Natasha Cooper, Gagged & Bound

Gagged & Bound

Natasha Cooper

St. Martin's, Oct 2005, $24.95, 352 pp.

ISBN: 0312349211

New House of Lords member Simon "Baiborn" Tick sues renowned biographer Beatrice Bowman for claiming he was one of the terrorists who killed a bus filled with children three decades ago. Beatrice insists she is right and hires London barrister Trish Maguire to represent her against Simon's libel suit.

At the same time Trish's friend, Police Inspector Caro Lyalt faces a moral dilemma about a rival competing for a job that she wants. Apparently rumors abound that a London crime family is making payoffs to a certain police offer. The accusations have not been proven so if false it would destroy both careers anyway; hers for being a snitch and her opponent by innuendo. On the other hand if true, she will not be able to sleep at night if she remained silent. Caro assists Trish with information on the thirty year old deadly bombing attack while the barrister seeks evidence to either confirm or deny the mob tie.

GAGGED & BOUND is a terrific English legal thriller starring one of the better protagonists of recent years. The story line is fast-paced as readers observe Trish struggling at home with George while working on the libel case and trying to assist her best friend Caro with her quandary. Fans will appreciate this fine tale with an intriguing final twist about justice.