Face Value [Hardcover]

Lia Matera (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 1994

San Francisco attorney Laura Di Palma takes on her most dangerous case when she investigates a northern California guru who has been accused of distributing pornographic videotapes of his followers. 17,500 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fresh from her hard-hitting rural adventure in the Edgar-nominated A Hard Bargain , lawyer Laura Di Palma has returned to San Francisco to establish a solo practice. Her first client may be fellow lawyer Margaret Lenin, whose spiritual guru, Michael Hover, videotaped group sex-therapy sessions in which Lenin participated: the tapes are showing up for rent as "adult" videos. Just as Lenin drops the case, another of Hover's lawyer-disciples asks Di Palma to represent the guru himself, who is being sued by an exotic dancer who also appears on the tapes and is romantically linked with Lenin. A frantic 2 a.m. call drags Di Palma out of bed to meet Lenin outside a sex club. Di Palma arrives to see a man break into the locked, silent building; cautiously entering, she finds him shot, along with six dead dancers. Afraid for both her life and reputation, Di Palma leaves the scene of the crimes. With the assistance of PI Sandy Arklett, she explores Hover's unorthodox business, remaining haunted by the crimes she fled. Although it attempts to address serious issues of censorship and pornography, the story is busy and unengaging, and much of its cast remains faceless. The tense finale comes feebly and too late.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This latest Laura Di Palma adventure is no exception to the tight plotting, good characterizations, and page-turning suspense that have typified the earlier entries in the series and that make Matera one of the best contemporary mystery novelists. Having been fired from her high-powered law firm over her pro bono work--the subject of A Hard Bargain (1992)--Laura starts her own law practice. Her first client is an old colleague who, along with several other professionals, has become involved with a New Age guru--Brother Mike--whose "spiritual guidance" includes videotaping group sex sessions and then "re-imaging" the participants to show their auras. Laura's client had no problem with all of this until the films, sans auras, began showing up in local video stores. Although the participants had signed releases allowing the taping, Laura agrees to see if they have a case--hopefully something that will get her new practice off the ground. It soon becomes clear, however, that the videos have triggered other activities, including murder. Laura calls on her old friend Sandy Arklett for help, and their ambiguous relationship, plus another distinctly odd client, makes an intriguing subplot. Highly recommended--and make sure Laura's earlier adventures are available, too. Matera is too good to miss. Stuart Miller

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (February 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671741977
• ISBN-13: 978-0671741976
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,436,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars optical jealousy, November 29, 2000

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"donatdeux" (maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Face Value (Laura Di Palma Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

a high tech guru morphs reality and sexual fantasy for his 'fin de siecle' devotees on a remote island enclave off san francisco. off-beat, provocative theme, steady pacing and a narrative which shows a depth of insight and introspection beyond the norm.