Customer Reviews

The Best Defense

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Having read and enjoyed Ellis Cose's book RAGE OF A PRIVILEDGED CLASS, and having had heard him discuss his first-time novel on national radio, I added the title to my list of books-to-read.

Yesterday, I completed the novel... but only by force of habit. The writing, which I found exemplary in RAGE, did not translate into comparable skill with his novel. I was especially disappointed that the topic (essentially Affirmative Action) with which he had such mastery in the non-fiction book was so disappointing in his novel.

A novelist's first obligation is to create memorable characters about whom the reader cares, can identify, or (in the case of villians) loathes. But, despite the "rainbow coalition" smorgasbord of principal characters-- Hispanics,Blacks,& Asians-- for me, none of these expectations were fulfilled. PLOT: A white man feels he has been wronged, he then shoots a Hispanic male who dies, and he is defended by a conservative, Black, female attorney--who believes (and would have us believe) NO crime has been committed.

Okay. I might have even bought this legalistic, courtroom, tripe if Ellis had made it interesting, believable, or at least suspenseful. (Guess what the outcome is?) Additionally, I found myself questoning the authenticity of the female personna of Felicia Fontaine, maybe because it was written by a male--(although I myself, a Black male, have written short stores with Black female heroines)--but I think it was because her voice did not really seem FEMALE--despite all the sensuality and sexuality Ellis tries to show she has.

I believe it was Mark Twain who said, "Those who DON'T read books have no advantage over those who CAN'T." Regarding THE BEST DEFENSE, those who do read it will get no more enjoyment over those who don't.

From--

Someone who reads

Legal thriller genre; ambitious defense attorney takes on high profile case with a client who obviously "did it," and in the other corner is the ADA who happens to be a former love interest of the defense attorney. Obviously, all kinds of possibilities exist here. On the positive side, the story is well told with believable characters and a fast moving story line. The courtroom dialogue isn't first rate, but it's compelling enough to make you keep reading. However, there are many minor characters who are nothing more than stereotypes, and certain plots (like the mishandled case from the "old days") go nowhere. This wasn't a great book, but it was definitely a pleasant read.

This novel is not an exceptionally skillful book. The characters that are supposed to be engaging are not always so. You won't feel compelled to finish the book because you rarely feel any emotions from the characters.