Try Fear (Hardcover)

~ James Scott Bell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Poet. Teacher. Warrior. The best trial lawyers are all three at once, observes Ty Buchanan in Bell's good-natured third suspense novel to feature the quixotic L.A. lawyer (after Try Darkness) who lives in a trailer and provides legal services at St. Monica's, a little Benedictine community. When Buchanan defends a client who insists on fighting a DUI charge despite the score the client registered on the Intoximeter, he fulfills the teacher function by giving the attractive prosecuting attorney, Kimberly Pincus, a lesson she'll never forget. He turns warrior after an anonymous e-mailer's ominous threats to Sister Mary Veritas, a sparky St. Monica's nun, escalate. And poetically, Buchanan, uses a Beatles tune at a critical juncture. Bell infuses the legal maneuverings with enough humor, insight and intelligence to merit an exception to Shakespeare's admonition to kill all the lawyers. (July)
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Product Description

For Ty Buchanan, defending a suspected drunk driver named Carl Richess seems routine enough. But when his client ends up dead, an apparent suicide, there's nothing routine about it. Because the cops suspect it's murder, and arrest Eric Richess, Carl's brother, for the crime. Now Ty, at the desperate urging of Eric's mother, agrees to defend him. But it won't be easy. Because there's DNA on the gun that matches Eric's, and a history of conflict between the brothers.

Then Ty, assisted by Sister Mary Veritas, begins to uncover tentacles of corruption that reach into the citadels of city power. But he's being watched. Because somewhere in the dark labyrinth of LA is someone who will do anything to keep from being found out, someone who believes that when warnings don't work, try fear.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Center Street; 1 edition (July 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599956861
• ISBN-13: 978-1599956862
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #289,619 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Action filled book!, September 5, 2009

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (9/09)

Attorney Ty Buchanan's latest client, Carl Richess, is rather interesting. Obviously intoxicated, Richess was arrested wearing only a Santa hat and a G-string while driving home from a party. However, this case of DUI evolves into something bigger when Carl is found dead. Ty and his sidekick Sister Mary Veritas seek the truth as to whether Carl's death is a suicide or a murder. There is a plethora of possible suspects which include Carl's brother, former lovers, and possibly even corrupt politicians trying to cover up their illegal activities. In the meantime, they also must investigate who is cyberstalking Sister Mary and if it is related to this case.

The characters created by James Scott Bell are likable, although a bit quirky. Ty, the crafty and successful attorney, left a big law firm after he was accused of murder to take on the cases of others who believed they were wrongfully accused of crimes. As a result, he ended up living in a trailer behind St. Monica's Church where he enjoys the company of Sister Mary (maybe a little too much), the cut-throat, basketball playing nun. He also has feelings for Kimberly Pincus, the stunningly beautiful Deputy City Attorney. Added to this mix are a former philosophy professor turned coffee shop owner who sees a conspiracy behind everything and a guy who creates knockoff gadgets based on Apple products. With characters such as these, there is never a dull moment.

Action abounds throughout this book. The chapters are fairly short which made it hard for me to put it down because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. "Try Fear" will be enjoyed by all adults. The author methodically follows the death investigation, allowing the reader to attempt to piece the information together. There are some unexpected turns in the plot which will keep the reader guessing until the very end.

"Try Fear" is the third novel featuring Ty Buchanan. There are references to occurrences from the previous two books but it is not necessary to have read them in order to follow what is happening. I like Ty and would like to see another story with him in the forefront.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Series of Loss and Longing, October 25, 2009

By	David G. Bowman "Underhill" (Fort Worth, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

What hope is there when you finally meet the one who makes love alive for you only to lose her in what officials call a tragic accident, but you come to believe is murder? Can such a heart find healing? Can that heart hope again? The three books in this series (Try Dying, Try Darkness, Try Fear) provide a search for a hopeful resolution. Losing love to catastrophic circumstances devastates. Healing, if it is possible at all, grows slowly in a dying soul. Ty Buchanan's loss, grief, and fight to survive voices the dark corners of our own hearts where we nurse our wounds and remember again receiving them. Ty reminds us that even when all seems lost, not all is lost. Healing takes overcoming death, darkness, and fear. Ty leaves us singing a song of commitment. It is not what has happened that is decisive; tt is what happens next.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT book series!, October 2, 2009

By	Jelly W. (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This is Book 3 of the Ty Buchanan series - an excellent read. Main character Ty is a defense lawyer, practicing in California - you never know what's going to happen to him next. Bell is fabulous at mixing a serious subject (like nailing a murderer) with a touch of humor throughout the pages. I highly recommend this series.