented in far too many cases. How many other cases has prosecutorial perjury been passed for science (p.116)? This will continue until there are independent laboratories that are reliable. [See the book "Tainting Evidence".] Chapter 6 has examples of prosecutorial perjury. Could hairs be planted for evidence (p.151)? Page 157 tells of safeguards against false information. Chapter 7 deals with the "junk science" of hair analysis and its weaknesses (p.162). There is a need to regulate crime laboratories (p.170). Chapter 8 tells of "harmless error", deliberate misstatements used to convict suspects (pp.174-175). A prosecutor can't be sued for knowingly allowing perjured testimony (p.180)! Are Federal prosecutors exempt from ethical rules (p.181)?

Chapter 9 shows the need for capable defense lawyers. Does the low pay for indigents' lawyers in Texas result in a higher number of executions (p.189)? President Clinton and Speaker Newton Gingrich made it easier to convict the innocent (p.190)! Public defenders are overworked and underpaid (p.191). Chapter 10 tells how "Race" can result in the conviction of a man later found innocent by DNA evidence. Chapter 11 shows how a heinous crime demands a conviction. The need to cover the face of a suspect is to avoid false witnessing (p.215). Page 217 tells how an innocent comment can be twisted into a sign of guilt. One out of eight condemned to death is later freed as totally innocent (p.218)! Chapter 12 tells of the problems facing the wrongly convicted. The test for counterfeiting evidence is on pages 236-237. Sometimes people see what they believe, not the other way around (p.237). Chapter 13 has lessons from crimes. Conviction of an innocent may mask a serial murderer (p.244). If DNA tests were done right away it could eliminate suspects (p.245). [Unless a blood sample would be used to frame a suspect.] No state has an Innocence Commission to review convictions (p.246).
Appendix 1 has a short list of reforms to protect the innocent.

Erle Stanley Gardner and the "Court of Last Resort" pioneered investigations into the wrongfully convicted around 1948 (p.249). Gardner's advocacy for the use of forensic science educated generations of his readers. His books outsold the totals of his competitors. "Potboilers"? Shame on the authors!

A fast-paced and enjoyable tale of legal suspense, Actual Innocence introduces attorney Greg Monarch who receives from his friend Judge Solman a habeus corpus petition. The petitioner is Greg's old girlfriend and convicted murderess, Sarah Trant. While looking in to Sarah's case, Greg discovers there is much more going on behind the scenes in the small town of El Nido.
Author Barry Siegel certainly seems to know what he's talking about when it come to legal procedure, but his writing is unpredictable. Gripping and tight during scenes of casual interaction, the suspense builds to where the reader is sure something untoward is about to happen to the hero....then nothing does. The action jumps forward in time without concluding what was just going on. Of course, to come to a natural conclusion would give away too much of the "mystery" of the plot.
The plot itself is interesting as well as plausible, if a little predictable. The characters are well-developed and believable, although the author's attempt at a romance for his protagonist seems awkward. There doesn't need to be romance in mystery novels, but if you're going to put it in, at least have it pay off.
The only other thing I'd like to comment about with regards to this book is that the surnames of most of the main characters seem a little...off...or truncated. It's almost as if this was at one point a true story and the names have been manipulated slightly in order to become "fiction." I'm tempted to surmise that Gest, Mashburn, Trant, Solman, and Sanborn were originally Guest, Washburn, Trent, Soloman, and Sandborn. There's no similar story that I can find on Google, though...

The title of L.A. Times reporter Siegel's second legal thriller refers to an actual legal term intending not only to find fault with the state's case but to prove "actual" innocence. A novel idea.

His series protagonist, successful California defense attorney Greg Monarch might be wiser to refer his emotionally troubled old flame Sarah Trant's death row appeal to someone more neutral, but even a little poking around stirs up a murk of conspiracy and corruption in the small Eden-like community of El Nido.

When he finally gets past the stonewalling of the sheriff and DA, he discovers that the wealthy rancher who seems so sympathetic to Sarah was the prosecution's star witness, recipient of the dying man's last accusatory words. Better yet, a look at the autopsy photos shows a severed carotid artery - the man could not have spoken.

Withheld evidence, doctored reports, witness tampering - a miscarriage of justice could hardly be more easy to prove. But whatever the powers-that-be in El Nido are trying to hide, it binds enemies together in a conspiracy of silence. Monarch finds his case falling apart on the witness stand.

Tense courtroom drama, an underlying sense of menace and a mystery that grows more labyrinthine with every development makes this a well-written page-turner.

Greg Monarch is a Chumash County, CA, lawyer who has grown more than a little jaded at freeing the guilty even as he accepts an award as the county's top defense attorney. Against his wishes, he is drawn into a final death-row appeal by a Federal judge who is intrigued by the hand-written habeas corpus motion the convict has filed. When it turns out that the prisoner is an old romantic flame, Sarah Trent, Monarch is drawn further in, ultimately fighting for Sarah's post-conviction relief on the grounds of actual innocence.

In the course of the story, we enter the hidden little valley community of El Nido, fiercely protected by its citizens, chief of whom is Diana Sanborn, granddaughter of the community's founder. From the start, Monarch runs into obstacles that lead him deeper into Sarah's case, and obvious prosecutorial misconduct, but also into the dim history of El Nido, and some secret that seems to have become entangled in the murder for which Sarah waits to die.

Legal machinations, hidden histories, shadowy conspiracies, an approaching execution - author Siegel weaves all this together with multifaceted characters that one comes to care for. An excellent read.

Highly recommendable book. However, be prepared to go for a walk to get the anger and sense of injustice out of your system! Just can't believe that legal processes are more important than the state saving face...

Having four leisurely days of holiday in Singapore this was exactly the sort of book I needed; a very well written, fast paced thriller.

Attorney Greg Monarch is handed a "final appeal"of a woman sentenced to death for murder by a federal judge who, although not seeing exactly how to appeal legally senses that there is some truth in the story of the women.

It turns out that the simple murder case was part of a conspiracy much beyond what was obvious in the first place and it turns into a story of greed and selfishness of a whole community.

Mr.Siegel, like in his first book, has a tremendous capability of drawing believable characters into a well conceived storyline. A book which entertains and will not dissapoint.

It is not a story of good guys versus bad guys ( although there are some genuinely despicable people) but more of a number of people in doubt of the right course to take leading to enormous consequences.

Highly recommendable indeed for a couple of hours next to a swimming pool!