Book Review: Judgment Calls

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Judgment Calls     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Alafair Burke
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Legal Setting
Series: Samantha Kincaid # 1
2003

More than a few readers have been waiting for this one - the debut novel by the daughter of James Lee Burke. The younger Burke worked for several years as an assistant district attorney in Portland Oregon, and she has set her novel there, with her main character Samantha Kincaid holding a position as an assistant district attorney.

Burke does a good job of explaining the facets of Oregon law which apply to the sexual crimes Kincaid prosecutes, but the explanations of the legal niceties don't get in the way of the plot moving forward. And I also liked the fact that Kincaid's job includes responsibilities other than the one "big case." Kincaid deals with lots of interruptions, some major, some petty as she strives to bring two brothers to justice. This puts Burke's characters squarely in the "real world" and makes the action more believable.

An impressive group of well known names have contributed "blurbs" to appear on the rear cover of the book jacket - Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and Jan Burke are among them. This is a "leg up" that not every beginning author would be able to request, but the praise from the group of supporters is not misplaced.

As Child points out - the story telling DNA made a successful leap from father to daughter.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM