Customer Reviews

Breach of Trust (Joseph Antonelli Series)

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This is my second Buffa work. The first was in the mold of John Grisham. I am not sure where Buffa was going with this work. The book begins with the main character, Joseph Antonelli, being summoned for a meeting with the current Vice-President and former Harvard classmate, Thomas Browning. Vice-President Browning has news of a pending charge against one of their former classmates of the murder of yet another classmate forty years earlier. Browning wants Antonelli to take the case.

As the case develops, hints of a White House conspiracy begin to surface. Antonelli tries to sort through the case of the present while dealing with the memories of the past. The problem: the book drags. I would like to see Mr. Buffa go back to the formula that has made his other books bestsellers.

In D. W. Buffa's latest legal thriller, "Breach of Trust," criminal defense attorney Joseph Antonelli takes the case of Jimmy Haviland, an old friend from law school. Back in Harvard, Joseph had a tight circle of acquaintances, including Jimmy, Thomas Browning, now Vice President of the United States, and the beautiful Annie Malreaux. Both Thomas Browning and Jimmy Haviland were in love with Annie, but tragically, she either fell or was pushed to her death at the Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve in 1965. Now, many years after the event, Jimmy Haviland is being tried for Annie's murder.

Thomas Browning has enlisted Joseph Antonelli, one of the country's most eminent and successful attorneys, to take Jimmy's case. Browning is convinced that Jimmy is being railroaded by the Vice President's political enemies. These individuals, Browning believes, want the public to think that years ago, Browning saw Jimmy pushing Annie to her death. According to this scenario, the Vice-President of the United States was once involved in the cover-up of a murder.

Buffa's exploration of the ruthless and polarizing world of politics is both timely and relevant. He ably shows how our justice system can be undermined to suit the needs of ambitious and self-serving individuals. These themes resonate in today's cutthroat political climate.

"Breach of Trust" is not just about politics. Buffa effectively shows the contrast between the idealism of youth and the disillusionment of middle age. When he was young, Antonelli looked forward to a fulfilling career. Years later, although he is well off and has achieved professional success and recognition, Antonelli is lonely and his personal life is barren. Antonelli fears that he will grow old alone, and he embarks on an affair with Gisela, a reporter with ambitions of her own. It turns out that most people in "Breach of Trust" have hidden agendas, and the characters generally operate at cross-purposes.

The book's main weakness is Buffa's writing style, which is uneven. Too often, he pads his sentences with overwrought prose, rambling descriptions, and too much repetition. However, the engrossing characters and the thought-provoking plot make "Breach of Trust" worth reading, and I was pleasantly surprised by the bittersweet and poignant ending.

See storyline above.

I think D. W. Buffa is now at the top of the pile when it comes to legal thrillers. In 'Breach of Trust' he's written a novel that takes you through the corridors of D.C. while providing thought provoking political commentary. Some of his characters are somewhat long winded--what do you expect for politicians--but make some interesting points. The pace is not always fast but the story will definitely pull you in with its great depth.

With its mystery and courtroom scenes, Buffa is going places Grisham hasn't even thought about.
Keep it up.

Highly recommended.

For the young and rich at Harvard Law School, parties that went on for days in the 1960's were common. Of course, nothing too scandalous that would come back to haunt you when you became part of the rich and legal elite and whatever secrets there were - well, they were expected to be kept hidden for the good of all. A law school reunion brings all the players together, with the guest of honor being one of their own. The heir to a fortune, the odd member of their group from their university days went on to become the Vice President of the United States.

Thomas Stern Browning has made a request of his old school friend, Joseph Antonelli. Forty years ago, at a party held at the Plaza Hotel, a young woman fell to her death. Though loved by all that met her, Annie Malreaux had two suitors at the time who were desperately in love with her and both were at the Plaza when she died. In the present day, a murder case is brought before the court; the result of which will put one of these men in jail and end the rising career of the other. Browning has only one more step to go before he reaches his ultimate political goal, and there are many who would like to stop him getting here. Defense attorney Joseph Antonelli must dig into the past that they all share to end the nightmare of the present.

D.W. Buffa undoubtedly has an elegant and meticulous style of writing. Infusing his latest work with a melancholic air Buffa has written a sombre novel of regret and lost love. The courtroom scenes do not take up a lot of time in "Breach of Trust" though the novel could be aptly described as a legal and political drama. What detracts from the read is the pompous speeches of the characters and the inherent selfishness common to most of the major players. It's difficult to care one way or another what happens to there ultra urbanized souls who spend all their time in cities and around people that they all secretly seem to despise.

"Breach of Trust" is the author's sixth novel featuring Joseph Antonelli. This work serves well as a standalone but seems more of concluding piece than an entry in a continuing series. If you don't let the darkness drag you down you will appreciate the careful deliberations that have led to the present day conflict in this thoughtful and unsettled novel.

D.W. Buffa has written several very good novels. In this one, he has written a classic. It has a melange of elements. A murder trial - political intrigue at the highest levels - romance - mystery - danger and suspense. All stirred together along with some very interesting political philosophy and social commentary it becomes a very difficult book to put down and one you will reflect on after the last page is turned.

No need to recount the plot as others have already done so. There are many interesting characters and some lively trial scenes as Joseph Antonelli defends an old friend charged with a decades old murder. But, it is the larger story that is being told that will hold your interest and what makes this such a memorable book.

"Breach of Trust", Dudley W. Buffa, New York, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004 ISBN 0-399-15190-7, HC, 371 pp. & 6.25" x 6.25"

In this 6th. Joseph Antonelli novel, Buffa has the protagonist lawyer in NY at Harvard Law School class reunion, per request of classmate Thomas Browning, now Vice President. He's asked to be defense lawyer for expected indictment of their classmate James Haviland upon re-opening of accidental fall of Ann Malreaux, 2nd year law school classmate at Christmas Eve party several decades past.

The story line involves mutiny in White House ranks of President Walker & VP Browning, the latter seeking his own nomination & who alludes to a conspiracy to oust him in a scandal related to Annie's death. Antonelli does his homework, contacts everyone associate with Annie & enjoys assistance & sizzling romance from Gisela Hoffman, a young reporter in midst of divorce.

Demonstrated via idiosyncracies of prosecutor Caminetti & Judge Charles Scarborough, is the fierce trial Antonelli is told that must be won at all costs. We are shown the relationship of Joanna van Renaessler, Antonelli's old flame, but now wife of VP Browning -- she has kept secrets.

The plot unfolds with momentum & just when you think its over, the underlying intrigues are at last revealed: -- Antonelli is affable & crackerjack as trial lawyer but he's unprepared to the like of young Gisela. In this novel, the protagonist Antonelli really shines -- likable, lovable & a man for all seasons. This book is not to be missed.

"Breach of Trust" is an excellent example of both a writer's and a character's progression. Although D.W.Buffa set himself a difficult benchmark with his best novel, "The Judgment," this latest effort comes close to the superior effort that that one was. Set in New York and DC, Buffa shows that he's not just a left coast man who can only spin a tale of Portland, San Francisco or LA. The continuing introspections of his main character, trial lawyer Joseph Antonelli, as that character has aged through six novels (as well as becoming an extremely famous trial lawyer) are a welcome addition to the usual run-of-the-mill courtroom thriller. Antonelli's on-going problems in relations with the women who enter his life continue to be chronicled, too. Will Antonelli ever find true love? Maybe the seventh novel will be lucky for him. If Buffa keeps on writing such intriguing plots with their appropriate twists, his seventh effort is worth looking forward to for both his readers and Antonelli.

Harvard Law School graduate Joseph Antonelli agrees to come back for a reunion only because his old roommate Thomas Browning, the Vice President of the United States, asked him to attend as a favor. At the reception, Thomas says glowing, but untrue things about Antonelli. Afterward Antonelli meets Jimmy Haviland, who blames Thomas for the death of another student, Annie Malreaux who fell to her death from the eighth floor of Manhattan's Plaza Hotel. The police ruled it an accident.

Later that night Antonelli meets Browning who asks for his help. Apparently, the death of Annie is being reopened as a witness has surfaced claiming murder occurred. Browning feels his run for the Oval office could die with the scandal that he was part of a cover-up even if it proves false later. He wants Antonelli, the best defense attorney in the country, to defend whoever is accused of the homicide. Antonelli wants to say no, but agrees to handle the case especially since the accused is Jimmy, a person who never really recovered from the death of his beloved Annie.

Fans of legal thrillers will take immense delight from the wonderful BREACH OF TRUST. The story line is loaded with action in and out of the courtroom and the White House. The cast is fabulous and is led by a remarkable caring hero though much of the show is stolen by the charismatic VP. Readers will never guess who did what to who as the ending is so buffed.

Harriet Klausner

My wife and I had gone to bed for the evening, and as is my occasional wont, I picked up a new book to begin reading. The book was BREACH OF TRUST by D.W. Buffa. I read a page, set the book down, and turned off the light. My wife asked me if I was going to read it. No, I replied, not now. I told her that I could tell just by reading the first page that if I continued, I'd be up all night reading and thinking, and that this book deserved better than that.

Reading all night is not a bad thing. I do it often enough. But you can't do it with Buffa's work. Well, like so many things, you can, but you shouldn't. You'll miss something. Even if you read Buffa when you are wide awake and fully alert, you have to read him carefully. Every word, every nuance, matters. Buffa writes the type of work that, no matter how carefully read, demands and deserves an immediate second reading in order to fully appreciate what has just been experienced. There is no better --- no finer --- example of this proposition than BREACH OF TRUST, Buffa's latest novel featuring criminal defense attorney Joseph Antonelli.

Buffa may well be our greatest writer of contemporary fiction (there is one other who is his equal, a man who labors in the same genre and who is as good as Buffa for entirely different reasons --- but this is Buffa's review). I don't keep this to myself; when I occasionally take my ungrateful and unappreciative six-year old daughter to a neighborhood playground and see a child's mother paging through a new book by, well, let's say by a better-known writer of courtroom dramas, I have been inclined to walk up and without further introduction politely suggest that her time might be better served by reading one of Buffa's works. Responses vary from a polite nod and a written reminder to a hurried roundup of the offspring to head home and begin preparing supper. I shouldn't do it, but I can't help it. And here is one reason. During the first half or so of the 20th century, there were a number of mass circulation magazines that published short stories by the masters (Hemingway, Fitzgerald). Some of these magazines still exist, a shadow of their former glory, coasting on their prior reputations.

There is a chapter in BREACH OF TRUST that could stand alone as a short story published in any one of those magazines during their heyday, and that would not be eclipsed by the company it would be keeping but would cast a long, deep shadow all its own. I won't tell you which chapter; I'm going to make you read BREACH OF TRUST to do that. It deals though with Antonelli's reminiscence of a party that took place during one of his law school summers, when he met a woman with whom he fell in love, or something close to it. It is one of the finest pieces of short fiction I have read in thirty years. Yet it is not as good as the whole of BREACH OF TRUST.

So what is the whole of BREACH OF TRUST? It, of course, concerns Antonelli, the best-known criminal defense attorney in the country, grudgingly and with misgiving attending his law school class reunion at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel. To say that his class makes up what is referred to as "the best and brightest" is true, in a sense, for it includes (besides Antonelli) a sitting Supreme Court Justice and the current Vice President of the United States. It is the latter, one Thomas Stern Browning, who is at once the reason for Antonelli's presence and part of his hesitation in attending. Antonelli and Browning, once close friends, have not spoken in years. The reason for the chronological gulf of silence between them is ostensibly the death of one Anna Malreaux, who fell to her death from a window during a law school party at the Plaza Hotel decades before.

Antonelli, attending the reunion at the gentle but incessant request of Browning, learns why his old and former friend has requested his presence. An investigation into Malreaux's death, which was ruled an accident at the time of its occurrence, is about to be reopened, and a classmate of theirs, one James Haviland, will be charged with Malreaux's murder. Browning senses that he will be called as a witness and that the entire episode is being played out at the behest of the current presidential administration, with whom Browning is at odds, in order to quash Browning's aspirations toward the possibility of the presidency. Browning implores Antonelli to become involved in the matter, to bring his considerable talents not only to defend an innocent man but also to further Browning's political goals.

What I just wrote is but one element of the sum of the parts that make up BREACH OF TRUST. It is also a story of sublimated angst, of the sad and wonderful dance that men and women do with each other in their youth that they will never forget for their rest of their lives. It is the story of what can occur when a man who is smarter than almost everyone else meets another who is perhaps just a bit more clever. Anyone who has ever loved and lost will read BREACH OF TRUST and feel old wounds open for a moment, feel a longing, and think for just a moment about making an ill-advised telephone call to renew a severed connection to someone they had once loved and almost, but have never, forgotten.

Buffa, with BREACH OF TRUST, reaches for the moon and the stars and grasps them firmly, claiming them for his own. This is a spellbinding, haunting work that will never let you go; one of the few books that, fifty years from now, will really matter. I cannot make a higher recommendation than that.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

D.W. Buffa's "Breach of Trust", while not exactly a page-turner, is an interesting novel. Buffa's super-defense attorney Joseph Antonelli is back, this time the reluctant defendant of his former Harvard law school roommate, Thomas Browning, who happens to be the Vice President of the United States. A decades-old death - apparently accidental - of a young woman from the Antonelli/Browning circle of friends resurfaces with a politically motivated vengeance. What follows is a convoluted plot of conspiracies and politics, dredging up long buried secrets while challenging friendships, loyalties, and values.

Unfortunately, "Breach of Trust" suffers from Buffa's pretentious - if not bombastic - windy and preachy prose. Characters are philosophically somber and cynical to a fault, lending to a setting unnecessarily morose and humorless. The left-leaning Buffa definitely has a political axe to grind, bordering on yet another thinly veiled attack on the current Bush administration. But to give credit to the author, the end salvages some sense of political ambiguity and neutrality. At its best, it is a stinging indictment of politics in America, while at its worst, "Breach of Trust" is a bleak and pessimistic assessment of government and justice in America. Intelligent fiction? For sure, but at times frustrating, occassionally simply boring, and A book one you'll not find hard to put down.