Evidence Of Guilt: A Kali O'Brien Mystery (Kali O'Brien Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Jonnie Jacobs (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kali O'Brien Mysteries | Publication Date: March 1, 1997

When a local waitress and her young daughter are murdered, the chief suspect's attorney asks Kali, who is struggling to keep her practice afloat, to help in the defense, and she discovers the dark secrets that surrounded the victim.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Kali O'Brien, an attorney who left a big San Francisco law firm to open a solo practice in her small California home town, agrees to defend an accused killer whom she distrusts in this predictable story from the author of Murder Among Neighbors. Wes Harding, a handsome local man whom few townspeople like, has been accused of murdering waitress Lisa Cornell and her young daughter. Taking the case to please her mentor, who is a friend of the accused's father, Kali must contend with a hostile client, evidence that places him at the scene of the crime and the widely held belief that Harding is guilty. After extensive interviews with everyone from Lisa's wealthy fiance to her psychotherapist, Kali determines that the victim was not exactly what she seemed and determines that the killings may have been connected to an incident from her past. Kali is likable enough, but she remains two-dimensional and stereotyped. The plot moves quickly but pitches too many curves at the reader and comes to a disappointing halt with the revelation of the murderer and a cliched motive.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Attorney Kali O'Brien took the fast track to a prestigious San Francisco law firm but burned out and wound up back in her rural California hometown, working on ho-hum wills and trusts. She's happy enough, but then a career-making, high-profile case comes along. Wes Harding, an old acquaintance, is accused of brutally killing Lisa Harding and her five-year-old daughter. The town is up in arms, the prosecutor is set to ask for the death penalty, and Wes is singularly uncooperative as Kali tries to construct his defense. Convinced that Wes is covering up for the real murderer, Kali continues to investigate, setting up a fine climax in which she confronts the killer. Slick, fast-paced, and cleverly plotted, Jacobs' second Kali O'Brien mystery is gripping entertainment from start to finish. Emily Melton

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 358 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; First Edition edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575661411
• ISBN-13: 978-1575661414
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,266,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grisham, move over, November 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Evidence Of Guilt: A Kali O'Brien Mystery (Kali O'Brien Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This is the second in a series, and even better than the first (which was excellent.) Kali O'Brien in a complex, but likable, character. The story captured my interest from the beginning and moved swiftly toward a surprising conclusion. Wes Harding is accused of murdering a woman and her five-year-old daughter. He's the town trouble-maker and someone Kali knew when she was in high school. He's unwilling to cooperate in his own defense and is clearly hiding something. The unfolding of Wes's story is as interesting as the solution to the murder. I found all of the characters (including the minor ones) well-drawn, interesting and believable. This is a first rate legal mystery.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping story with great characters, June 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Evidence Of Guilt: A Kali O'Brien Mystery (Kali O'Brien Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book. I loved Kali O'Brien and found the secondary characters, including the angry, closed-mouth man she's defending, fascinating. There is some courtroom stuff, but not a lot. The plot twists are unexpected and clever, yet entirely believable. I read the first book in the series, Shadow of Doubt, and liked it as well. Can't wait for the next one.

5.0 out of 5 stars It Could Not Be Better, February 19, 2011

By 

Carol L. Iingraham (Kelseyville, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Evidence Of Guilt: A Kali O'Brien Mystery (Kali O'Brien Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is ouotstanding, would love to have some to read by this author. What is best is she just moves the book along and your interest is kept. I'll buy mor of these Kali O'Brien Mysteries.