Customer Reviews

Key Witness

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just "discovered" J.F. Freedman, and I consider it a red-letter day. His "Key Witness" was so riveting that I spent most of a cold, snowy Saturday engrossed in its pages. The man is a terrific stylist and plotter, and his characters seem to live and breathe on the page. I heartily recommend this novel to any reader in search of quality reading.

This is my first Freedman book, and it was very good. The man knows how to write and sustain a compelling plot. Yes, courtroom trials depicting lawyers trying to save innocent men has been done over and over, but Freedman manages to keep things fresh and interesting for over six hundred pages. I'll definitely read more of his work. Highly recommended over Grisham!

Having been a fan of Mr. Freedman's since AGAINST THE WIND, KEY WITNESS is one of his best yet.

Wyatt Matthews has just finished winning his firm's most lucrative case. Everyone is ecstatic...except Wyatt. Seems he wants to try some public defending pro bono work for 6 months.

The first case he gets is a simple attempted murder/burglary...or so it appears. Some jail informant has alleged that Wyatt's client confessed to being the ALLEY SLASHER, a serial killer that has the whole town scared.

Freedman mixes in some incredible police work, plot twists you will not believe and characters that are shady yet compelling. Freedman shows he is one of the best at suspense courtroom dramas. A great book. I've read all of his and this one is the best!

Having read the first 4 Grisham novels, years ago, I wondered while reading "Key Witness," why J.F. Freedman doesn't have the fame that Grisham has.

J.F. Freedman is significantly better at plot and character development, than Grisham.

I truly couldn't turn my pages fast enough, as I read "Key Witness."

And from the first page, I could envision, feel and hear the plot.

I especially related to the the lead attorney, who though he had no experience in criminal cases, he was willing to put his multi-millionaire corporate practice on hold for 6 months, to defend, pro bono, a miss-guided, 18-year-old defendant.

The 6 months taught this attorney about life, through the eyes of people who he would have never otherwise be intimate with.

His 6 months also influenced change in many who had previously put their aspirations on hold.

This is a wonderful novel.

This was a really good read. The characters were interesting, the plot was fast paced, and there was always something happening to keep your interest, forcing you to read a little bit more. My only small complaints are that it was a little long, and also the author has multiple points of view in many of the segments, which can be slightly disconcerting. But overall, it is a great book and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.

Successful corporate lawyer Wyatt Matthews wants a taste of the "real world," so he decides to do some pro bono work at the public defender's office. His first case, an apparently simple armed robbery, becomes a high-profile capital case when his client is accused of being a serial rapist and killer. Wyatt gets more than his share of reality as his investigation takes him away from his suburban comfort zone and into the poverty and violence of the inner city. We follow his detective work and legal maneuverings as he attmempts to dismantle the state's case against his client.

Wyatt is so naive, you wonder how he ever got so far in life, and he shows appalling lack of judgment. The female characters are one-dimensional. The plot - which for the most part has an air of plausibility - hinges on unlikely favors and coincidences, as if the author doesn't trust his protagonist to pull off the defense on his own. The subplot regarding the effects of Wyatt's decision on his family is cumbersome (and family therapy sessions should never be depicted in a thriller).

Having said all that... I literally could not put this book down! As the plot threads come together the story becomes more engrossing until you can't turn the pages fast enough. If you're looking for in-depth, subtle characterizations, you won't find them here. But if you are looking for an engaging legal thriller - with lots of action outside the courtroom, and some effort at addressing the social and political context in which the story takes place - then you will enjoy this book.

This is the first J.F. Freedman book I read and I loved it. The relationships between the main character and the other lawyers are enough to keep you reading. If you haven't read any of Freedman's books yet, this one should be the first one you read.

This was my second J. F. Freedman book I have read and am ready to buy his other books. He is a good storyteller and the plot always thickens. His writing skills keep you turning the pages unable to put the book down. This book was enjoyable because there was much more action than just courtroom drama.

Freedman with his powerful storytelling skills knows very well how to keep his avid readers well fed, awake and interested every step of the way from beginning to end.

ANOTHER EXCELLENT BOOK BY J F FREEDMAN..MAKES GRISHAM LOOK LIKE AN AMATEUR.