Rebecca Forster Privileged Witness

Privileged Witness

Rebecca Forster

Signet, Feb 2006, $7.99, 384 pp.

ISBN 0451217772

Although Josie-Baylor-Bates was unable to convince a jury in criminal court that Kevin O'Connell beat up his wife Susan within an inch of life, she won a huge monetary settlement for the victim in Civil Court. After leaving the courtroom, she is accosted by Grace McCreary, the sister of Matthew, who Josie was intensely in love with and thought was her soul-mate until she discovered he lied about having any family. Matthew's wife jumped off the balcony and was killed, and the coroner ruled it a suicide.

However, the police, especially the surprisingly caring Detective Babcock refuses to close the case, because he believes that it is not quite as cut and dried as the coroner believes. Nobody is more shocked than Josie when Grace is arrested, and reluctantly she agrees to defend her. This puts her back in Matthew's orbit, who seems more concerned with his campaign than the plight of his sister's defense. Josie makes a good case at the probable cause hearing, but as more and more secrets are revealed, Josie begins to wonder if either her client or her brother is telling the truth. While she is dealing with the McCreary siblings, Kevin is terrorizing her and her ward, while looking for Susan.

One day if there is any justice, Rebecca Forster will be a household name because her legal thrillers are on a par with John Grisham, Scott Turow and John Lescroart. Her stylized and intricate plotting, and her realistic characterizations make for a fantastic story, while her ability to incorporate several sub-plots, including one about the protagonist's personal life, makes this so much more than an outstanding legal thriller.