William J. Coughlin (1) (1929–1992)

Another great story from this guy. I'm so sorry that so much of his stuff is out of print... This time lawyer Jake Martin risks his partnership in the firm of his dreams to defend the young widow of a very old, rich man. Coughlin never takes the cheap way out and in this story there were plenty of opportunities.

I read this several months ago so do not remember very much of it. I remember liking it. I like courtroom dramas that feel real, that make legal sense. Of course, in fiction, there is added drama and so it is here.

Told by disgraced defense lawyer Charley Sloan, the case is the defense of the stepdaughter, Angel, of a former lover, Robin Harwell. Sloan has his license back after losing it to drinking and his confidence is only starting to creep back. Angel has been accused of murder, so he show more needs to pull out all the stops. He tells Robin he needs another lawyer on the case, but she insists that he take it on alone.

Sloan doesn't forget courtroom styling. He remembers to position himself advantageously for the cameras and to use his face to display expressions nobody can misread. He also remembers how to make use of expert witnesses and to seek out weakness in the prosecution's witnesses.

He is, nonetheless, subject to ridicule in the press and elsewhere because of his past. Robin is told to dump him and get a proper lawyer. Sloan stands firm, shoving his self-doubts well away. He needs to win this case, or at least to provide a more than decent defense. The defendant's behavior doesn't help.

As the case progresses in the courtroom, it isn't looking good. Charley is tempted to have a few drinks. He knows that if the case goes bad his career is ruined. What he needs here is the shadow of a doubt, one that makes its way into the jury's minds. show less

I've had three Couglin used paperbacks on my shelf for a long time now. I can't remember where/when/why I got them nor why I'd never read any of them... So looking for my next read, I snagged the first one. They are legal mysteries and this one started off slowly but at about the point where I usually make the decision to keep reading or toss, I realized he had me hooked. Charley Sloan is a washed up attorney who's career was tanked by alcoholism... He's hired for a huge case and starts to show more muddle his way through... There are lots of nice twists and turns here and I really grew from boredom with Charley to really liking him and being grateful that I've got two more stories about him right on my own shelf! show less

Her Honor is a courtroom novel that introduces us to Kathleen Talbot, an attorney whose father has encouraged her political ambitions. When a family situation occurs, she decides to curtail her political climb towards becoming governor and accept a judgeship. A short time later she is appointed to hear a controversial case, the mercy killing of a brain dead victim by a police officer. It becomes a constant reminder of her own decision to have her father removed from life support and she show more begins to wonder if hearing this case is a conflict of interest for her.

This book was originally published in 1987 and it has a dated feel in the way men treated women during that time. I don't dispute that this attitude was real, just that so many years later it almost seems unbelievable. I think William Coughlin is a good writer and normally I love courtroom thrillers. This story was fairly predictable so there were no surprises. There were way too many characters and several subplots that kept this from being a page turner. Overall, I enjoyed the story and and it was an interesting glimpse into the judicial system. show less