Shadow of a Doubt

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 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 show more 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 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!

3884. Shadow of a Doubt, by William J. Coughlin (read 29 Apr 2004) This book is a predecessor to Death Penalty (read 11 Apr 2004) but I thought inferior to it. The trial which takes up the last part of the book is tense and well-done, with great drama. But the scenario is sooo fantastic. I decided I had read as much by Coughlin as I needed to.