Review: The Color of Law

A. Scott Fenney is a powerful corporate lawyer, working in Dallas with a wife and child. He loves being able to manipulate the law, but more than anything, he loves the wealth and power that his job brings. However, he is appointed by a federal judge to represent a black prostitute accused of brutally murdering a senator’s son. This is not just any senator, but a senator with designs on the White House. A. Scott Fenney is soon drawn into a complicated situation that will have dramatic repercussions on his job, his family and the rest of his life.

Mark Gimenez’s debut thriller is being marketed in the UK to appeal to fans of John Grisham. In fact, it was launched with the promotion, ‘as good as Grisham or your money back’. Whilst there are similarities, the main difference between Grisham and Gimenez is that Grisham’s novels have a lot more courtroom substance to them. Gimenez eventually gets his protagonist into a courtroom, but only towards the very end of the novel, making these scenes seem rather rushed. Both authors go in for the same type of all-American, crusading lawyer, but Gimenez also differs in that at the beginning of the novel, Scott Fenney is not a particularly likeable character. The reader will find him interesting, but it takes a few chapters and some unexpected events before we start to see the real character.

Furthermore, Gimenez seems to have some difficulty with his younger protagonists. Fenney’s daughter, Boo, is particularly precocious and simply not credible. The dialogue that Fenney has with his daughter would be more suited to a teenager than a supposed nine year old. It is true that the child is well educated and living in an upmarket, affluent area, which could allow accelerated development, but the fact that the character was so unbelievable kept pulling me out of the story on various occasions.

In terms of the plot, Gimenez has created an interesting tale and whilst it is not completely original, it is a very enjoyable read. His style is attractive and the reader will continue turning the pages to see how the story plays out. Gimenez paints a picture of Dallas that is rather unpleasant. Its inhabitants and the way of life do not sound appealing in the slightest, but it is partly the unpleasant, oppressive atmosphere that makes ‘The Colour of Law’ an enjoyable read. Though slightly lacking in courtroom drama, there are enough plus points in ‘The Colour of Law’ for it to be a success for Mark Gimenez. I look forward to reading his next novel.

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

Book Review: The Color of Law