Customer Reviews

Solomon vs. Lord

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

Paul Levine, author of the Jake Lassiter detective series, returns to writing novels after several years in the Hollywood wasteland working on such TV shows as "JAG" and "First Monday." The result is "Solomon vs. Lord," a hilarious, touching and entertaining twist on the legal thriller that makes Levine's return a welcome one.

Miami attorneys Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord are as different as night and day. He's impulsive and free-spirited. She's regimented and always by-the-book. When the pair is forced together to help defend a millionaire heiress accused of killing her husband, they make an unstoppable pair.

Steve is also locked in a desperate battle to win custody of his autistic nephew, as brilliant and funny a kid as you'll find in any novel. The scenes between the two of them are so moving yet humorous they'll have you laughing through the tears.

Despite a predictable setup, 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. "Solomon vs. Lord" is the first in what we hope will be a long and successful series.

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.

When Victoria Lord loses her high powered position in the state attorney's office, she finds a new job not with a friend, but with Steve Solomon, a man who could be described as her best enemy. They are polar opposites, at least on the surface, but it is this combination of by the book and break any rule that does not work that might be a society widow's best shot at freedom when she is accused of killing her rich husband in a most humiliating fashion. Moreover, Victoria could well be Steve's lifeline in a custody case. Dare he hope that her pretend role as fiancee could become real? Yes, she's engaged to another guy, but the other guy is boring, and Steve is fun. Besides, his nephew needs Vicki, and they work well together, sort of anyway. It may be a match made somewhat south of heaven, but it's a match of wits and hearts.

**** This is a fun book that combines a modern tone with an old fashioned flair reminescent of Tracy and Hepburn with a side order of Perry Mason. It's a very character driven story. Despite a profusion of profane language, there is a goodness about both main characters that will win your affection. ****

Amanda Killgore

If you're titillated by high school locker room byplay you'll love this book. The story begins in a courtroom with a judge who's right out of Alice in Wonderland and the story's two principal caricatures currently residing in a holding cell, shouting high school vulgarities at each other. These two are supposed to be attorneys, one an older and experienced male and one a younger but brilliant woman. From their discussion it's pretty clear neither could be more than thirteen years old. Next we meet the accused and the victim, a pair of extreme sexual deviates. The victim is dead as the result of a sick sex act gone astray. The accused, his wife, is wealthy and foul-mouthed, as are most of the other caricatures in this potboiler. There's not a single character in this story who's believable or engaging enough to make you care about him. The two judges before whom these caricatures appear are demented and ineffective to the point of absurdity. There's no courtroom drama because no one in the story is sane enough to argue a case.

This may not be the worst potboiler I've ever read, but it's certainly in the running for that distinction. If this book were free it'd be overpriced.

I have read all three of the Solomon/Lord books and have enjoyed all three. Levine is my cup of tea because he uses wit, charm, realistic dialog and weaves a fairly good yarn. He's not as descriptive as Hiassen, and that can be a good thing. I've enjoyed many of Carl Hiassen's books, but sometimes he can be too verbose. Yes, Levine can get a bit sappy at times, but I love the "Moonlighting-esque" banter between the two main characters. And who wouldn't love an unintentioned smart aleck autistic kid who is as genuine as they come. Then there's the genuine nature of his father who reminds me of my father in some ways. As a guy who grew up in Florida it's definitely tailored to those who are from there, been there or wish they were there. I can smell the ocean salt air right now.

As for the story, it wasn't his best, hence the 3 stars for this one. I actually think Deep Blue Alibi is a better story, but there are some great laugh out loud moments that my wife kept asking me about. The court room scene with the parrot is a hoot, sorry Hiassen, not to mention the cell scene with Solomon and Lord sharing a few one liners. It is some of the funniest stuff I've read in a novel. If you want a complicated yarn read the other big name suspense authors, but if you want a mixture of texture sprinkled with humor and realistic circumstances, venture on over to Paul Levine and his Solomon/Lord series. If you have a sense of humor you will not be disappointed.
Scott A. Reighard, author: Jamestown: Journey Back in Time

This is the first Paul Levine novel that I have read, and I loved it. There are few books that will have me laughing out loud, and this was one of them.

Victoria Lord practices law by the books. She's going to do her time as an assistant D.A., marry the handsome avacado-farmer and real estate developer she's engaged to, and become a corporate attorney and happy wife--with her student loans paid off no less. But first she needs to get through one trial--one where shady lawyer Steve Solomon is defending a man so obviously guilty Solomon has to call a parot to testify on his behalf. So, how does she end up sitting in a jail sell with Solomon, held for contempt of court. One thing for sure, she never wants to see him again.

Solomon figures Lord could make one fine lawyer. But he's too busy to take on trainees--too busy mostly trying to figure out how to maintain custody of his nephew as the State of Florida grinds its way through the family court. Still, a hihg profile murder case would be just the thing to put his name on the map and bring in the clients. The only problem is, the latest murder suspect is a friend of Victoria Lord's. So, he's got to horn his way in on the deal, all the while denying the attraction he feels for the woman he wants to make his partner--his legal partner, that is.

Author Paul Levine combines the legal thriller with humor and serious romance to pull together a combination that works. Serious suspense readers may find that SOLOMON VS. LORD reads as much like a romance book as a mystery, but Levine knows his audience--most readers are women and they want to read about characters who have lives rather than merely legal practices (heck, even a lot of men like reading that kind of book). The constant sniping between Solomon and Lord can only lead to one result, but the two, and the reader, have a lot of fun getting them there. The custody case and Solomon's rough relationship with his father seem a little more doubtful. Can everything really work out?

Fans of legal thrillers who want something a little lighter and a lot of fun should definitely take a look at SOLOMON VS. LORD.

I have one gripe with "Solomon vs. Lord" -- at 544 pages, it's too short! I wanted more. Mr. Levine created two wonderful new literary heroes in Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord; they make Spencer and Hepburn look like Ozzie and Harriet. The legal wrangling, quirky courtroom personalities, plot twists, Florida ambience and compelling relationships (note the one between Solomon and his, shall we say, unusually gifted nephew) kept me turning pages late into the night. I got the feeling the author was taking me on a journey through territory that was as familiar to him as it was fascinating to me.

I understand Mr. Levine is putting out an S vs. L sequel soon, or number of sequels. All I can say is, hurry up, please.

Larry Moskowitz