Customer Reviews

Continuous Trauma

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

 

 

This novel is a diamond in the rough. It grabbed my attention from the first page and held it to the last. It tells the story of a workers' compensation lawyer in California who is used to defending his clients--employers and their insurance companies--from what he has come to think of as generally meritless claims by injured workers. Until one day he is forced to confront an explosive situation in a routine hearing gone bad, and finds himself on the short side of the same claims process he has so successfully used to defend his clients. The novel gives the reader an in-depth look at the flaws and corruption of the California workers' comp system, but this is just a backdrop for an excellent tale of intrigue and personal growth. The writing is vivid, clean, and imaginative. The author displays an almost casual fluidity and adroitness with language. Highly recommended.

Couldn't put this book down from the moment I started reading. The pages practically turned themselves. Haven't had that kind of experience since "Jaws". The situations are so real, the characters compelling, the writing fresh and exciting. I found myself "casting the movie". It would make a great film.

This was a fascinating,easy read with clearly a lot of research on the author's part regarding the law on workman's comp. You really relate to the people involved and the pages turn easily...waiting to see what happens next.
After working on the employer side of workman's comp, and seeing the advantages taken by employees, this was a real eye opener relating to the other side.
You never imagine what can happen until it happens to you and what a SURPRISE ENDING...this book would make an excellent movie. I can already visualize the stars who would make this an Academy award.
It's a MUST read for the summer and hopefully, look for a future movie. You won't put it down once you start.

Michael Eric Stein's Continuous Trauma may become to the California Worker's Compensation System what Upton Sinclair's The Jungle became to the meat packing industry in the early 1900's. Author Stein gives us valuable insight into the workings of the Compensation System with a fictionalized account drawn from actual case histories of the agency. It is obvious that Stein spent years researching this book and worked closely with individuals personally involved in the system. After reading this account, you have to feel compassion and concern for anyone that has to deal with this bureaucracy.

I found this book very entertaining and enlightening. The primary character is well developed, and his insights regarding co-workers/bosses are on target. Although he gets into some situations that he knows will have possible bad ramifications, he goes ahead anyway, reflecting his own curiosoty about what it is like to be on the other side of the fence, as well as his reactions to those hard -learned lessons. The overall story has several interesting twists that are laughable, yet very realistic, particularly where he applies the tricks of his trade to his own case.

This is a thinking person's Grisham! Stein has written a legal page-turner where I found myself actually caring about real, three-dimensional characters (even some of the evil ones!) It's a compassionate, funny, exciting thriller with insight into the inner workings of our broken worker's compensation system. Sounds like a dry subject - it's anything but. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys legal drama or a good story line with great prose.