Extreme Indifference [Kindle Edition]

Stephanie Kane (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Kane's second suspenseful Jackie Flowers novel (after 2000's Blind Spot), the dogged defense attorney reluctantly takes on as a client a former law professor of hers, now a federal judge, who once told her she'd never make it as a lawyer. Unlike a lot of fictional crime investigators, Flowers is neither superwoman nor a haunted, driven loner. Instead, she relies on her eccentric friends, including an accomplished arsonist, for help. Her frustrations with her dyslexia add to the picture of a struggling, stubborn and highly appealing woman. Every new bit of information she stumbles on seems only to strengthen the argument of the prosecution, led by Flowers's nemesis, Phyllis Klein, against the hard-nosed defendant Glenn Ballard. In this careful portrait, the reader feels a sliver of sympathy in addition to the predictable aversion. Ballard is accused of kidnapping and torturing Amy Lynch, a college student and daughter of a rich businessman. When Lynch dies of exposure while escaping her captor, the charge becomes murder. That Ballard's cabin and handcuffs were used in the crime is damning enough, but the discovery of a videotape apparently filmed during the torture makes Flowers despair of ever clearing her client. The eventual solution to the mystery is perhaps a little far-fetched, but satisfying nonetheless.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

San Francisco Chronicle [A] fast-moving and intriguing...legal thriller.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 532 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0743245563
• Publisher: Scribner (November 11, 2003)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000FC0O5Y
• Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,691 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong legal thriller, November 7, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extreme Indifference: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

After driving to a deserted area at night to have sex, the two lovers see a naked girl hobbling toward them with a dog choker around her neck as used in sadomasochistic games. The victim is eighteen-year-old college student Amy Lynch, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She lapses into a coma and is unable to tell the police who abducted her but the handcuffs she wore are traced to United States Federal District Judge Glenn Ballard.

An anonymous tip leads the police to the isolated cabin where Amy was held, a getaway that belongs to the upright and honorable Glenn Ballard. Glenn hires superstar defense attorney Jackie Flowers to represent him. Her job becomes even tougher when Ketamine is found in his medicine cabinet and a video shows him in the cabin with Amy. The judge insists he was framed so Jackie goes to court trying to prove her client's innocence, something she has a difficult time believing.

Stephanie Kane writes legal thrillers that are on a par with John Grisham and Scott Turow. The court room scenes are incredibly realistic, hard hitting and action-packed. EXTREME INDIFFERENCE gives the audience a good representation at how the justice system works with the legal in fighting between the prosecutor, the defense attorney and at times even the judge. The protagonist has overcome dyslexia to become a good defense attorney that readers will admire.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun read...but a little too trite, January 16, 2005

By 

Ryan J. Snyder (Carlsbad, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Extreme Indifference: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

The heroine having dyslexia I thought was a nice twist. This condition is something that most of us can't relate to and don't think about very often. The plot takes some nice turns, especially toward the end and the author does a nice job of weaving multiple people and events together so that each chapter holds some meaning, some clues to the end.

My feeling is this author needs to stretch a little more though. After reading the author bio on the jacket cover, I see she is a lawyer in Colorado who is married to a federal judge. The heroine in this novel is a lawyer in Colorado who represents a federal judge. From this bias come some annoying habits. Too often the author uses legal expressions or slang as a way to impress the reader. Instead, it becomes annoying as none of it is explained. Everything about the read revolves around "lawyering" to the point where the rest of the world is viewed as window dressing. As well, is it really plausible that a federal judge accused of murder would be represented by one "rag-tag" lawyer and her assistant? Fiction is fun, but this seemed unreasonable.

I think the author has some talent, but I would encourage Jackie Flowers, our heroine, to become a more rounded character in future installments.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning beginning to end. A great read!, December 15, 2003

By 

Bonnie Ramthun (Erie, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Extreme Indifference: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

This book has a great plot and great characters that are vibrantly, totally real. The descriptions of the Front Range locales are perfectly described. I've sat at that exact spot in front of the cereal bowl at the Cherry Creek Mall, sipping a latte...

Stephanie Kane uses her writing talent to take us into the legal world in a way no author has done before. Many have tried, but she has done it. The rarified world of a federal court judge, the tangled political connections of lawyers and bailiffs and police and secretaries -- Kane shows us this world through Jackie Flower's eyes and makes it real.

Don't miss this book. Even though the crime is horrific, there are no overly violent scenes. I never felt I had to turn away -- though I did shudder occasionally! I stayed up late to finish Extreme Indifference and now I'm awaiting Jackie Flower's next adventure with eager impatience.