Customer Reviews

The Mayor of Lexington Avenue [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Fiction)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book keeps your attention from page one. I found it to be an easy read, great well developed characters and a wonderful storyline. If you like legal thrillers I recommend you read this book. It takes place between New York and Florida so if you live in either place you'll enjoy reading about real places and if you don't it will definately take you there. The story is filled with so many twists and turns you'll be surprised in every chapter right up until the exciting conclusion. A must read!!!

Some of the elements of this excellent story are: naive young man accused of a brutal murder and facing the death-penalty; dedicated, single mother with few financial resources; heavy-handed, corrupt police action; vanishing witnesses; arrogant, mercenary attorney; incompetent lawyers; and ruthless political ambition. I suspect that mystery lovers are now thinking that this is an old story, and one that doesn't require much more for them to fill in the blanks. Wrong. The elements indeed are familiar but the way this author puts them together is both fresh and thought-provoking. There are many twists and turns to this story, and while some can be anticipated all this does is lull the reader into thinking that the next turn will be familiar - it is not.

The murder occurs in a small town with a small police force and few murders. A young man, slow but not retarded, is enticed by a young woman to an assignation. He shows up at her home as planned, but things go awry and the woman later is found murdered. The young man is spotted coming from her home at about the time of the murder, and a rather dim detective is manipulated by a local politician to bring the case to a swift conviction. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much risk in concealing evidence and in railroading the young man as the local public defender is known to be a dedicated alcoholic with few remaining resources to devote to a client's defense. The young man's mother, however, is able to scrape together enough money to hire, at least initially, a prominent attorney. This attorney discovers evidence that convinces her that the young man is innocent and also reveals who she believes is the real killer. But that's the best news the book delivers for many, many pages.

The story is multi-layered and includes, among other things, an abandoned but important childhood friendship, and a brief examination of the consequences of the death penalty. While this is the author's first published book, he writes as if a seasoned professional. The story is compelling, and flows smoothly and plausibly. The character development is well done, and I found myself caring deeply about the accused. This is in stark contrast to several other legal thrillers I recently have read with supposedly wrongfully-accused defendants who I found singularly unsympathetic and about whom I could have cared less. That definitely was not the case with this accused who, though "slow," is endearing and surprisingly insightful. The author even adds grace notes here and there. For example, in the first few pages he skillfully lays out the murdered woman's belief in her ability to control and manipulate men at will. (As it happens, she may have been overly optimistic.) As another example, one of the judges finds himself highly entertained as one of the less adept, though nevertheless supremely arrogant, attorneys flails deeper and deeper into quicksand of his own churning. I can't wait for the next book.

Bravo, Mr. Sheehan.

You know when you like a story ? When you are sorry that it ends. You have gotten to like the characters and have somehow vicariously immersed yourself in their lives. I was sorry when then this story ended. Even though it had its corny and predictable bits. Like when the two Irish-descended protagonists fall in love. And likewise when the two Puerto Rican characters fall in love. In modern day America it doesn't matter how far removed from the racist attitudes of the past writers and common folk alike still match up same and same. God forbid that an Irish person should fall in love with a Puerto Rican person.

Well they did, and Rudy was their son. Who also happens to be the central character in this court room drama. I am not going to reveal too much of the story other than to say it's not a bad yarn. Somewhat contrived with the pitfalls somewhat obvious. Corrupt police official, corrupt prosecuting attory, incompetent public defender - aren't they ever - and some heartbreaks along the way.

The courtroom theatrics are rather weak. And no, they are not good as good as Grisham. Because Grisham's arent that good either. If you want to read good courtroom theatrics read John Lescroart or William Berndhardt. The reason that I bring this up is because the lame publisher stick nowadays a sticker on the front cover of the book saying "As good as Grisham or we will send you a nude photo of my spouse." Not exactly, but words to that effect. Taunting you with the promise of a legal thriller as good as Grisham's. Well actually I am hoping for something better than Grisham. Because he is last 7 efforts were rather weak. I am talking about the Street Lawyer, The King of Torts, The Summons, The Brethern, The Broker, The Last Juror and The Testament. Matter of fact the last good Grisham was The Partner, since then it has been downhill. He still sells but steadily declining. Now that the world's attention is riveted no more by legal thrillers but by religious ones, i.e. The Da Vinci Code.

Look, you buy this book. You read it to and and from work. You won't be disappointed. It's a decent yarn. It won't knock your socks off. Or astound you with its brilliance or story telling but it will keep you entertained, like a good TV drama. I would buy it and read just to see if the author comes up with a better one next time or to see whether he is just a one book wonder.

This is a great book to disappear in. The hectic pace in which we all move nowadays requires detachment and absorption in something outside of ourselves. This book gives that like a gift. It is compelling, interesting and "fun" to read in spite of the serious nature of the subject. The characters are real, the subject matter compelling and enough twists and turns that you won't have it all figured out, like some in this genre. Bravo Mr. Sheehan, keep em coming.

THE MAYOR OF LEXINGTON AVENUE is a very decent book, and a promising start for author James Sheehan. Apparently this book started as a small press publication, and its popularity led the big New York publishers to take notice of Sheehan's talents. I can understand why, since this book reveals Sheehan to be a good writer and gifted storyteller.

THE MAYOR OF LEXINGTON AVENUE is essentially a story of a miscarriage of justice, and a brave attorney's attempt to make things right. The first half of this novel is actually quite superb, as Sheehan details how the miscarriage of justice occurs. I thought this part of the book had great characterization and was very realistic.

But Sheehan stumbles in the second half of the novel, which fully introduces the protagonist Jack Tobin, and his quest to make things right. Tobin is a bit too good to be true, and I found his heroics rather unrealistic and kind of corny in spots. His "romance" happens rather instantaneously and is not well developed at all. I did enjoy the courtroom scenes at the end, however.

But overall, THE MAYOR OF LEXINGTON AVENUE is quite enjoyable to read, and reminded me of John Grisham's A TIME TO KILL. If you like Grisham's early writing style, you may want to give this novel a try, since it strongly reminds me of Grisham's work. I look forward to reading his future work.

Agree that it was compelling and page turner. The style of writing that took us backward in time and then forward kept my attention. It just seemed too good to be true that characters lives would all intersect in the boondocks of Florida. Also, that love developed that easily among all members. Other than that, I am glad the bookstore had it as a "staff pick" or it might not have caught my eye. It was delightful summer reading for all these rainy days in the northeast!

Rudy Kelly is a loving, naïve 19 year old who is intrigued by the offer of Lucy Ochoa. The night does not go very well for Rudy and he has to abruptly leave Lucy's trailer. However, Lucy is murdered that night and the police seem to focus on only him as a suspect. Rudy is on death row for ten years. In steps Jack Tobin, a Florida trial attorney who was best friends with Mike Kelly, Rudy's Dad, now deceased. Skillfully interwoven in the narrative are stories about the old days with Mike, Jack, and Patricia. Jack fights for Rudy's life. He risks everything for Rudy and for Mike. Unique characters and divisive issues make this a gripping and emotional novel.

This 'Legal Thriller' was one of the best books that I've read in a long time. Clocking in at over 400 pages, I read this in a mere few days. The story first starts out about this young boy Rudy, who is mistakenly convicted of murdering a young lady in his hick town. The story jumps a number of years to a time where the boy is on death row. This is also the part of the story that introduces the hero of the book, Jack Tobin, a friend of the boy's father. To repay a debt to the boy's father, Jack takes on the boy's appelatte case and much more. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy these types of stories and even those who wouldn't normally read this genre of fiction.

Good writer, but predictable plot. I agree with a couple of other reviewers who felt the first and second halves of the book were written by different people. Characters are not exactly cardboard, but they are somewhat stiff and stereotypical. There's also a lot of contrived and predictable dialogue.

My biggest problem was going from part 1 to part 2 and it was like, what the heck happened? We find ourselves ten years down the road with all kinds of important stuff having happened without being in the novel. The reader gets a quick update to bring us to present day, which was a major turnoff for me.

The love interests that develop in part 2 are hokey. I also felt that part 2 was unbelievable in that our hero - a corporate lawyer without litigation experience - was taking a death penalty case, especially when he was taking time out for jogging and candlelit dinners when he had only a few weeks for trial prep. Any litigator worth his salt wouldn't do that.

I purchased this book in an airport to pass the time while on a recent vacation and I was glad I did. The various twists in the story and sub-plots kept me wanting to read another page and I found myself unable to put the book down some evenings. I would not hesitate to read other works of Mr. Sheehan.