Klik på en miniature for at gå til Google Books
Indlæser... Trial of Passionaf William Deverell
Legal Stories (59) Indlæser...
Bliv medlem af LibraryThing for at finde ud af, om du vil kunne lide denne bog. Der er ingen diskussionstråde på Snak om denne bog. This book won the Arthur Ellis Award in 1997 for best crime novel and I can see why. William Deverell was a criminal lawyer just like the protagonist in this book, Arthur Beauchamp. It would be interesting to know how much is autobiographical because, just like Beauchamp, Deverell now lives on one of the Gulf Islands. In the book, Beauchamp is coaxed back to Vancouver to do one last trial. The acting dean of the Law School has been charged with sexual assault on one of his female students. He initially denies any contact with her, then admits they had intercourse but says it was consensual. He denies tying her up or drawing on her with lipstick but is he believable? Beauchamp just wants to be back on his island, working in his garden, reading his classics and wooing his next door neighbour. But he sticks with the case in part because he identifies with his client who seems to be on the road to alcoholism which was almost Beauchamp's undoing. The pre-trial and trial scenes are well-done as you would expect from a former barrister. They have a definite Canadian flavour about them which might surprise people who only know about trial procedure from American shows and books. The ending is somewhat unbelievable but it does tie up all the loose ends nicely and I'm willing to give Deverall some leeway because the book as a whole is very true to life. This is the first Arthur Beauchamp mystery. It won the Hammett Prize for a work of literary excellence in the crime-writing field in North America and the Arthur Ellis Award for excellence in Canadian crime writing. Arthur is an ex-alcoholic and a discarded husband. At 63 he retires from a very successful law practice and moves to Garibaldi Island to become a gentleman farmer. He is however reluctantly persuaded to return to Vancouver to defend a professor charged with raping a student. The trial is the focus of only half the book; the other half is devoted to developing Arthur's character and describing some of his eccentric neighbours. The book is definitely an enjoyable read. It is intelligent, witty, and literate - as is the protagonist. There is sufficient suspense (how will Arthur get a favourable verdict for his client), but there is humour as well, especially in the portrayals of the islanders. Even romance makes an appearance, albeit rife with worries for Arthur who has been impotent. Deverell is an author and Beauchamp a character to whom I will return. ingen anmeldelser | tilføj en anmeldelse
Belongs to SeriesArthur Beauchamp Mysteries (book 1) Hæderspriser
Arthur Beauchamp, a heralded criminal lawyer, has moved to a quiet island off the British Columbia coast. While trying to recover from a marriage gone sour, his retirement is interrupted by his former law partnersشhey want Arthur to take charge of the defense trial of Jonathan O'Donnell, the acting dean of a law school. O'Donnell has been accused of rape by one of the students, Kimberley Martin, a smart but arrogant woman who is engaged to a rich businessman. After much pleading, Beauchamp agrees to handle the case. He is drawn into complex legal situations dealing with gender and sex, while his personal life takes a provocative turn as well. A courtroom drama ensues, with unpredictable twists and bizarre events. This replaces 0771026730. No library descriptions found. |
Current DiscussionsIngenPopulære omslag
Google Books — Indlæser... GenrerMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813Literature English (North America) American fictionLC-klassificeringVurderingGennemsnit:
Er det dig?Bliv LibraryThing-forfatter. |
Deverell is a lawyer and founder of the BC Civil Liberties Foundation. He writes a great courtroom drama that is light and highly entertaining. ( )