Conduct in Question: The First In A Trilogy (Paperback)

~ Mary Martin (Author)
Key Phrases: perfect claw, mad artist, claw finger, Miss Giveny, Albert Chin, Miss Deighton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

“A fast paced legal thriller written by an insider.”—Rosemary Aubert, author of the Ellis Portal mystery series

Lawyer Harry Jenkins longs for freedom and love. Trapped under his senior partner’s thumb for years and in a dead marriage, he has nearly reached his breaking point. The city is haunted by the spectre of the Florist, a sadistic murderer with an artistic flair, who believes he is called to judge the worthiness of his victims. When his partner drops dead in the office, Harry is free to make his own mistakes. Almost immediately, he is swept into a massive money-laundering scheme by the enigmatic Mr. Chin and into a conflict with his wealthy client Marjorie Deighton. When he finds Marjorie dead, he senses foul play. Are the Florist’s murders and Mr. Chin’s shady dealings connected? Can Harry find the answers before the Florist strikes again? Fortunately, the beautiful Natasha is there to guide him to the answers.

About the Author

Mary E. Martin grew up in Toronto where she began practicing law in a small estates firm. In 1999, she became a full-time writer and photographer. Married in 1973, she and her husband live in Toronto and have three adult children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (September 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595358209
• ISBN-13: 978-0595358205
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,417,410 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Original Plot With Some Psychological Horror Thrown In, December 20, 2005

By	Norman Goldman "Editor of Bookpleasures.com" (Montreal) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Toronto based author Mary E. Martin, who at one time practiced law in a small estates firm, has made a promising foray into the mystery arena with her debut novel Conduct in Question: The First In A Trilogy.

Martin's principal protagonist, Harry Jenkins, is portrayed as an honest and sincere general family solicitor specializing in estate law, who finds himself over his head, as he becomes innocently involved in money laundering and murder.

The story unfolds when Jenkins witnesses his partner Richard Crawford drop dead in front of him, as a result of a massive heart attack-leaving Jenkins the sole remaining partner in the law firm of Crane, Crawford and Jenkins.
Prior to his death, Crawford had instructed Jenkins to draw up a trust for one of the firm's clients, Marjorie Deighton.
Jenkins had also just received a retainer of two hundred thousand dollars from a new client, Albert Chin, who had been referred to him by one of his colleagues. The sum was to be used to purchase several parcels of land that were located very near Marjorie Deighton's property. Jenkins suspects something fishy, however, the lure of earning some "big bucks" causes him to turn a blind eye and not to delve too closely into the source of these funds or the client's motives as to why he wishes to purchase the real estate.

When Jenkins tries to deposit the two hundred thousand dollars in his trust account, the teller informs him that the assistant manager, Mr. Mudhali, wishes to have a word with him. After being ushered into Mudhali's office, Jenkins is informed that the firm's line of credit of fifty thousand dollars is in arrears and in order for him to deposit the two hundred thousand dollars he will be required to immediately repay the arrears. Completely taken aback, Jenkins is further astonished to discover that Crawford pledged the firm's account as his own personal line of credit for a loan of five hundred thousand dollars. How was this possible without Jenkin's signature?

Placed into a very difficult situation, Jenkins realizes that if he fails to clear the arrears, the trust account would be frozen and he would be obliged to return the retainer to Chin. Against his better judgment, Jenkins uses fifty thousand dollars of the trust funds to pay the arrears and the balance he deposits into the firm's trust account.

While all of this is going on, we learn that there is a serial killer on the loose in Toronto named the florist , who after murdering his victims, carves rose petals on their bodies. To add a little more suspense, Marjorie Deighton dies under very suspicious circumstances, leaving as her legatees her two nieces, Katherine and Suzannah and a nephew, Gerry. However, complicating matters is that Marjorie Deighton's last will, that was prepared by Harry Jenkins, seems to have been misplaced, lost or stolen. The previous will had bequeathed the house to her niece Suzannah, while the last will had the estate divided into three equal shares, including the house.

Martin whips up a highly original plot spicing it with a mix of some psychological horror. All of the characters are subtly interwoven into the threads of the story, and with its quick pace and gruesome details, the novel is an auspicious inauguration to Martin's trilogy.

Norm Goldman Editor Bookpleasures

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the next installment..., November 23, 2005

By	R. Sailors "Editor - Simple Things" (Ocean Shores WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

CONDUCT IN QUESTION is an intricately woven web of greed, power and insanity. I was caught up from page one.
Harry's character develops through the novel, and you can't help but cheer him on. The other characters are finely detailed, as is the plot.
Harry's life has always been on the conservative side, he has a routine job in a small firm, and he wonders if things will ever change. Then his partner drops dead, his wife seems to be gone more and more, and the death of a long-time client leads to secrets that shatter Harry's once calm existence. Harry is caught up in corporate greed, money laundering, fraud, murder, and some newly awakened feelings of desire for the beautiful Natasha.
Can he ever again find the calm existence that he once despised?
This is the first in a trilogy by author Mary E Martin, and I can't wait for the second installment!

Roxanne Sailors Taplett
Editor, Simple Things

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great book..., November 1, 2005

By	Richard "novelaholic" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conduct in Question: The First In A Trilogy (Hardcover)

This is really a fabulous book, I have never read anything like it. It is suspenseful and thrilling, but not in that cheesy classic thriller way so many books are. There are lots of twists and turns, and it is fast-paced. The best part about this book is that it deals with deeper and more intellectual themes that most suspense novels never cover. What a great read, I HIGHLY recommend it!