Solomon vs. Lord (Mass Market Paperback)

by Paul Levine (Author)
Key Phrases: dog cage, Uncle Steve, Katrina Barksdale, Steve Solomon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Former attorney and reporter Levine delivers a funny, fast-paced legal thriller, his first since 1998's 9 Scorpions. Circumstances conspire to force two Florida lawyers with opposing personalities;by-the-book Victoria Lord and anything-goes Steve Solomon;into working together as the defense attorneys for Katrina Barksdale, a "grieving" widow who's been charged with murdering her wealthy husband during a kinky sexcapade. This basic plot is nothing new, but Levine keeps things fresh by injecting the story with interesting subplots and a full roster of quirky, lovable characters, perhaps the best of whom is Bobby, Solomon's autistic savant nephew, who has a photographic memory and a penchant for making defaming anagrams out of people's names. While Levine's two protagonists may not be Tracy and Hepburn, the barbed dialogue that flies between them makes for some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Fans of Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry (who supplies a blurb) will enjoy this humorous Florida crime romp.
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Review
"Levine delivers a funny, fast-paced legal thriller ... Fans of Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry will enjoy this humorous Florida crime romp."—Publishers Weekly

"Authentic dialogue, rich characterizations, complicated relationships and even pathos bolster Solomon vs. Lord. Unique plot twists and well-placed humor help, too. Levine makes the most of his characters, as well as the South Florida setting both in and out of the courthouse."—Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Levine's book is remarkably fresh and original, with characters you can't help loving, and sparkling dialogue that echoes the Hepburn-Tracy screwball comedies."—Chicago Sun-Times


From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (September 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440242738
• ISBN-13: 978-0440242734
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #451,653 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and loads of fun, November 14, 2005

By	Craig Clarke (New England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I love a good courtroom novel, and Solomon vs. Lord is a great courtroom novel. With suspense, romance, humor, and a huge heart, this first entry in a new series is the story of two attorneys and their tempestuous relationship in the face of Miami's most media-saturated murder trial. It's a lot of fun -- imagine Moonlighting, but with lawyers.

When Victoria Lord is fired from her state's attorney's office job, Steve Solomon, the counselor for the defense, takes her on as his partner. Immediately, the sparks fly (Victoria likes to go by the book, but Steve says "when the law doesn't work, work the law") and we just know -- despite the fact that they evidently can't stand each other, and that she is engaged to South Florida's avocado king -- that these two are going to end up together.

But that's just the fun part -- the real story involves the death of local millionaire Charles Barksdale and the arrest of his wife Katrina for his murder. As a friend of the accused, Victoria takes on the case, with Steve, against her former employer, state's attorney "Sugar Ray" Pincher.

Meanwhile, Steve has his own problems: social services is trying to take his mildly autistic nephew, Bobby, away from him. Steve rescued Bobby from Steve's drug-addicted sister, Janice, but Dr. Doris Krankovich believes Solomon to be an unfit parent. These, along with Steve's father issues and Victoria's indecision about who she truly belongs with, make for a dense, involving novel that still manages to be a quick read.

Author Levine (a writer for JAG and the author of the Jake Lassiter series of crime novels) effortlessly combines humor and suspense, with several laugh-out-loud throwaway lines buried among the drama. The cracks come fast and furious, right along with the suspense. Bobby's ability with anagrams will delight word fans, but the real draws are the main characters, especially Solomon and Lord. Levine knows that it is just as much fun to watch people fall in love as it is to watch them win a case, and he gives us plenty of both, resulting in a book that is a true pleasure to read and is a fine addition to the ever-growing canon of novels with wacky South Floridian characters (see Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen, and Dave Barry for more examples). I'm already looking forward to the sequel, The Deep Blue Alibi.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting yet charming legal thriller., September 27, 2005

By	Cynthia L. Clark "Dr. Cynthia Lea Clark" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sounds like a contradiction in terms doesn't it? But it's not. Paul Levine has crafted a well written legal thriller with charming, witty and sometimes irascible characters.
Solomon is a seasoned defense attorney, who lives by his own "rules." Lord is a new prosecutor still believing that justice will prevail and life is fair. When Solomon and Lord find themselves on opposites sides in court, their sparring lands them both in jail for contempt. When the trial continues, so does Solomon's antics. Lord takes the bait which costs her not only the trial but her job. As if heaven sent, she receives word (overheard by Solomon), that a rich friend's husband has just died during their kinky sex. Solomon immediately anticipates that this woman will be charged with murder. Reluctantly Lord join forces with Solomon to defend the wealthy widow. During the defense, we are treated to a cast of delightful secondary players including Solomon's ward, Bobby, his nephew, a savant, that he rescued from his drugged out mother and her sadistic friends. Bobby has a habit of taking names and rearranging their letters to interesting sexual anagrams. Bobby can also recite everything he hears. During the course of the murder trial, Solomon must deal with the return of his sister (Bobby's mother), and a child services agent intent on removing Bobby from Solomon's care.
Solomon vs. Lord is fast paced, witty, and yes, charming. I can't wait for the next in the series. If you like mystery, humor, with a dash or romance, then this is the book for you!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humor with heart, October 21, 2005

By	Gale Zasada "www.brownbookloft.com" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Steve Solomon is a sharp, wise-ass lawyer with a reputation for bending the rules. His outrageous courtroom stunts have cost him more than one night in the local jail cell. In fact, he's such a frequent visitor that he has his own key.

Victoria Lord is a prim and proper lady who wants to succeed in her budding law career by always staying within the lines. An attractive woman whose only vice is collecting designer shoes, she alternates between bristling and cringing under her boss' mercurial moods. The last thing Victoria Lord wants to do is lose the junior prosecutor job that she worked so hard to get.

When Ms. Lord and Mr. Solomon face off as opposing counsel sparks begin to fly. Steve Solomon manages to push buttons that Victoria didn't even know she had. After Victoria loses her job as a result of their verbal brawl in the courtroom, Solomon manages to finagle his way into the case of her one and only client. Victoria is sure that disaster is sure to follow, but he convinces her that his previous experience will give them the only edge that they have in the case.

As Victoria works with Solomon, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his courtroom comportment would suggest. She finds that he is a man driven by a great compassion for the underdogs of life and a deep love for his disabled nephew. Soon she begins to question her own beliefs in safety and predictability.

The multi-faceted characterizations of Solomon and his nephew, Bobby, provide the backbone that makes this book's premise rise well above mediocrity. In general, I'm not fond of the kind of slapstick, bawdy comedy that readers flock to in funny fiction. In Solomon vs. Lord, the occasional middle school humor is balanced by the darker sides of life. Author Paul Levine recognizes that you have to learn to cry before you can begin to laugh, but you'll have a much healthier psyche if you choose laughter.

Look for more from Paul Levine's characters in spring 2006 as they explore The Deep Blue Alibi.