The Price of Revenge [Paperback]

Dennis Vaughn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2010

David Fox has a life anyone would envy-a flourishing career as a lawyer, a condo in Denver, and a beautiful girlfriend, Ellen-until he begins investigating a lawsuit against the Denver City Ballet. It seems like a commonplace allegation of misspent funds at first, but soon David finds himself caught in a web of blackmail, betrayal, and dark secrets. To escape, he'll have to answer some uncomfortable questions: Who was responsible for the embezzlement, and how far will they go to cover it up? What precisely is Ellen discussing in those sessions with her psychiatrist? And is telling the truth worth losing everything? The Price of Revenge follows David across boundaries both professional and personal as he tries to find his way out of the maze of intrigue into which he has stumbled.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A California native, Dennis Vaughn received his bachelor's and law degrees from Stanford University. After a successful career as an attorney, he has turned his attention to writing fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Synergy Books (April 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984235817
• ISBN-13: 978-0984235810
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,502,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars GOOD BUT NOT GREAT, May 30, 2010

By 

Jack Rosenblum (Deerfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Price of Revenge (Paperback)

So far it seems that all the reviewers have loved this book. I liked it, but I didn't love it. It's a good yarn about unintended consequences, but not all of the decisions that the main character David Fox makes at crucial choice points are based purely on revenge. [SPOILER ALERT!] For example, if your boss attempts to blackmail you to falsify a report and as a result of your refusal, you're passed over for partner, does your decision to leave the firm and seek employment elsewhere constitute revenge? It could be viewed as just looking out vigilantly for your career. If your wife's psychiatrist seduces and then dumps her and the impact is a psychotic break, is it purely revenge to seek the loss of the psychiatrist's membership in a professional society that is not even his license to continue practicing? Might it not also be viewed as trying to protect future potential victims? Unintended consequences are a part of life, and it is generally wise to review your decisions, see how they worked out, and use what you learn to continue refining your decision-making processes. As someone once said, "you don't learn less". David didn't exactly live the unexamined life, but he was certainly a slow learner.

The story flows well, but the characters are mostly two dimensional and not vivid or memorable. The prose is workable but not dramatic or compelling. Like my fellow reviewers, I enjoyed reading the book, but as soon as I finished it, I began to forget it. It has an overall quality of blandness. Courtroom drama offers a perfect setting for drama and fireworks. Think about some of the legal thrillers by Richard North Patterson or Scott Turow, for example. Since this is the author's first literary endeavor, I'd say it's a decent first effort, but if he attempts a second, I recommend he work on upping the amps, cutting loose and giving it more juice.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars `It was turning into a no win situation for him.', June 25, 2010

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Price of Revenge (Paperback)

David Fox, an ambitious young lawyer with a large Denver law firm, appears to have everything going for him. David's career is flourishing, his beautiful girl friend - Ellen - is the granddaughter of the law firm's founder, and he is in line for partnership. But when David begins investigating a lawsuit against the Denver City Ballet Company, he finds that one of the respected partners in the law firm is involved in wrongdoing. Threatened with blackmail over a sexual indiscretion, but unwilling to compromise his professional standards, David goes to work for a rival firm.

Ellen, now David's wife, is caught between her loyalty to her grandfather and her love for David. She seeks psychotherapy and forms a relationship which threatens to destroy both her sense of self and her relationship with David.

Professional misconduct, ethical standards, blackmail and poor personal choices each play a part in this story. But is it all about revenge?

I have mixed feelings about this novel. I didn't find either Ellen or David particularly likeable, and couldn't always understand some of their choices. To some extent I think that the characters in this novel were dwarfed by the actions in which they were involved. However, while this impacted on my view of the characters and appreciation of their stories, it didn't detract from the way in which Mr Vaughn highlighted the tensions between private feelings and professional considerations, and the consequences of both.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it, June 1, 2010

By 

zg (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Price of Revenge (Paperback)

The Price of Revenge is a rollicking ride through life in the legal world. While the book is billed as a thriller--and it is certainly that--it goes beyond the genre to show, as any worthy novel must, how life is lived now. David Fox's plight is displayed in vivid detail that will pull you through the story as you come to understand just how he lives the life he does--and makes the decisions he must. A great read.