Customer Reviews

Trial & Error (Solomon vs. Lord, Book 4)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Miami, attorney Steve Solomon prevents the abduction of two dolphins from Cetacean Park. Ironically, the radical green hugger he captured asks Solomon to defend him against a murder charge as his kidnapping partner died in the botched "rescue" mission.

The State Attorney General recluses himself because the accused is his nephew; so to the defense lawyer's shock, he names Steve's girlfriend Victoria Lord as the chief prosecutor. As the two do what they always do when it comes to legal matters, they argue in and out of court driving the judge to distraction. However, it is the insight of Steve's autistic adopted son, Bobby, who brings a surprising lucid perception to what happened.

Sort of mindful of a legal thriller version of Moonlighting, the latest Solomon vs. Lord tale TRIAL AND ERROR is a fun lighthearted thriller that fans of the series will enjoy especially when the lead couple objects. The story line is at its best in the courtroom where humor and insight make for a fine lawyer war between the lovers. When the plot turns introspective into Bobby's mind it loses some of the edge and when it morphs into an action thriller near the end it loses its keen edge. Still readers will receive pleasure from this amusing war of the attorneys.

Harriet Klausner

(Reviewer's note: As this is the fourth entry in a continuing series, I suggest beginning with the first book, Solomon vs. Lord, and reading your way through. I apologize in advance to those who choose to read on and have plot secrets from the first book and its sequel revealed to them.)

Trial and Error is the first novel in the Solomon vs. Lord to actually pit Solomon versus Lord since the first one, aptly titled Solomon vs. Lord. The actual case is based on the technicality that a murder committed during a crime makes the criminal instantly culpable for the victim's death, even if he or she did not actually fire the shot.

This is how Victoria Lord gets her first big professional case. She hopes it will bring in big money to the firm of Solomon & Lord, but her partner ("in law and in love") Steve Solomon sees it differently and offers to defend the fellow.

This really upsets Steve's nephew Bobby, a 12-year-old Asperger's semi-genius who can speak dolphin and work anagrams in his head -- because Bobby knows the crime, perpetrated under the banner of Animal Rights, was a phony because the pieces don't fit logically.

Trial and Error is author Paul Levine's fourth romantic comedy/legal thriller in this series in two-and-a-half years, and he's finally showing some signs of wear. This entry is the shortest one yet, but at least its size fits its plot better than Kill All the Lawyers's did; this one is a quick weekend read.

Bobby's anagrams, a highlight of others like The Deep Blue Alibi, are weaker here, but this could be more due to the boy's burgeoning interest in baseball (turns out Bobby has a "live arm") than any lack of imagination on the author's part. A lot of the sexiness of the previous novels is also missing in Trial and Error. Levine seems to have cut the story to the bare bones in order to keep the page count down. And the cover art is the most pedestrian of the series so far.

But there's still a lot to love about Trial and Error. The characters are still the familiar ones from before (though Solomon's and Lord's quirky parents -- Herbert T. Solomon is a personal favorite -- barely make a token appearance), and Solomon makes a surprising decision that opens the door for further adventures -- a decision that is both narratively sound and, at this point, just about necessary to keep things going in the right direction.

Having foiled an animal activist's attempt to free a pair of trained dolphins, Steve Solomon finds himself morally obligated to defend the naive activist against a felony murder charge. As the activist's uncle, D.A. Ray Pincher is conflicted out and calls on his former employee, Victoria Lord, to prosecute. Can Solomon and Lord overcome their professional and personal conflict to get at the truth?

All the Solomon vs. Lord novels show Levine's talent for layering and then unfurling mystery, yet each adventure is memorably different from the last, satisfying returning fans and winning new ones.

Trial and Error marks the return of Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord, domestic partners as well as law partners at this point in their lives. Steve's much-loved 12-year-old nephew Bobby is communing with his friends, two dolphins who reside at a local water park one balmy night in South Florida when ecoterrorists apparently decide to free the creatures. Steve is called to the scene and arrives in time to nab one of the men, while a second is shot by the park's owner. In the aftermath, Victoria gets pressed into service to prosecute the case against the man Steve brought down, while unknown to her Steve at the same time is hired to represent the defendant, charged with felony murder since his illegal act resulted in a man's death. The details of that death don't quite add up in Steve's eyes - the man had a shotgun trained on him and the police were on their way when he allegedly went for his gun. The owner of the marine park then shot him, twice, at pointblank range. The ensuing trial wreaks havoc on Steve and Victoria's lives.

As always with this series, the courtroom scenes are a delight to read, and to visualize. The trial features a judge who has court papers delivered to him not by a clerk but by a model railroad car. And the classic Steve-the-Shark Solomon antics are, of course, ever present. Bobby, a boy who `seesawed between semi-autistic behavior and savant-like abilities of memory and language feats,' plays a pivotal role. The author's reliable humor is also present, making this fast-paced and well-plotted book another excellent entry in this series.

In many ways, this is Paul Levine's best entry in the Solomon vs. Lord series. In the past, the author seemed to concentrate most of his attention and best lines on the main character, the outragous Steve Solomon, the highly unorthodox, wise-cracking, "do anything to upset your opponent to win a case", defense attorney. Solomon is just as wild in his antics in "Trial and Error", but Levine has delved deeper into the character of his live-in-lover and law partner, Victoria Lord. She is usually the by-the-book, well-prepared, logical attorney who is constantly exasperated by Steve's unorganized, play-the-hunch approach to solving a problem, and spends most of her time unsuccessfully trying to get him to play by the rules.

But in "Trial and Error", Levine masterfully engineers a plot where Solomon and Lord end up facing each other in court. The result is that Victoria Lord uses a little of what Steve Solomon taught her, along with her own methods, to parry Steve at every turn.

It's great fun to see the sparks between them, and the evenly matched repartee and court proceedings.

Levine also deepened the stakes emotionally by making his autistic, savant nephew, who lives with him and Victoria, part of the plot. Bobbby's ability to figure out the language of dolphins and communicate with them puts him in danger when the two dolphins he has started a friendship with get kidnapped from a local "Sea World-like" facility. Without giving away the plot, Bobby endangers his own life when he tries to do something to save the dolphins, behind Victoria's and Steve's back.

It forces Victoria and Steve, who have strong parental feelings for the boy, to work together to save him, while still being combative in their court case.

It's very rich and rewarding writing. I can only hope that we will see more of Solomon and Lord. If this book is any indication, they haev some wonderful adventures ahead - for them and us.

My very first book of Paul Levine. Great book, easy to read story line and very short chapters giving you the feeling you are actually getting some reading done!

Enjoyed each character of this book including the judge. Want to read more continuing of Solomon & Lord's spastic love relationship inside and outside of the court room.

Never the less I kind of seen the plot before hand. All in all, it was a fun and exciting read! I do recommend this book to anyone.

the solomon/lord boks never take themselves too seriously but I enjoy them never the less.

If you are looking for the kind of legal thrillers that keep you up reading late into the night or on the edge of your seat, this is not the book for you. But if you want a lighter, more humorous book with a little legal thriller mixed in, you will probably enjoy this book.

The Solomon vs. Lord novels are much more like a modern version of the old Hepburn-Tracy movie "Adam's Rib" than the typical legal thriller. Yes, there is a case and the pair work together (though on opposite sides) to solve it. But the book is really about the relationship between Steve, Victoria, and Steve's nephew Bobby. And Steve's crazy, completely unprofessional antics.

I enjoyed this book (and the previous Solomon vs. Lord novels I've read), but not as much as I enjoyed Paul Levine's earlier Jake Lassiter series. If you have not read them, I highly encourage you to read them starting with "To Speak For The Dead," the first book in that series. It is also set in the Miami area with great characters and page-turning writing.

Paul Levine is one of my favorite contemporary authors because he understands human foibles and that life needs a sense of humor. Everytime I pick up one of his books, I imagine the days of variety shows and TV series' like M*A*S*H and Cheers where witty lines were blistering across the stage at light speed. Plus, Levine doesn't play the politically correct angle (see Patterson). It's a dysfunctional cast that functions very ably. His characters seem real, and his dialog is smooth. There's no point in a plot review, just do yourself a favor and read any of his Solomon V. Lord series and you will be satisfied. Good job Paul, keep 'em coming. You can also check out my historical fiction novel called: Jamestown: Journey Back in Time

Lord and Solomon are back, and with them comes some much-needed humor. The courtroom scenes are entertaining, and are the highlight of this 4th entry in the series. The mystery itself isn't much of a mystery, and gets solved without any great danger to anyone. The focus is on the relationships between Victoria, Stephen, and Bobby. If you are a parent of a little leaguer, you'll especially enjoy the subplot revolving around Bobby's team, and Bobby's efforts to not stink.

Light reading, but a pleasure.