From Publishers Weekly
Graced by an appealingly sordid cast of sultry barmaids, crafty ex-cops, smarmy con men and venal lawyers, this courtroom drama maintains a swift pace. Attorney Nina Reilly, her marriage shattered, leaves San Francisco with her small son for Lake Tahoe. Encouraged by a feisty secretary with strong ties to the local women's movement, Nina takes on the case of Michelle "Misty" Patterson, an admittedly promiscuous barmaid accused of bludgeoning her abusive husband to death. But Misty, who has a long history of emotional problems, has no memory of the night of the murder. Nor can she remember anything that happened before she was 10. Her psychiatric treatment dictates much of the trial procedure: Can records of her therapy be used as evidence? Shrewd Nina's legal skirmishes with psychiatrists pave the way for some explosive revelations. O'Shaughnessy barely keeps the fireworks under control; indeed, some sensational scenes in this first novel offer more dazzle than illumination. Keen detective work, smoldering romance and ongoing consciousness-raising, however, create a Roman candle of a novel that just may rocket O'Shaughnessy to pop-lit fame. Major ad/promo; author tour; British, translation, audio, electronic, performance rights: Lowenstein Associates.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
This first novel, the collaborative effort of two sisters, one a lawyer, the other a writer, is the story of hard-boiled San Francisco attorney Nina Reilly, whose failed marriage and terminal case of burnout send her seeking a slower pace of life in Lake Tahoe. But no sooner has she tossed away her briefcase and patent pumps than she gets involved in a bizarre murder case. Cocktail waitress Misty Patterson conks her abusive husband over the head after a violent quarrel, then goes off to bed, leaving an injured but still-alive hubby on the couch. When the man is found dead at the bottom of a nearby lake the next day, Misty is arrested for murder and begs Nina to take her case. Nina's determined to get Misty off the hook. And of course, Nina's got her own complicated life--son, lover, and ex-husband--to deal with, too. A good first effort from a promising new writing team.
Emily Melton
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
