The Bad Witness (Sally Harrington Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Van Wormer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005 | Series: Sally Harrington Novels

Sally Harrington is a bad witness . . .

Called to testify in the sensational "Mafia Boss Murder" trial unfolding in sunny California, journalist Sally Harrington is a key witness for the defense. Unfortunately, Sally knows more than she'd like to about the accused. After all, the East Coast mobster once tried to have her killed.

But it isn't until Sally’s life is threatened once again that things really get interesting. That's when the defense counsel accuses Sally -- his own witness -- of being more interested in the attractive police officer who's now protecting her than in being a witness.

This is Sally's world -- where Sally is making more news than she is reporting. And whether the danger and intrigue involve Hollywood stars or celebrated Mafia dons, Sally Harrington is determined to get to the truth and see that justice is done. Of course, she may just take a few hair-raising and romantic detours along the way . . .

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you like perky, you'll love Sally Harrington, girl reporter-producer-TV newswoman, here in her newest starring role as a witness at the murder trial of a movie exec who's really the son of an ex-Mob boss, and who may have been seeking revenge on the son of another gangster who's been tormenting his family for years. Sally's relevance to the case at hand is somewhat tediously retold in a flashback to the events surrounding the murder, most of which were recounted in her last adventure in this breathlessly girlish series, and which take up at least half of this one. As used to making news as she is reporting it, our Sally is a sexy gal whose romantic exploits take up the other half. This is not the author's or her heroine's liveliest outing, but their fans probably won't be disappointed. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Van Wormer's patented blend of romance and courtroom drama wears a little thin in her 11th novel, her fourth featuring broadcast journalist Sally Harrington (The Last Lover; Expos‚; Trouble Becomes Her). Sally is a headstrong, risk-taking, sexy woman who thrives on fast action, danger and press attention. On temporary hiatus from New York, she's in Los Angeles, where she's the key defense witness for Hollywood producer Jonathan Small, accused of killing East Coast mobster Nick Arlenetta, who once tried to kill Sally herself. Because she wrote a documentary miniseries about the war between East Coast crime families, her testimony is crucial in the California case, so the Santa Monica police department assigns Paul Fitzwilliam as round-the-clock protection for Sally. Although he's six years her junior, the sexual attraction between them is palpable, but their budding romance is interrupted when a hit-and-run motorist slams into their motorcycle and they end up in the hospital. Subplots involving Hollywood stars and trendy issues like bisexuality abound, but the primary narrative proceeds with Sally on the witness stand in a cast. A shocking revelation from another witness livens up the mix, but as the trial increasingly takes over the story, the dull, repetitive testimony makes the second half of the novel read more like a court transcript than fiction. This isn't one of Van Wormer's better efforts, but as a Sally Harrington vehicle, it should satisfy diehard fans.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Mira (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778321576
• ISBN-13: 978-0778321576
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,554,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Quick Reading Order Lists:

"The Alexandra Chronicles": 1)Riverside Drive 2)West End 3)Any Given Moment 4)Talk 5)Exposé 6 )The Last Lover 7)Trouble Becomes Her 8)The Bad Witness 9)The Kill Fee 10)Mr. Murder 11)Riverside Park

"The Sally Harrington Mysteries": 1)Exposé 2)The Last Lover 3)Trouble Becomes Her 4)The Bad Witness 5)The Kill Fee 6)Mr. Murder

The "Stand Alone" Novels: 1)Benedict Canyon 2)Jury Duty 3)Just for the Summer

Best-selling author Laura Van Wormer has been a force in fiction since the publication of "Riverside Drive" in 1988. She is the author of thirteen novels. Her engrossing plots, memorable characters and insider knowledge of the media professions have won praise from the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Good Housekeeping, and People.

After graduating from Darien High School in Connecticut Laura spent a year at the University of Arizona before transferring to Syracuse University, from where she received a B.S. in Public Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School and minored in English.

Upon graduation Laura went to New York looking for a job in television but landed a job instead as secretary to the editor-in-chief of Doubleday & Company. "Every day my head was spinning," Laura says. "Everyone from Leon Uris to William F. Buckley, Jr., Victoria Holt to Phyllis Whitney, Edna O'Brien to Stephen King, Arthur and Alex Hailey to Allen Drury were all publishing with Doubleday at that time."

Laura rose through the editorial ranks somewhat specializing in celebrity and mass media-related books. Caught in a deadline crunch one year, Doubleday and 20th Century Fox flew Laura out to the West Coast to create a book based on the hit series, "Dynasty". Upon her return to New York an offer was made to create a book for the rival show, "Dallas". Laura ended up taking the assignment and leaving Doubleday to write her first novel.

The novel ended up taking four years. To keep body and soul together Laura became "The Official Dallas Historian" (!) and created a game for Lorimar based on the show. She then took on "Knots Landing", wrote copy for the back of jigsaw puzzles and created a game.

Finally she finished her first novel, "Riverside Drive", published in 1988, which is currently in its 5th edition. She has been a full time writer ever since.

Laura is a longtime member of the Authors Guild of America, and also (because of "Jury Duty" and the Sally Harrington mysteries) the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Connecticut, New York and Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth It; a Saucy Continuation of Sally Harrington's life, February 28, 2003

By 

Maye Vanarsdel (Clinton, Md USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bad Witness (Hardcover)

This is a coming of age novel in a series that recognizes that people don't stop growing just because they've graduated from college, gotten a job, and had a few affairs. Sally Harrington is not dumb, just on her way to the maturity that comes with age and experience - - as are many of us. Things happen TO Sally as a result of her intelligence mixed with a youthful inability to count the costs of her actions. Harrington has to deal with the mores, and current news events of life right now in the United States. I like her new love interest, who is not the usual handsome cardboard foil for a romantic damsel in distress - - he's thinking about the consequences of commitment and partnership. The mystery is not confined to the consequences of the ageing US mafioso families, but also includes Sally's maturity. A lively page-turner that's 3rd in this mystery series that is firmly grounded in today's intricate personal mix of sex, work, and having to find a way to balance everything. A good read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Sally Harrington fans, November 12, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: The Bad Witness (Hardcover)

NY TV news reporter Sally Harrington is in Santa Monica to testify as a defense witness in the "Mafia Boss Murder Trial". Hollywood producer Jonathan Small stands trial for killing mobster Nick Arlenetta. While the prosecutor screams murder one, the defense team insists self-defense as they claim that Jonathan shot Nick before the mobster could kill his sister. Sally who has done a documentary on the East Coast mob families plans to testify that Nick tried to kill her also.

Following attempts on Sally's life, her boss and mentor at DBS News Alexandra Waring coaxes the police to provide her reporter with protection around the clock. Officer Paul Fitzwilliam and Sally feel an immediate attraction, but her safety comes first especially when she is hurt in a hit and run incident. As Sally becomes the news rather than reporting it, the trial takes center stage, but will she live long enough to provide her "expert" opinion?

Though shifted to the West Coast, the fourth Harrington novel reads similar to the previous three tales as she once again makes for a good novel when Sally is in center stage. The problem is the trial that goes on and on and on, etc. while keeping Sally on the sidelines for the most part as a mere observer. Not as powerful as tales like TROUBLE BECOMES HER, HE BAD WITNESS contains enough of Sally's brand of shtick to satisfy her fans.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars nothing new here, December 5, 2002

By 

M. S. Butch (Katonah, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bad Witness (Hardcover)

this book was a big disappointment. First -- there was no real plot, unless a New Guy is supposed to qualify. the whole book is about the trial that follows the last book. Nothing new or surprising happens at the trial. this is the biggest flaw -- the whole book is just an epilogue

Second: things that should be Startling Developments are a letdown. Much is made of the fact that the wife of the killer of Sally's father has a dying wish to see her, but when we find out why, the why leads nowhere. it's a big "so??" This is just one example.

Third: you don't have to be a trial lawyer to find the courtroom stuff annoying -- you learn this much just from watching Law & Order -- which is, that all that defamatory stuff about Sally could have been objected to by the defense. So I found it annoying.

I came away with the impression that van Wormer's books are heading more and more away from mystery/suspense and closer to superficial romances.