Book Review: Justice Delayed

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

Justice Delayed     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
B. A. Caverly
Class/Genre:   Mystery

This fast-paced novel begins with a mystery and concludes with an exciting courtroom battle.

The story begins with a riff on the classic scene where the husky- voiced wealthy siren arrives in the rundown office of the cynical private eye. However, Sam Spader is a lawyer fresh out of law school, not a cynical private eye. She has launched herself rather into private practice rather abruptly following a dispute with a senior attorney in her former firm over whether the firm should take on a case of a suspicious death.

This book recounts the tale of her first two clients - wealthy and sultry Vanessa Van Dyke, with her claim on an estate and respectable Lucretia, whose friend died so suddenly. If the novel has a weakness, it is in the difficulty of doing justice to both plot lines. On the other hand, Lucretia is an likeable character, and her tale adds interest to the novel as a whole. Although Lucretia's story is not as well fleshed out as Vanessa's, the book would be less enjoyable without both plots.

The core of the book, the case Vanessa hires Sam to investigate, is exciting and gripping. There are enough twists in the plot to maintain the readers' interest, and none that were too implausible - although one did surprise me. The story has light, amusing touches too, especially when Lucretia begins matchmaking, and when Sam goes undercover. The story moves from Sam's travels across the US, hunting down evidence to the climactic courtroom battle, pausing en route to describe a romantic interlude.

"Justice Delayed" is a lively and enjoyable read.

Cheryl - RAM

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