In Her Defense [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephen Horn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2001

Frank O'Connell's need to live on the edge cost him his family, his home, and a partnership in his father-in-law's prestigious D.C. firm. Then Ashley Bronson walks into his life. The murder of a former cabinet official has just propelled her from the society column to the front page, and, inexplicably, she wants Frank to defend her. Frank thinks his biggest challenge is defending a client against the prosecution's overwhelming evidence. He's got a lot to learn. Subsumed in a defense in which ethics are bent and morals compromised, a desperate Frank hits upon an inspired strategy -- and unwittingly becomes a dangerous threat to people in high places -- a threat that must be stopped no matter what the cost. Confronted by forces they don't understand, besieged lawyer and client have only each other as the courtroom battle begins....

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Her Defense is a sharply funny and ironic debut legal thriller that obligingly serves up all the best elements of the genre: a seemingly unwinnable case, mysterious forces conspiring against the attorney and his client, and a tumblingly relentless pace. D.C. defense attorney Frank O'Connell isn't climbing the career ladder anymore--he's been to the top, looked around, and then jumped. Deeply unsatisfied with his comfortable life, he's abandoned a successful partnership with his powerful father-in-law, jettisoned his marriage, and is clinging to an uncertain existence funded by court appointments to represent indigent shoplifters and drug dealers: "I was in trouble and I knew it. I'd come to rely on little tasks and routines, like closing the sofa bed each morning and washing the dishes as soon as I ate--not to mark my progress but as hedges against a backslide into oblivion."

Enter Ashley Bronson, a beautiful and wealthy socialite who stands accused of murdering her father's best friend, Raymond Garvey. Ashley claims that Garvey drove her father to suicide but won't explain how or why. Frank is a pragmatist, keenly appreciative of life's myriad ironies: "I could probably design a trial strategy around her physical assets alone--get a jury of men, put her on the stand, and have her look 'em in the eye and talk. Christ, she could read the phone book and we'd get a deadlock. It was too bad I knew she was guilty." Ashley's admission of guilt and Frank's desperate attempt to create a trial strategy over, under, around, and through that admission make for a cleverly Machiavellian legal procedural. Add to this Frank's growing conviction that something isn't quite "clicking" in this seemingly open-and-shut case, and you've got a narrative that accelerates toward an unashamedly over-the-top denouement. In Her Defense is a welcome addition to a crowded genre--we hope that Frank O'Connell (and Stephen Horn) will be around for many more pitched legal battles. --Kelly Flynn --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

To say that the defendant in this crisp, intriguing debut is guilty is to give nothing away--she admits it herself early on, which makes for a very original take in a court procedural. And while the novel follows the usual format (lawyer on the rocks gets big case that could put him on top), perhaps it's that opening gambit that makes everything feel fresh and original. Attorney Frank O'Connell has given up the perfect life--wife, child, a prestigious job at his father-in-law's Washington law firm--to be a public defender. His previous good fortune, he believes, was handed to him on a silver platter, and he wants to earn his laurels the hard way. But just as he's wondering if he made the right decision, he stumbles on a case that might restore him to professional eminence. Socialite Ashley Bronson is accused of murdering Washington bigwig Raymond Garvey, and freely admits that she did it, blaming Garvey for her father's suicide. Hunting down connections between Garvey and Bronson, and attempting to raise reasonable doubt by finding other people who might have wanted Garvey dead, O'Connell and investigator Walter Feinberg begin to see signs of a conspiracy; to start with, the only person who witnessed Ashley leave the scene of the crime is a CIA agent. The first-person narration is sharp and intelligent, and Horn delivers on both the pretrial back-and-forth and the courtroom scenes, especially the cross-examination of the CIA witness. There are the expected lawyer/client romantic complications, but O'Connell also maintains strong ties with his ex-wife and his six-year-old son. Horn is a master of the small and telling twist, whether he is charting O'Connell's love life or the fate of his client. Eschewing glitter for solid, intelligent storytelling, Horn's impressive first effort is eminently satisfying. Agent, Peter Lampack. 100,000 printing; $150,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild/Doubleday Book Club selection. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (April 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061098752
• ISBN-13: 978-0061098758
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #948,371 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Her Defense...A Real Winner, June 5, 2000

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Her Defense (Hardcover)

In Her Defense, Stephen Horn's debut novel, is a compelling legal thriller you won't be able to put down, no matter how hard you try. The story begins as Frank O'Connell, down on his luck defense attorney, is hired to represent Ashley Bronson, rich Washington socialite, accused of murdering an old family friend. To make her defense even trickier, Ashley admits to pulling the trigger. From this point on, the story pulls you in and never lets go. This is a fast paced, exciting, plausible thriller with plot twists that keep you guessing to the very end. The characters are terrific, well drawn and interesting. And, the writing is very entertaining, with witty and irreverent dialogue. Mr. Horn obviously knows his way around Washington, the Justice Department and the courtroom and his insight lends real credibility to the story. A strong climax and satisfying ending finish the story off and the last chapter is just icing on the cake. A great read that's destined for the best sellers list. I'm already looking forward to Stephen Horn's next book.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Debut, May 14, 2000

By 

Darlynne (Reno, NV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Her Defense (Hardcover)

Legal thrillers are pretty much of a sameness--young, beautiful damsel in distress, down-on-his luck attorney, twists, turns, yawns. In Her Defense includes all these elements with the exception of the yawns and the addition of a genuinely likable protagonist. I admit to enjoying this book a great deal inspite of my reservations for the genre in general. Frank O'Connell's relationship with his ex-father-in-law is terrific and his "operatives," wonderfully, are people I would like to meet.

The flaw--and it's not a small one--is that Ashley Bronson is a complete throw-away. (Writers and publishers take note: the client needs to be neither young nor beautiful. In fact, if a book's dustjacket or blurbs include "beautiful" in a character's description, I won't buy it.) Anyone or anything, including goldfish that provide haircuts at reduced rates, would have been more interesting in place of Ashley, the obligatory femme fatale.

Having said that, however, I still recommend In Her Defense as an interesting, fast-paced legal thriller with very human and appealing characters (save one), and great plot twists. I hope to see more from this author.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong Recommendation, May 26, 2000

By 

Ron (Bethesda, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Her Defense (Hardcover)

Stephen Horn's In Her Defense is as good as the best of Turow, Patterson, Grisham or other established authors of legal thrillers. The characters are fresh and funny and appealing, and the well researched plot has interesting twists and is more plausible than most. It's a fun read. I bought it expecting to take it on a trip but read late to finish it in one sitting. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who likes this genre or is interested in trying it out. And I'll by the next Stephen Horn book without even reading the blurb.