A Certain Truth
James Scott Bell
Bethany House, June 2004, $12.99, 300 pp.
ISBN: 0764226479

They met in 1903 and now almost four years later they are married. However, Los Angeles based attorney Kit Shannon Fox delayed their honeymoon with her husband Ted while she worked a court case. Ted seems accepting that Kit is in demand as a lawyer and that she puts in lots of time and passion in defense of her clients.

On the cruise ship heading back to California, Captain Raleigh detains passenger Wanda Boswell for murdering her spouse Chilton whose body was found in their cabin. Wanda retains Kit as her attorney, but on the high sea there is no judge to rule on objections so the captain makes all 'legal' decisions; Raleigh bides time until they dock where the police can take over. Though she has doubts about her client's innocence as Wanda had the motive (public fighting), means and opportunity, Kit disagrees with the Captain as she believes that if her client is innocent, the real killer would be free by then. Kit makes inquiries as a frustrated Ted concludes that her practice is more important than he will ever be.

A CERTAIN TRUTH is a superb historical thriller tale starring a wonderful protagonist who defies the role of women in the first decade of the twentieth century. Through powerful characterizations, especially the newlyweds, fans obtain a terrific panoramic look at the era that emphasizes 'we've come along way, baby'. James Scott Bell provides a winner that will send readers like this reviewer scrambling for Kit's previous appearances (see A GREATER GLORY and A HIGHER JUSTICE) as well as his other works.

Harriet Klausner