Seeds of Doubt: A Crime Novel [Paperback]

Stephanie Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2007

Rachel Boyd was just a child when she was found guilty of killing her little playmate, Freddie Gant. Now, after thirty years in reform school and adult prison, she is finally free...until another young boy is found dead in Denver -- and Rachel seems to be the likely suspect.

Enter criminal attorney Jackie Flowers. Convicted child killers are not her favorite clients. Still, everyone deserves a good defense. Question is: Can Jackie trust Rachel enough to stay in her home while they prepare their case? And what about Jackie's own personal demons -- her dyslexia, her ex-lover and civil litigator Dennis Ross, her paralyzing fear of heights? Is she fit to handle the pressures of a high-profile trial? Will her past come back to haunt her? Or worse: Will Rachel's?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A dead six-year-old child named Benjamin Sparks; his troubled aunt, Rachel Boyd, just out of prison after serving 30 years for killing a playmate; a powerful and believably dysfunctional Denver banking family all add up to business as usual for defense attorney Jackie Flowers in Kane's taut and thoughtful third crime novel about the dyslexic lawyer (after Extreme Indifference and Blind Spot). The best thing about Kane's books is that Jackie's dyslexia is no mere gimmick: the condition colors her life and courtroom work and makes her searches for truth and justice harder and more compelling. When she agrees to take the case of Rachel Boyd, who was looking after Benjamin when he disappeared and was later found murdered, Jackie is reacting strongly to Boyd's past experiences as well as to her own childhood memories. "Give them what they want so they won't see what's really there," Flowers thinks. "Let them think they know the worst, so you can protect what you really want to hide. Was her own transformation a fraud, all the devices that made her successful in court a sham?" Insightful moments like this mark Flowers as more than just another shrewd criminal defense lawyer. Kane deserves to join the ranks of the big-time legal-thriller eagles.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Well-crafted prose and strong character development are hallmarks of Kane's latest Jackie Flowers novels. When Dennis Ross, Jackie's old beau from the Denver public defender's office, calls to ask for her help on a case, Jackie is torn. Now a hotshot corporate attorney, Dennis still has the power to make Jackie's temperature rise--both from anger and attraction. A small boy has disappeared from the mansion of a prominent Denver banker, and the prime suspect is the banker's sister Rachel, who was convicted of killing a playmate when she was a child. Jackie believes Rachel is innocent and invites the complex woman to stay at her home until the trial starts. Rachel, a rather odd guest, strikes up an ill-advised friendship with the young girl who lives next door. As Jackie prepares Rachel's defense, she must get to the bottom of the crime Rachel supposedly committed as a child, but dredging up old memories proves difficult and dangerous. Readers of Alafair Burke's Samantha Kincaid novels need an introduction to Jackie Flowers. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books (November 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416587519
• ISBN-13: 978-1416587514
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,098,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent legal thriller, October 27, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Doubt: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

Thirty years ago in Vivian, Colorado, four years old Freddie Gant disappeared; his body was ultimately found by a grain elevator. The police deduce that someone shoved him off the top of it. Attention focuses on twelve years old Rachel Boyd, who eventually was arrested and found guilty by a jury. She recently was paroled and lives with her brother Chris, a wealthy banker.

When the six years old son of Chris' gardener vanishes, everyone looks towards Rachel. When his corpse is found near Denver, attention again focuses on Rachel. Besides her history, she was seen with Benjamin the day he disappeared. Chris hires dyslexic lawyer Jackie Flowers to defend his sister. Jackie goes the extra mile when she agrees to allow Rachel to stay in her home as part of the bail stipulation. Jackie, who has spent her life hiding her learning disability from even loved ones, struggles with the defense because Rachel refuses to cooperate by defending herself. Jackie knows the prosecution has circumstantial evidence, but the prosecution's strength lies with the fact that the same MO used in both child murders.

Stephanie Kane is part of the Supreme Court of legal thriller writers who readers know always provides dramatic courtroom scenes that bring electrifying realism to her tales. Her current novel, SEEDS OF DOUBT, is complex with multilayers as readers wonder if Rachel is guilty or, if not, what is she hiding and why rather than help make a viable defense. With powerful action and strong characters, the verdict beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Ms. Kane has provided another superb read.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kane's Best Yet!, November 9, 2004

By 

Debra Baldwin "d_baldwin" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Doubt: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

From the first page you have to know what happens. A 30-year-old crime - the victim so very innocent.

Rachel Boyd has just been paroled after serving 30 years for a crime with a virtually identical MO. She was just a child when the first crime occurred; they called her a bad seed. Her brother, and staunchest supporter, welcomes her home and tries to help her adapt.

Then the unthinkable happens. Another crime. Another innocent.

Jackie Flowers takes on her most enigmatic client yet. Rachel will not speak of the either crime; will not assist in her own defense. Jackie must investigate the old crime to help build Rachel's defense.

The story will sweep you away - the action is tight and keeps the adrenaline pumping. This is Kane's best work yet!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Legal Thriller with Heart, March 29, 2005

By 

Tania Hutchison (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeds of Doubt: A Crime Novel (Hardcover)

The storyline is sure to keep readers guessing and on the edge of their seats. The narrative is peppered with diary entries, police reports, and new articles, which gives a wonderful extra perspective. Kane manages a wonderful balance of suspense, realistic dialogue, humour, and well-paced revelations.

A real strength of the novel is the three strong female characters: Jackie, her investigator Pilar who herself has an interesting past, and Rachel. Jackie's dyslexia is well written and adds an interesting element to both the character and the story.

I'd certainly recommend this book. I've already ordered the other books in this series.