By Reason of Insanity (Hardcover)

by Randy Singer (Author)
Key Phrases: legal magician, bloody paper towels, rinse basin, Marc Boland, Catherine O'Rourke, Avenger of Blood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Inspirational suspense novelist Singer (Directed Verdict) hooks readers from the opening courtroom scene of this tasty thriller, then spurs them through a fast trot across a storyline that just keeps delivering. Catherine O'Rourke is a seasoned reporter who covers trials for Norfolk, Virginia's The Tidewater Times. The latest sexual abuse case she covers hits a little too close to home, and she has a series of disturbing "visions" that suggest first-hand details of the crimes. Soon she finds herself on trial as the "Avenger," a Bible-quoting serial killer. Are her visions spiritual? Or does she have a split personality? She's unsure of her innocence or guilt-and so are her lawyers, including the likeable high-rolling Vegas attorney, Quinn Newberg, who is famous for his insanity defenses. Singer tosses out plot twists with abandon, shattering readers' assumptions but rarely straining their credulity. The characters' lives unpeel like onions, with layers of interesting revelations. Christian faith plays a role in the "visions" but never feels forced. Smooth point of view changes, snappy dialogue, interesting details and unexpected humor enrich the storyline. Like the best suspense novels, the character development is sophisticated enough that readers won't know the villain's identity until the final pages.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
How did crime reporter Catherine “Cat” O’Rourke wind up in prison? It starts with “visions” involving victims of a high-profile kidnapping, twin children adopted by the family of a well-connected defense attorney. In her first vision, Cat sees the children being executed. Nightmares? Maybe, but why do they occur when Cat is awake? She seems to know so much information about the missing children (and other grisly crimes) that she becomes the key suspect. Could Cat possibly have an alter ego committing these heinous acts? Enter defense attorney Quinn Newberg, who recently invoked the insanity defense to get his own sister acquitted for murder. Quinn decides this will be Cat’s defense as well, even though the evidence suggests otherwise. At the center of the heart-pounding action are the moral dilemmas that have become Singer’s stock-in-trade. In addition to scrutinizing the insanity defense from an ethical point of view, Singer offers similar appraisals of the death penalty and vigilante justice. This is inspirational fiction, but it isn’t didactic or preachy, and it’s an exciting thriller all on its own. --Mary Frances Wilkens

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers; 1 edition (April 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141431633X
• ISBN-13: 978-1414316338
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #285,568 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting His Day in Court, July 6, 2008

By	Eric Wilson "novelist" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

Since Grisham and Turow became household names, the legal thriller has been a staple on the bestseller lists. Like serial killers and nukes in the hands of radicals, the fodder for material seems to be without end--as evidenced nearly every day in the headlines.

"By Reason of Insanity" is laced with all the elements that make for a great summer read, whether in the newspapers or latest page-turner. Singer does a masterful job of setting up multiple characters, as well as multiple-personalities. We start with Quinn Newberg, a lawyer representing his own sister who has confessed to killing her abusive husband. We meet Catherine O'Rourke, a tenacious reporter with a troubled past of her own. To complicate matters, we discover there is a vigilante on the loose, a person going by the name Avenger of Blood.

Singer draws these different characters and storylines together, slowly twisting them tighter, until the pages are flying and the revelations mounting. To protect Catherine's life, Quinn relies on the insanity plea, and truly things begin to get crazy. The courtroom scenes are pure Singer--tense, witty, realistic, while never losing the sense of the story and plot. The interactions and relationships are spot-on, and the underlying themes woven in without being forced.

In the last year, I've been underwhelmed by some of the latest legal thrillers from the big dogs of the genre. I'd say it's time a few new names get their day in court...with Randy Singer at the top of that list.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Slow Burner of a read., June 15, 2008

By	Derek Johnson (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

Randy Singer, along with Robert Whitlow, are among my favorite authors of all time. A new novel from either is an event in itself. What I have noticed with Mr. Singer, practically with this and his last novel False Witness is the way the Christian influence within them aren't up in the fore front, like his earlier novels, and alot of the Christian thrillers on the market. But slowly, and surely this influence seeps into the story, much like real life, and we have a profound message that makes one think. In this novel we have visions, incest, murder, rape, and now the insanity plea is perceived by many in our society. A must for all Randy Singer fans.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!, June 7, 2008

By	Meli (Texas) - See all my reviews

When I read Directed Verdict, I thought Singer was really good. When I read False Witness, I thought he was excellent. After reading By Reason of Insanity, he's established himself as an elite author.

I've come to expect Singer to write gritty, emotional books that mirror reality and he's delivered again. After years of abuse, Annie killed her husband. She doesn't deny it. Her lawyer, who happens to be her brother, doesn't deny it. But the question is, did she understand what she was doing when she shot him. As a reporter, Catherine has covered numerous trials, but Annie's is different. It brings up hurts and a past she's tried hard to bury. After eight years of suppressing her emotions following a college rape, who is she and what has she become?

Well written books involving victims of abuse are never easy to read. It's heart wrenching to even read about characters humiliated and dehumanized by abuse, but it's even more emotional knowing this happens daily. Singer handles these issues with grace, giving dignity to victims who may be reading his books. He's tackled some tough issues in this book--abuse, revenge, renegade justice, and legal ethics to name a few. When the legal system fails, how do people deal with the consequences? How far should defense attorneys go to assure their clients receive `justice'? When is someone truly insane? What is the Bible's view of a child's responsibility for their parent's sins?

By Reason of Insanity offers something for about every reader. It's an intense suspense thriller, with lots of plot twists and turns, but with a gentle touch. The number of surprises really makes it difficult to ever know exactly what's going to happen. A great book for those who like a good mystery with a lot of questions and some great things to ponder. Excellent job from first page to last!