Customer Reviews

Innocence

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Finally, a proclaimed page-turner that really was just that. I read it in three days, and it did keep me up long past my normal bedtime hour. I loved this novel. Good writing, great characters, a plot that always moves, and a thriller that is almost believable! This author has been compared to Grisham and Baldacci. I'm not sure that the comparison is quite right. Innocence is much better everything those two authors have written after their first one or two best sellers. I used to love mystery-thrillers, but have been disappointed in recent years. They haven't grabbed me like they used to. I picked this book up because of the Boston connection, and was riveted by every aspect of this novel. If you're looking for great escapist fun, this is the thriller you've been waiting for. The only unsolved mystery at the end of the book was: why isn't author David Hosp a best-selling author and household name? I can't wait to read his other two novels.

Madeline Steele is a young, ambitious police officer attacked suddenly and left for dead. The attack leaves Madeline to use a wheelchair. Vincente Salazar, an El Salvadoran immigrant, is immediately arrested and jailed. Now fifteen years later Mark Dobson, a young attorney at Howery, Black law firm is convinced of Vincente's innocence but he turns to Scott Finn for help with the case. Finn is now a sole practitioner and not really interested in getting involved in the case, but Dobson is convincing and talks Finn into at least visiting the prisoner. Kozlowski, a detective who shares office space with Finn, insists on going along with Finn to the prison. Kozlowski has some knowledge of the crime since he is a former police officer and was friends with Madeline Steele. He is not forthcoming with any information regarding the case though.

Finn visits the prison and is not totally convinced but agrees to make one court appearance and is granted the right to have DNA evidence tested that was not presented at trial. Finn decides he will withdraw after the court appearance--but before he gets his withdrawal filed attorney Dobson is brutally murdered. The murder is committed in the manner of the VDS, one of South America's notorious gangs that have established themselves in the Boston area.

Finn begins to think Vincente really is innocent and begins to work hard to prove that fact. Kozlowski reluctantly helps him, and Lissa, Finn's legal assistant, aids in the research.

The presumption of innocence is essential to the criminal process but evidence can be tampered with or held back completely. Finn's investigation begins to reveal facts that have been withheld and evidence that doesn't reveal the true facts. The further Finn gets into the investigation, the more danger he finds that affects not only him but also Kozlowski and Lissa.

I was drawn into the story from page one and thought Hosp made the characters seem alive and real and people that I would like to meet. I look forward to reading more about Finn and his associates.

Armchair Interviews says: A 5-star legal thriller that will grab you and keep holding on.

Officer Madeline Steele has devoted her life to fighting crime, until the night she is brutally attacked and left for dead. Miraculously surviving her attack, Madeline ID's Vincente Salazar, an illegal immigrant and doctor, as her attacker. Overwhelming evidence, as well as the victim's testimony make this an open-and-shut case that sends Salazar to prison, even as Salazar swears his innocence...

Scott Finn has left his position at a powerful Boston firm to open his own practice in his hometown of Charleston. Finn will do anything for work; taking on messy divorces, as well as defending hardened criminals, but nothing has prepared him for the twisted case he receives.

Sitting in prison for fifteen years, Salazar has screamed his innocence with no one listening, but now an attorney has decided to look into the claims of innocence. Mark Dobson is the attorney that believes there is truth to Salazar's claim and he decides to look into the fifteen year old crime. Dobson knows he will need help and the man to help him is Scott Finn.

Finn is hesitant to get involved in this case, but after someone close to him is murdered and new evidence surfaces that may prove Salazar's innocence, he teams up with his buddy Tom Kozlowski, a former detective with information on the attack of Madeline Steele. Together, Finn and Kozlowski must unravel a crime that stretches from Central America to Boston to bring a killer to justice.

'Innocence' is OUTSTANDING! This original and entertaining thriller is one of the best reads out right now. From the explosive first chapter, through every twist filled chapter the reader is held captive wondering what will happen next. To say that 'Innocence' is a great legal thriller would be unfair because it is so much more than that..this novel has everything; great characters, complex plot, surprising twists, brutal murders, and a fast pace...You will not be able to put this down.

If you have not yet discovered David Hosp do yourself a favor and read this novel, then seek out his first two novels that are equally as good.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

This is the first time I read David Hosp's work and I am impressed. I knew a lawyer must have written this story because he didn't hesitate when he presented legal procedures and the nuances of the legal system. He weaved a great tale involving the devastating injury of a female policewoman involved in an immigration sting. This crime leads to murder conviction and via a pro bono case, we encounter the three main characters: Scott Finn, the attorney, Lissa, the rich Jewish intern and Koz, the old timer, ex cop turned detective. All of these characters are presented with sharp intellect, emotion and great insight.

The theme of the story involves releasing a possibly innocent man from prison who happens to be have been an illegal from El Salvador and a physician. So we are dealing with an intelligent prisoner and a brilliant Scott Finn whose wit and knowledge of the law is fascinating. The reader is introduced to a terrorist group, crooked cops and intricate revelations concerning DNA.

Without giving away the ending or the twists, rest assured this story includes violence, sex, intrigue, three dimensional characters and a believable presentation of the legal case. It is clever and erudite. I had fun reading it and was not insulted with superficial action.

Fifteen years ago, Vincente Salazar was sent away to prison. He was charged with beating and raping a female cop. Salazar is guilty or is he?

Attorney Scott Finn is good at his job. That is why Finn is one of the most sought after attorneys. Finn is approached to take on Salazar's case. At first Finn doesn't see what much there is to the case. It was pretty much an open and close case. Finn starts digging into Salazar's case and discovers that there is a conspiracy surround Salazar's conviction and it involves the Boston PD.

Innocence is a feel good, cheer for the good guy type of book. You won't typically expect that from a book whose main character is an attorney. The words you most associate lawyer or attorney are sleazy, bloodsuckers, conniving thieves but you don't put the words nice, has a heart, one of the good guys in the same sentence. I found Finn to be a very intriguing character. He really shined in this book. Of course it helped that there was a strong plot. This book moved at a really good pace. This is the second novel I have read by this author and it won't be the last.

I am a little backwards with David Hosp's novels. I read his last novel 'Among Thieves' and found it so wonderful, I am now reading the rest of his books. 'Innocence' and 'Among Thieves' can be read on their own, and the story line is not lost, but it is wonderful to have a few insights from each.

David Hosp has invented the kind of character in Scott Finn that we all want for our lawyer. He is an intelligent, wiley, respectful detective. He has left a powerful law firm to go out on his own. A former police detective, Tom Kozlowski, is working with him. What we have here are two strong and silent men. An intern, Liisa has a foul mouth and talks alot to make up for the silence, I assume. One two many foul words, however, I believe she is strong, and I like her more without her motormouth. Finn is asked by a fellow lawyer from his old firm to assist on a case where all the evidence points to guilt of the convicted felon, Vincente Salazar. Finn is asked to become involved in a case sponsored by the New England Innocence Project. David Hosp has been involved with this group, and he is able to give us a great deal of information about fingerprints, their use and their uselessness because of that involvement. Finn and Kozlowski discuss a couple of finer points about the real value of evidence in this novel that give insight into the Innocence Project. Salazar has been in jail for fifteen years for the shooting and attempted rape of a young policewoman. As a result of the shooting she is paralyzed. Salazar and his family left San Salvador with the help of a Latino street gang, and Finn finally believes that Salazar may have been set up in this case. Neither the police nor the street gang want this case reopened and danger and mayhem proceed.

This story has the backing of a tried and true old plot of bad policing and the good guys, but it also has many twists and turns. I learned a great deal about fingerprinting I had not known, and the Innocence Project is indeed one of the better projects to help with those who are truly innocent. There is a fine thin line between guilt and innocence, and Finn shows it off to perfection.

Highly recommended. prisrob 11-22-09


Among Thieves


The Betrayed

Other reviewers have spoken about the basics of this stories plot. Suffice it to say that this is a police saga with strong legal implications. At first blush, it seemed to be like many of the books that I had previously read. How wrong I was as I would compare this writer to David Baldacci, Steve Martini and Richard North Patterson. The author has succeeded in putting together a work that is complex,compelling and difficult to put down. This is a real page-turner. The characters are deeply developed and grow stronger by the chapter. Suffice it to say that there are numerous twists in the plot and things are not always as this reviewer expected them to be. The writer is able to maintain this throughout the book and has provided this reader with a truly special read in book that is strongly reccommended for those who are fans of the Legal or Mystery Genres. It was a shame that a work of such a high quality was not a better seller than it was as it deserved a much better fate.

Imagine that you are an immigrant who has come to America to avoid the persecution and certain murder of your extended family in your home country. You are a skilled physician with a newborn daughter. A detective is assaulted and shot. She was investigating a vicious gang from your home country, whom you had treated as you do any patient that needs help. You are accused, convicted, and sent to prison.

A young lawyer has taken up your case. He is butchered with a machete. Before his death, he had spoken to a locally famous trial lawyer who also is prone to take on causes that need attention. His colleagues, a private eye and a young lawyer, have fallen in love. She is hacked-up and they are attacked. The local police force pilliaries these three for trying to release a hated attacker of a police officer.

There is DNA from fingernail scrapings of the original victim. The new lawyer gets the toxicology report as a hearing is set by a curious judge.

Is it possible that if the expert declares it certain that there is a DNA match, the accused may still be innocent?

Innocence is an apt title for a finely written book exploring the innocence of a variety of these interesting characters. David Hosp has an excellent grasp of storytelling. As I read these pages, the momentum built to the point that I could not put the book down until I was done, smiling at the mysteries that flowed from the pages like water from a mountain stream. I was on a 14 hour flight to Japan, which passed like moments.

If you enjoy, tension, emotion, and blossoming love, you will be delighted to have sat down with this wonderful work. Mr. Hosp has blended each of these emotions together with the background of chilling crime.

The end is the best of the book. A twist, but you knew that was coming, but not what you expected. A good series getting better.

Picked this book from a bargain bin at the grocery store. Best $6 I've spent in a long time. If you enjoy Phillip Margolin, David Baldacci and John Grisham, you will love this book! It's a great story and quick paced.