Customer Reviews

Final Witness: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed "Final Witness" by Simon Tolkien. Right from the beginning I loved this book and wanted to get a note to Mr. Tolkien asking that he finish another novel asap. It's suspenseful, and the story line and characters are well developed. The author takes the reader alternately from court scenes, to the murder scene and to past and present events in the characters' personal lives weaving together a story that kept me at the edge of my seat.

I was leary about buying the audiobook because it is read by the author and I've been disappointed more than once when I've bought books read by their authors. I was pleasantly surprised
to find he has an enjoyable reading voice and accent.

I highly recommend "Final Witness"!

First I have to say that the reviewers (some at Random House) that compared this author to his grandfather, JRR Tolkien, are comparing potatoes to mangoes. Not only do many families have more than one talented author, but these two are writing in completely different genres. If you're into fantasy and Lord of the Rings, this may not be for you. But Simon Tolkien is a British barrister practicing criminal law and he knows what he is talking about. As a lifetime fan of Rumpole of the Bailey (and a one-time visitor to the Old Bailey) I looked forward to this book.

Here is why it rates over and above the conventional mystery or police procedural. Most mysteries are written from the point of view of the detective or other person investigating a crime, usually murder. The reader guesses who did it by process of elimination, although many authors put a good twist at the end. This book is written from the different points of view of all the characters, each of whom is trying to put himself in the best possible light. It's a lot trickier to figure out who is guilty, who is innocent, who is lying, who is mentally unbalanced. The suspense builds up with the minutes counting down to the final witness, after whose testimony no new evidence can be introduced. The lawyers and police are in the background. The case centers on the family members, who are not exactly likable people. The story begins with a terrifying incident and builds to a frightening climax. I think Mr. Tolkien has done an excellent job with this first novel and I will look for more.

Although this is mainly a courtroom drama, there is a blend of other genres too, making this a very individual novel. It is part literary prose, part action thriller, part old-fashioned English mystery, part family saga to name a few issues. It combines various settings, from an old aristocratic mansion to cosmopolitan London, to dirty gangways and alleys. There is however a classic mystery structure, which is not lost in the study of various relationships (father-son, wife-husband, the ingenuous man and the seductive woman and many others). It is an intricate and multi-level story that offers enjoyment as well as serious reflection. I found that the author's ability for character development was amazing - an example is that although the accused has all the characteristics of a typical evil manipulative beautiful woman, she is often portrayed as sweet and vulnerable, arising a mixture of emotions in the reader. I reccommend this book to anyone who likes their mysteries complex and thought-provoking rather than action-based.

Simon Tolkien makes a sparkling debut with "Final Witness," an intense and often freaky legal thriller. His characters are very vivid and believable, the writing is solid, and Tolkien keeps unexpected twists in the evidence so that you won't be able to figure out entirely what is going on, or how the case will be resolved.

Young Thomas Robinson sees his mother Anne brutally murdered by a pair of men named Rosie and Lonnie (he would have been killed too if his mother hadn't hidden him). What's more, he now says that he saw his stepmother Greta talking with Rosie, but his father Peter Robinson claims that his son is lying. A seductive social-climber who tempted the son and married the father, Greta claims that the sensitive boy is trying to blame her for the breakup of his parents' marriage.

Now, a much-publicized murder investigation is underway. Thomas, his best pal, the housekeeper, and a few other witnesses are called to testify about the evidence about Anne's death, including a questionable first name, a dead dog, a stolen locket, a gate left open, and Thomas's vivid imagination. As the case progresses, the testimonies start to break down. Is the secretive Greta a murderer? Has Thomas made a mistake? And what will the "final witness" tell the court?

Like his world-famous grandfather, Simon Tolkien writes about what he knows. While J.R.R. Tolkien's job and writing centered on language and legends, Simon Tolkien is a barrister in London. So it only makes sense that he wrote a legal thriller, and a good one too. (It also gives me extra respect for him as a writer and person, because some people would have just tried to cash in on the family name) Aside from the [love] content (which, while fitting for Greta and her effect on Peter and Thomas, is a little more than I'd like), this is a great book. Certainly head-and-shoulders above Grisham and similar writers.

Tolkien's writing is solid and detailed; he has a very you-are-there feel to his book. He's at his best in the courtroom scenes, which are the tensest parts of the book. I got cold chills reading those parts. His descriptions of things like the "yellow dress" incident, the wind in the trees, a crowded house or a creepy courthouse are astounding.

Thomas is the most likeable person in the book, very imaginative and sweet-natured. His father Peter is clearly experiencing doubts about Greta, but insists she's innocent less out of thought than wishing. The rigidly feudal housekeeper and rather fluttery pal Matthew are strong supporting characters. But where Tolkien really strikes gold is Greta: We see that she can be very sultry, nasty, and certainly we can imagine her killing someone (whether or not she did). But he gives the readers insights into her life and her vulnerabilities, to give her dimension. I hated Greta, but I understood her inside and out. Brilliant.

Readers shouldn't expect something as groundbreaking as "Lord of the Rings." (On the back cover, Tolkien even talks about his fears about being compared to his grandfather) But if you like a tight, tense, well-plotted and amazingly characterized legal thriller, this is the ticket. One of the best books of 2002.

I read the book, like many, because of the name. I was throughly impressed with the story. It was well written, and I loved how it jumped around so much to tell the story. I would highly recommend this book!

I picked up this book also because of the author's name, but found it a great read that kept my interest throughout. It is well written, and unlike many current mystery best sellers, has a well developed plot that is consistent and credible throughout. The characters are well developed and complex, as real human beings are. I truly did not know until the end what the resolution would be, and that is rare these days. I read 7 to 10 books a week, and this is one of the best

I loved this. It really kept me guessing and turning the pages. Anyone who likes classic suspense novels or courtroom dramas won't be disappointed!

This was an interesting legal thriller with little time spent in the courtroom, although was interesting to see the English legal system. Even though the characters were a bit stereotypical and the ending predictable, I still found myself turning the pages. It's a good first book.

I don't usually read legal dramas, but I was interested to see what the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien would produce. I was not disappointed. He put together an enjoyable "who done it" with plenty of twists that had me anxious to find the truth at the end of the novel. He demonstrated a real talent for descriptive prose; using it to make all of his characters and locations vivid. The story wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking, though it was interesting to get a glimpse into the less familiar territory of the British legal system. There were also elements of fantasy in the House of the Four Winds and the curse of the Sackville family's sapphire ring. (I thought that using the Sackville name was a nice and subtle homage to his grandfather!) Overall, this was a well-done novel.

I have to admit that the main reason I picked up this book to read was the last name of the author...and an interesting escape route by the author's statement cautioning against any comparison with his famous grandfather....
This novel is probably one of the better written legal thrillers with not as much emphasis on court room dramatics and unrealistic plot twists. The story is well-written - few characters (though the depth of character portrayal leaves much room for improvement) seen in the context of a murder..in different angles...legal, romance, family relations, and emotions...
The story at times seems to be very predictable...but the author manages to sustain a high level of interest throughout the book. A worthy first effort by an author who has to live up to huge expectations imposed by his surname. Readers trying to find another Grisham will be disappointed...Simon gives uses the murder story as the canvas to bring to light some complex human interactions...