Sullivan's Justice (Carolyn Sullivan) [Paperback]

Nancy Taylor Rosenberg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First introduced in Sullivan's Law, Ventura County probation officer Carolyn Sullivan is put to the test again as the body count—and list of suspects—quickly rises in Rosenberg's latest confidently plotted thriller. This 3o-something single mom with a narrow waist and wide-ranging intelligence has a special gift for getting perps to talk, and two days before Christmas, she faces an especially frightening inmate, Raphael Moreno, who decapitated his own mother, killed his sister and decimated a family of five. Though he's not talking, she thinks he had an accomplice. Before she has a chance to fully crack Moreno, however, the plot thickens: late that night, her younger brother, Neil, a meth addict but also a successful artist, calls for help, having just discovered his girlfriend Laurel's body floating in his swimming pool. Though Neil will be considered a suspect, his alibi, a rich, conniving, sexually avid ex-girlfriend who lured him into bed that night, refuses to clear his name. Soon, another woman is murdered just a few blocks from Neil's house, raising the prospect of serial killing, and a full-scale investigation begins to link the homicides to Moreno's case. Thriller enthusiasts will relish the intricate plot, accelerating action and novel climax of this gripping ride.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Ventura County probation officer, law student, and single mom Carolyn Sullivan, first introduced in Sullivan's Law (2004), has a truly sinister criminal as a client this time. Sullivan is known throughout the county for her remarkable ability to get perps to talk--about why they did the heinous things they did. Meanwhile, it's Carolyn's brother, Neil, who causes her the most anxiety; he's an artist and a dreamer, which Carolyn finds endearing, but he also lives dangerously close to the edge, which unnerves her. Too close, it turns out, when he calls Carolyn with the news that his girlfriend was found dead in his pool. Sure, he's eccentric, but is he a killer? Carolyn has been protective of Neil since their father's death, but when a family secret is revealed, she begins to doubt how well she really knows him. Still, she resolves to help him. This is a bit of a departure for Rosenberg, more psychological thriller than police procedural, but the sense of authenticity is still present, and the author's ability to generate narrative drive still holds readers. A dark, perilous, and compelling ride. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786016248
• ISBN-13: 978-0786016242
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #252,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #6 in

  Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( R ) > Rosenberg, Nancy Taylor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overwrought and overly complicated thriller., May 2, 2005

By	E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sullivan's Justice (Hardcover)

Carolyn Sullivan rarely comes up for air in "Sullivan's Justice," Nancy Taylor Rosenberg's latest novel. Sullivan is a Ventura County, California, probation officer, and she has her hands full. First of all, she is assigned to extract information from a feared serial killer named Raphael Moreno, who has been convicted of seven gruesome homicides. Carolyn typically goes into a room with hardened criminals and uses her wiles and knowledge of psychology to get these miscreants to open up to her. Even a tough and experienced professional would be terrified when confronting someone as ruthless as Moreno.

To make matters worse, Carolyn's brother, Neil, is in trouble. His girlfriend, Laurel, has been found dead in his swimming pool and he is a prime suspect. Neil has also been having an affair with the beautiful Melody Asher, an unstable, fabulously wealthy, and pathologically jealous woman. Melody is Neil's alibi, but her desire to retaliate against her faithless lover may be stronger than her affection for him. As the story unfolds, Carolyn finds out that there is a bizarre connection between Raphael Moreno and her brother, Neil.

"Sullivan's Justice" is filled with explicit sex scenes, violence, stilted dialogue, high-octane action sequences, and more twists and turns than a pretzel. The characters are one-dimensional, the plot is outlandish, and the ending is way over the top. Carolyn Sullivan is your typical good-looking, brainy, spunky, and reckless heroine who puts herself in dangerous situations time and time again. There is little suspense, and the constant adrenaline rush quickly grows tiresome. As I have said many times, thrillers with fleshed out characters and at least quasi-realistic plot lines are far more satisfying than action-packed novels that make little sense. "Sullivan's Justice" is a clinker.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous and unbelievable--I'd give it minus 5 stars if possible, August 13, 2005

By	dj_deborah_k (Provincetown, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sullivan's Justice (Hardcover)

Awful, awful, awful. Poor writing, an absurd plot, and too many imbecilic characters populate this poor excuse for a thriller. Again and again the characters do things that are unbelievable. Here's an example: After receiving a video of her boyfriend having sex with Melody and learning that Melody (who isn't really "Melody" but a sociopathic liar named Jessica whose story is as stupid as the rest of the book) might be the killer, Carolyn, our intelligence-challenged heroine, goes rushing over to confront Melody. After an inane conversation Carolyn sees that Melody is wearing the same watch that she (Carolyn) received for Christmas from said boyfriend. This helps Carolyn decide that Melody is not a threat. The finale is absolutely ludicrous. Don't waste your time on this.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reviews by Nan Kilar and Bobby Miller, June 11, 2006

By	Bobby W. Miller "KILL ME IF YOU CAN" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sullivan's Justice (Carolyn Sullivan) (Paperback)

Carolyn Sullivan is a probation officer for Ventura County. Her artist brother, Neil, is suspected in the murder of his girlfriend and another woman. Neil was with Melody Asher, a spoiled heiress who has perfected the art of lying, when his girlfriend was murdered, but Melody won't provide his alibi.

Work wise, Carolyn is trying to crack Raphael Moreno, a truly gruesome killer. As the story unfolds it turns out Raphael and the new killings are connected all because of a Ferrari.

There are so many subplots - Carolyn's love life; a revelation about Carolyn's father's death; the plutonium; Melody's dad and their relationship; etc. etc. - that it's all just a little much...even for fiction.