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mcreasman's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this legal thriller! I didn’t know much about the story other than the basic description, so I really had no idea where the story was going! Sean, our main guy, is a Supreme Court lawyer. He has gone through his own life trauma as a young boy, but buried that deep inside. It comes back full force when his daughter goes missing shortly after he is put on the short list to be nominated to the Supreme Court. The story had lots of twists, but none that seemed out of place. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys legal thrillers!
natalier3's review
3.0
A solid thriller from the early stages of Alex Finlay's career.
I loved Every Last Fear, and when I learnt he had wrote legal thrillers, I couldn't request them quickly enough!
This book is centred around the Supreme Court, an area which I know a little, and Finlay clearly knows a lot! I have learnt a lot from this book, but this could be forgotten rather quickly.
I loved Every Last Fear, and when I learnt he had wrote legal thrillers, I couldn't request them quickly enough!
This book is centred around the Supreme Court, an area which I know a little, and Finlay clearly knows a lot! I have learnt a lot from this book, but this could be forgotten rather quickly.
jhscolloquium's review
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Anthony Franze is an appellate attorney who has argued more than 30 cases before and provided commentary about the U.S. Supreme Court. Franze notes that the Supreme Court is, because of his profession, "a natural setting for me and has always interested me in ways beyond my day-to-day work. It’s a fascinating community with many contentious issues. It’s a great setting for novels, so I wanted to take readers inside a world they’re not familiar with. These days, the Supreme Court is getting more attention, but most people really don’t know much about it." Indeed, that familiarity with the High Court and the way power is wielded in Washington, D.C. lends authority and believability to his latest novel, The Advocate's Daughter. For instance, his insider knowledge permits him to describe locales where events take place in specific detail, bringing authenticity to the story.
Franze grabs his reader's interest from the very first page, telling the story of what happened to Sean so many years ago in Japan where his father, a General, was stationed. Sean was entangled in the murder of a local and Sean’s father managed to make the matter "go away." Sean swore an oath that he would never reveal the events of that fateful night. And he has honored that oath. To his knowledge, the only people who ever had knowledge of the killing were him, his now-deceased father, and his two childhood friends, Kenny and Juan. Sean left Japan shortly thereafter and had no further contact with Kenny or Juan. He never even confessed the secret to Emily. Determined to transform himself, he reached the highest echelons of success and power as a respected member of Solicitor General's office. He is just beginning a new phase of his career in private practice when his life begins to implode.
Sean is much more than a grieving father. He is also a father to young sons that he must protect. He is committed to his family and sees his wife, Emily, slipping away from him and the boys under the weight of grief. The boys, Ryan and Jack, aren't able to fully process their grief and their parents are not equipped to provide them the support they need. Sean is in a desperate search for two things: the key to his family's survival (he conceptualizes time ni terms of "before" and "after" Abby's death) and the truth about why his daughter's life was brutally cut short. Those facts make Sean a deeply flaw, but compelling protagonist with whom readers can relate on this level: Who doesn't harbor a secret or two? Sean has carried the guilt of his involvement in the murder for years, but the guilt of the possibility that his past may have cost his daughter her life is simply too much. Sean must know if the motive for Abby's murder was that long-ago night in Japan, his potential nomination to the High Court, or facts/circumstances about which he has no knowledge.
The Advocate's Daughter is fast-paced, with clues about the identity of Abby's murder dropped frequently enough to hold the reader's interest. Franze crafts a host of supporting players, including a recently-appointed Supreme Court justice, a corrupt Senator bent on becoming the next nominee, and an old friend of Sean's who is one of Abby's law professors and, incidentally, a history of becoming involved with his female students, all of whom are plausible subjects. Of course, it is also entirely possible that the Justice Department is prosecuting the right man. Perhaps Montgomery's motive and lack of alibi are obvious evidence of guilt. Franze is at his best when he focuses upon the mysteries within his own family, including the activities of his own son, Ryan, whom he enlists in his quest for truth. While the story is an enjoyable escapist adventure, the reader does have to suspend disbelief in order to accept that a man with Sean's knowledge about and professed faith in "the system" would further jeopardize all that he has worked for and his family's well-being to undertake his own dangerous investigation into his daughter's murder. That weakness is balanced, however, by the injection of historical details about and descriptions of the inner workings of the Supreme Court, as well as the exploration of a timely issue involving technology that we all use everyday: email privacy.
Overall, The Advocate's Daughter is entertaining and enjoyable, especially for fans of legal thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Franze grabs his reader's interest from the very first page, telling the story of what happened to Sean so many years ago in Japan where his father, a General, was stationed. Sean was entangled in the murder of a local and Sean’s father managed to make the matter "go away." Sean swore an oath that he would never reveal the events of that fateful night. And he has honored that oath. To his knowledge, the only people who ever had knowledge of the killing were him, his now-deceased father, and his two childhood friends, Kenny and Juan. Sean left Japan shortly thereafter and had no further contact with Kenny or Juan. He never even confessed the secret to Emily. Determined to transform himself, he reached the highest echelons of success and power as a respected member of Solicitor General's office. He is just beginning a new phase of his career in private practice when his life begins to implode.
Sean is much more than a grieving father. He is also a father to young sons that he must protect. He is committed to his family and sees his wife, Emily, slipping away from him and the boys under the weight of grief. The boys, Ryan and Jack, aren't able to fully process their grief and their parents are not equipped to provide them the support they need. Sean is in a desperate search for two things: the key to his family's survival (he conceptualizes time ni terms of "before" and "after" Abby's death) and the truth about why his daughter's life was brutally cut short. Those facts make Sean a deeply flaw, but compelling protagonist with whom readers can relate on this level: Who doesn't harbor a secret or two? Sean has carried the guilt of his involvement in the murder for years, but the guilt of the possibility that his past may have cost his daughter her life is simply too much. Sean must know if the motive for Abby's murder was that long-ago night in Japan, his potential nomination to the High Court, or facts/circumstances about which he has no knowledge.
The Advocate's Daughter is fast-paced, with clues about the identity of Abby's murder dropped frequently enough to hold the reader's interest. Franze crafts a host of supporting players, including a recently-appointed Supreme Court justice, a corrupt Senator bent on becoming the next nominee, and an old friend of Sean's who is one of Abby's law professors and, incidentally, a history of becoming involved with his female students, all of whom are plausible subjects. Of course, it is also entirely possible that the Justice Department is prosecuting the right man. Perhaps Montgomery's motive and lack of alibi are obvious evidence of guilt. Franze is at his best when he focuses upon the mysteries within his own family, including the activities of his own son, Ryan, whom he enlists in his quest for truth. While the story is an enjoyable escapist adventure, the reader does have to suspend disbelief in order to accept that a man with Sean's knowledge about and professed faith in "the system" would further jeopardize all that he has worked for and his family's well-being to undertake his own dangerous investigation into his daughter's murder. That weakness is balanced, however, by the injection of historical details about and descriptions of the inner workings of the Supreme Court, as well as the exploration of a timely issue involving technology that we all use everyday: email privacy.
Overall, The Advocate's Daughter is entertaining and enjoyable, especially for fans of legal thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
mylhibug's review
3.0
I wanted to like this more and to be honest this is closer to a two than a four for me because I know that when you are under a lot of stress you may do some stupid things. However, when you have seasoned professionals with you, I would think that ty would stop you from going all half cocked and crazy. It does have some redeeming qualities as well, I liked Emily and she actually had me crack up more than the character that was supposed to give comic relief. In my opinion anyway. I figured out who the ultimate bad guy was before it was revealed although the author almost threw me off course, I stayed true and was rewarded with being correct. I love when that happens.
Happy reading, y'all!
Happy reading, y'all!
cmocker's review
4.0
This is a pretty good suspense novel. It kept me guessing all the way to the end. Some of the twists and turns seem very implausible, but I still liked it and enjoyed the Supreme Court "world" in the background. I recommend it. It's a very quick read!
lyndsm28's review
4.0
This is the first time I've won an audio book in a Goodreads giveaway, and I really enjoyed this story. It kept me guessing the entire time. Definitely worth checking out!
canada_matt's review
5.0
Returning with another crime thriller, peppered with legal undertones, Franze offers an explosive story that will rock the reader as the story unfolds. Sean Serrat is about to begin a new job in private practice, having recently left the office of the Solicitor General. Working in DC, he comes to realise that every lawyer is covered in politics, no matter how they try to protect themselves. He is also rumoured to be a nominee for the vacancy on the US Supreme Court, which creates an added buzz in a city that thrives on whispers. When Serrat's daughter, Abby, goes missing, he turns to tracking her down, only to find her phone across town at the home of a friend. Things lead him to the Supreme Court Library, where Abby's been murdered and stuffed in a corner. While Serrat tries to stomach what's happened, he must also tell his family of his discovery. As they try to process what's happened, a young man is charged with the murder. Awaiting trial, Malik Montgomery asserts his innocence and is willing to do anything he can to prove it. Serrat begins to explore what Abby had on her radar before her death, a law student and ambitious young woman. Serrat comes to discover she has been helping vet potential nominees to the Supreme Court, working on background research of the one man who may be better qualified than Serrat himself. This leads down a rabbit hole that forces Serrat to remember an event from his youth, one in a far away place he thought was buried long ago. However, as Serrat will come to learn, nothing remains a secret when there are witnesses. Is the Montgomery arrest the end of the Serrats' concerns surrounding Abby's murder, or could there be others harbouring additional motives, lurking in the shadows? Franze spins a tale that will keep readers wondering until the very end, and even then, questions linger. A powerful legal tinged thriller that is sure to garner significant praise.
Having read Franze's previous novel, I see much improvement here. The story is much stronger an the narrative significantly crisper than before. Sean Serrat is a character that is not only relatable by the reader, but also intriguing for all he brings to the story. With a plot that is far from linear, Franze offers the reader many twists that take things in directions that are both unexpected, but also necessary. The further the narrative delves into the murder, the faster the pace, which forces characters to shape to their surroundings or be forgotten. Full of facts about the Supreme Court, legal methods, but also criminal activities, Franze educates readers while entertaining them with this story. His style and presentation make him memorable and this novel may pave the way to further success, should he keep writing in this genre. I will certainly recommend this novel and hope that it is not the end of Franze's foray into criminal thrillers.
Kudos, Mr. Franze for your impressive reemergence on the scene. You took your critics' comments to heart and shaped a much stronger effort this time around.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Having read Franze's previous novel, I see much improvement here. The story is much stronger an the narrative significantly crisper than before. Sean Serrat is a character that is not only relatable by the reader, but also intriguing for all he brings to the story. With a plot that is far from linear, Franze offers the reader many twists that take things in directions that are both unexpected, but also necessary. The further the narrative delves into the murder, the faster the pace, which forces characters to shape to their surroundings or be forgotten. Full of facts about the Supreme Court, legal methods, but also criminal activities, Franze educates readers while entertaining them with this story. His style and presentation make him memorable and this novel may pave the way to further success, should he keep writing in this genre. I will certainly recommend this novel and hope that it is not the end of Franze's foray into criminal thrillers.
Kudos, Mr. Franze for your impressive reemergence on the scene. You took your critics' comments to heart and shaped a much stronger effort this time around.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
scknitter's review
5.0
Sean Serrat thinks the horrible event that occurred when he was only 14 is buried so deeply that it will never see the light of day. But, just as Sean, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer, learns he is on the short list for nomination to the highest court in the land, his life becomes a living nightmare and his past comes back to haunt him.
His daughter, a talented law student, is found murdered and Sean begins to suspect the police have arrested the wrong person for her murder. As he tries to find out the truth others will do anything to prevent the truth from ever being known.
The Advocates Daughter is a powerful story of loss and revenge set against the background of the Supreme Court.
His daughter, a talented law student, is found murdered and Sean begins to suspect the police have arrested the wrong person for her murder. As he tries to find out the truth others will do anything to prevent the truth from ever being known.
The Advocates Daughter is a powerful story of loss and revenge set against the background of the Supreme Court.
nikkiei's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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