Customer Reviews

Husband and Lover (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This should have been called: `The Long Goodbye'. Lynn Erickson's tale may be a suspense thriller -- a classic `who done it' -- but HUSBAND AND LOVER is also the story of a woman falling OUT of love with her husband. The story of a woman regretfully examining her life, her marriage, and her future.

Julia Innes has it all. She is a deputy DA and married to a wealthy, important man. She has an agreeable stepdaughter and Julia Innes is one of the beautiful people who calls Aspen, Colorado home. Yes, she has everything until one sunny, spring afternoon they arrest her husband and charge him with murder - the murder of his first wife, a crime executed twelve years ago.

Today, Cam Lazlo is a best-selling novelist's private assistant and he is only too happy to be assigned to the Innes defense team! As a former Denver homicide detective, Cam Lazlo is sure, twelve years ago, they convicted the right man!

Through long tiring days, working side by side, Cam and Julia slowly fall in love. Lynn Erickson does a staggering job disclosing this suppressed desire. The author writes the romance using a gentle hand and, in doing, avoids offending her reader - marriage is a sacred undertaking and Erickson is marvelously respectful.

Lynn Erickson draws a smooth, tight story. This author delivers the tension effortlessly, yet the pressure is on. She controls with evenly paced words using catlike stealthiness - `Is the good doctor a clever killer?'

Husband and Lover is a polished suspenseful story and it is a very good book, but it lacks sexual heat. Take note: I may not read it again, but I would recommend it. Grade: A-

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy.

In Aspen, Colorado twelve years ago, Denver Homicide Detective Cam Lazlo finds evidence that led to the conviction of Matt Homan for murdering his lover Samantha Innis. Everyone felt sorry for the victim's husband orthopedic doctor Thomas and their daughter seven years old Livie.

Thomas is married to Deputy DA Julia and Livie has made some emotional progress, but remains haunted by the tragedy. The nightmare resurfaces when Julia's boss DA Bret McSwain shockingly arrests Thomas for murdering his wife and consequently frees Matt. Julia's best friend defense attorney Ellen Marshall agrees to head the defense. Retired Cam, who works as a consultant for renowned mystery writer Victor Ferris, offers his investigative services. He does so because his employer wants to write a novelization of the case but also for personal reasons; Cam felt that his work a dozen years ago was clean with overwhelming evidence pointing at the lover while the husband had numerous alibis at the hospital where he worked. As Cam and Julia work close together in support of Ellen's defense, they fall in love, but she knows she must be there for her husband and her stepdaughter at their time of need.

HUSBAND AND LOVER is a fabulous legal thriller with a terrific subplot involving the romance between the caring Julia and likable Cam. The story line displays the defense team putting together its strategy and ultimately its case led by the fabulous Ellen whose work in court is fantastic to follow. Though the final twist makes life a bit too easy for this complex tale, fans will appreciate this strong drama and clamor for an Aspen-Denver sequel starring the legal combatants Ellen and Bret.

Harriet Klausner

I received my book quickly and with no hassles from seller. The book was great. I would order from this seller again.

Deputy DA Julia Innes is shocked when her husband Thomas, a prominent orthopedic surgeon is arrested for the murder of his first wife, after a dying woman confessed that she suppressed evidence, thus providing him with a bogus alibi. Feeling a conflict of interest, Julia quits her job as a DA to assist in building her husband's defense. Her good friend Ellen takes the case, and works with a famous author who lends him his investigator, who also happens to be the one that put the man convicted of the crime in jail.

Cam Lazlo has two reasons to join the investigation; one to make sure he did not aid in convicting an innocent man; and to also alleviate his suspicions about the good doctor now standing accused. Thomas does not act guilty; he just acts really inconvenienced, as if he cannot be bothered with worrying, which piques Cam's already suspicious nerves even more.

Tension between the two mounts as they get further into the investigation, and doubts start to surface. Also adding to the problem is Cam's growing attraction to Julia, who seems to share his unrequited feelings.

The authors pack another wallop and deliver a suspense-filled story with a huge twist at the ending that you just don't see coming.

The storyline was good, but it was very predictable and the characters were completely unlikeable...from the whiny, wimpy Julia to the arrogant Thomas to the diamond-in-the-rough Cal.

Pick it up used or from the library. It's decent, but not worth the full cover price.

I am a great fan of Lynn Erickson. Her books get better and better.

Julia Innes is an ADA in Aspen, unknown to her, the DA has new evidence that her husband killed his first wife twelve years ago. When her husband is arrested for murder she quits her job and gets her old friend Ellen to represent Thomas. As the evidence mounts she trys to keep trusting in him. Not just for him but his daughter,Livie.

Cameron Lazlo was the detective who investigated the case 12 years ago. He was convinced he got the right man. Now he's not so sure. Add to that his unwanted and painful attraction to Julia he doesn't want to have to get involved. However, he made a promise to the dead woman to find her killer, and now his boss,who writes true thillers, wants him to help the Innes and report everything back to him.

Thomas Innes is a self absorbed surgeon. He doesn't seem to worry at all about the case. He comes off as a very arrogant dislikeable snob. He leaves all the worrying and working to find the best defense, to his wife.

Ellen is a wonderful attorney, a friend of Julia's since college. As the evidence mounts, she is determined that you are innocent until proven guilty, and that means she will give the best defense she can.

The ins and outs of this book are staggering, nothing is as it seems. Except the attraction of Julia and Cam, which is handled in a very moral and understanding way. I was very surprised at the plot and delighted to see how this attraction was handled. I liked this book. It was exciting and kept me guessing to the end.

"...the mystery is so engrossing that you won't want to put this book down. Wonderfully suspenseful, Erickson's novel also features a nice understated romance. Secondary characters also add to the enjoyment of this well-written romantic suspense." Susan Mobley, reviewer