Jennifer Louise Jefferson, Defending Violet

Defending Violet

Jennifer Louise Jefferson

Five Star, November 2006, $25.95

ISBN: 1594145369

Family lawyer Ginger Rae Reddy left the Port Grace District Attorney's Office because she detested working crime cases. Thus, when a former domestic violence victim, nineteen year old Violet calls that she has been arrested and charged with child endangerment, she agrees to help because she believes the young single mother would never harm her baby Teddy. Ginger Rae questions Violet who says she took a nap, but when she awakened Teddy did not. She took Teddy to the hospital where he remains in a coma and seems to be an apparent abuse victim due to infant shaking. The attorney becomes upset when she learns that Violet is still seeing Western State Prison Guard AJ, prone to violence as a court order to stay away from her and their child states.

The prosecution puts its top gun Eduardo Fortunato, who Ginger Rae worships as the mentor who taught her how to work a criminal prosecution, on the case. However, when Teddy dies, the DA goes for a murder conviction as Ginger Rae struggles to provide the best defense for a client whom she begins to believe is guilty.

DEFENDING VIOLET feels like a gripping true crime tale more than just a legal thriller, as Violet, and to a lesser degree AJ seem real. The storyline is character driven by Ginger Rae, who initially believes AJ is the villain while her client is a stupid innocent, but begins to have doubts. Legal thriller fans will appreciate this strong tale from start to final deal.