Paul Levine Solomon vs. Lord

Solomon vs. Lord

Paul Levine

Bantam, Oct 2005, $5.99, 576 pp.

ISBN 0440242738

The first time they met it was in court when she was the prosecutor and he was the defense attorney. Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord ignited sparks in their arguments leading to the judge throwing both in jail for contempt of court. When they get out, her boss tells her he's on probation but Solomon irritates her so much that she bad mouths him again in open court. This time her boss fires Victoria.

When Katriana's wealthy husband Charles Barkdale dies during a bondage game that went too far, the police charge her with murder and believe she purposely strangled her spouse. Victoria agrees to defend Kat but makes the mistake of telling Solomon who beats her to Kat's house and gives her a phoney story that he and Victoria are partners and she needs his experience if she hopes to be acquitted. Victoria is furious but has no choice but to work with Solomon because she needs the money. Solomon also needs a miracle to keep custody of his nephew an autistic savant who was physically abused by his mother. Even though Vickie is engaged to a decent and proper man, she has strong feelings for Steve and his nephew; she represents them in juvenile court while they work together on Kat's murder case.

Paul Levine has written a witty, irreverent and laugh out loud legal thriller that will have readers laughing out mindful of Winger-Redford's Legal Eagles. This book makes readers feel good about lawyers, a Herculean task that Mr. Levine manages with seeming ease. The two protagonists are polar opposites yet they are a perfect match in and out of court. The hero's nephew plays a major role by adding an extra delightful dimension to this legal thriller.

Harriet Klausner