Alibi [Paperback]

Sydney Bauer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

Everyone has a story...but not all of them are true.

In the hallowed halls of Deane University, America's privileged youth allow nothing-and no one- to jeopardize their ambitions. Until a wealthy heiress is brutally murdered, and Boston defense attorney David Cavanaugh is forced into the case. His protégé, a Deane law student, has been accused of the crime. David soon realizes that the odds are against him, as he is led down a road where every ally is an enemy in disguise-and where privilege means anyone can get away with murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Australian author Bauer's third David Cavanaugh thriller (after 2008's Gospel) follows the hotshot Boston criminal defense attorney as he defends James Matheson, a young law student accused of murdering Jessica Nagoshi, the daughter of corporate powerhouse John Nagoshi. With the help of Sara Davis, his girlfriend and co-counsel, Cavanaugh goes head-to-head with ADA Roger Katz, who aims to further his own career by putting Matheson away. The well-plotted legal thrill ride is marred by two-dimensional characters and a complete lack of emotion. Poorly constructed and sometimes purple prose (the solitude of dawn... when, somehow satisfied with their allocated allotment, the shadows gave way to a rising sun and the ever-promising possibilities of what lay ahead) turns a would-be page turner into a slog. Fans of Bauer's previous books ought to give this one a chance, but John Grisham she ain't. (Aug.)
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Review

"WATCH OUT, GRISHAM."
-SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

"In a word: labyrinthine."
-DAILY TELEGRAPH AND HERALD SUN

"Outstanding."
-AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION DATABASE

"What an ending!"
-CRIME DOWN UNDER

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Jove; Original edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515146595
• ISBN-13: 978-0515146592
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,122,550 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong legal thriller, August 1, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alibi (Paperback)

Deane University economics major nineteen years old Jessica Nagoshi is the daughter of a billionaire Japanese businessman. Her boyfriend is final year law student James Matheson who also attends Deane. Their relationship is concealed especially from her family.

That secret is out in the open when she is found brutally murdered on her father's estate in Boston although James lies to Boston homicide detectives Lieutenant Joe Mannix and Detective Frank McKay by denying they were dating Soon afterward his alibi collapses when his best friends interviewed by the cops connect him to the victim and her murder. With John Nagoshi pressuring the District Attorney's Office for a resolution and ADA Roger Katz hammers the cops, James is being accused of murdering his girlfriend in a crime of passion. His legal mentor Boston attorney David Cavanaugh would prefer to stay out of the highly charged case especially with Nagoshi using his affluence and influence to hang James, but knows he cannot; he represents his student. His team finds several viable suspects especially the deceased's brother and James' friend who set up the alibi to deliberately collapse.

In his third legal thriller (see UNDERTOW and GOSPEL) Cavanaugh is terrific as he works a case he never expected in his wildest dreams. The rest of the cast is solid especially the cops, the accused in jail, the other suspects, the legal team including David's girlfriend and John; the only character stereotyped is the ADA whose ambition rivals Lady Macbeth as he cares not for the truth if it is in his ruthless path. Starting as a police investigation that effortlessly switches to a legal thriller, ALIBI is a strong whodunit filled with plausible suspects particularly David's pro bono client.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stellar Legal Thriller, November 9, 2009

By 

Edie Dykeman - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Alibi (Paperback)

Crack Boston attorney David Cavanaugh is back in this third legal thriller by Sydney Bauer. The story opens with an intruduction to the beautiful and rich Jessica Nagoshi, daughter of John Nagoshi who controls a multibillion-dollar empire. She and her brother are being groomed to eventually take over when their father retires.

Unfortunately, Jessica is found murdered in the greenhouse on her father's vast estate. Up and coming Deane University fourth-year law student, and secret lover of Jessica, James Matheson is arrested for the heinous crime. Because David considered James somewhat of a protege, he reluctantly takes the case.

It soon becomes apparent the case will be one of David's most challenging. The media is having a field day with the death of the beautiful heiress presumably at the hands of the handsome athletic Matheson. Further complications arise when ADA Roger "The Kat" Katz orchestrates the players in a case he is sure he will win, one that will take his career to a whole other level.

David also soon realizes there are unseen forces controlling much of the investigation in ways he never would have anticipated. He gathers his team together, including girlfriend Sara Davis and several others, and the battle begins.

The early part of Alibi centers around Detectives Joe Mannix and Frank McKay as they try to gather evidence and find the perpetrator, and the insidious Katz as master manipulator.

Over due course, the novel segues into the dynamic trial. Along the way, betrayals and counter-betrayals keep one wondering who really is behind the killing. As clues come to light, so rises the number of suspects. Is the killer closer to home than anyone would imagine?

Alibi quickly grabbed my interest and I literally stayed up night and day to finish the book. Every time I set it down, in moments I would pick it back up. It is one of the best legal thrillers I've read in a long time. David Cavanaugh fans will not be disappointed.

Alibi

5.0 out of 5 stars Phew!, August 17, 2011

By 

Paul Sparks - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alibi (Audible Audio Edition)

I must say that I pride myself on being able to figure these things out. This book, I could not. This is a credit to the author. The clues were there, and the story jelled. It was absolutely clever, however. The thing that set this legal thriller apart from many of the others is Bauer's incredibly effective character development. The reader really likes the people in this book, especially the defendant, the kid who helps out the defense, the defense attorney, his assistant in the case, and most notably one of the investigating cops, Joe Mannix. Like I said, terrific characterizations. Lots of suprises and twists and turns. The ADA was the guy from hell. I would hope if one of these really existed (no sense of a quest for truth) he would be ousted. As someone who works in the legal system, I would be totally embarrassed if he were not.