n Her Defense by Stephen Horn is my first time to read or listen to anything by this author. The story was engaging, fast paced and I love the characters Frank O’Connell, an attorney and “Pops”.

Ashley Brown walks in Frank’s office and says that she has killed someone, a former cabinet member. When she tells him her story, it seems pretty open and shut. Her finger prints are on the gun and she did shoot. She had had an argument with the victim recently and she made a threat.

Also on the table is Frank’s relationship with his small son Brendon. His ex-wife is planning on getting married and moving half way across the country with her son.

Frank decides to go with what is known about the killing and start on an investigation to see if there was something that could bring doubt in the minds of the jury. Some of it is predictable but later the story got to be a wild imaginative jump. But the characters of the story were what holds the interest for me.

The courtroom scenes were a sizzling and there were several times when it seemed that the case was solved and everyone could go home but new things happened.

As usual, the worst part for me was the relationship between Frank and his ex-wife. It got overly sentimental for me and I was soon rolling my eyes. Aside from that it was an entertaining story. ( )

When I saw this book in the library I immediately knew that it was a legal thriller (I could tell from the title, I'm such a great detective). I am a big fan of legal thrillers so I was super excited to read this one. The story follows a lawyer who used to have everything, a partnership at a good law firm and a loving family, until he gave it all away. Now he comes across a trial to redeem himself, the "Ashley Benson trial."

Overall this book was good, I loved the action between the Frank and the prosecutor in the courtroom and Frank's investigative team was a band of intriguing characters. The one thing that I thought was a little iffy about this book was the romance between Frank and Ashley Benson, it seemed too contrived to me. I frankly couldn't see much real connection between the two characters but suddenly they were "in love" and making love every night. I just wasn't into it.

I would recommend this book to fans of legal thrillers, if you don't mind a little over the top romance on the side. ( )

Terrific. Kept me focused the whole way. Impressive writing for a first book. ( )

3686. In Her Defense, by Stephen Horn (read 25 Jan 2003) This is in the same genre as The Defense, by D. W. Buffa (read 23 Jan 2003), I guess they are called legal thrillers. The book is well-done as far as legal work and trials are concerned and though the whole tortured plot is incredible it all works out so nicely and the ending is unusual and satisfying. The courtroom scenario is riveting and I confess that I found the denouement poignant. On reflection it is all contrived and impossible but the book was great and I thought the book fantastic, despite the recorder-like language and immoral folk. ( )