Moment Of Truth Unabridged [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Moment of Truth begins with what appears to be an open-and-shut case. Jack Newlin, a wealthy attorney with one of the most influential law firms in Philadelphia, killed his wife in a moment of drunken passion, stabbing her repeatedly when she announced she wanted a divorce. Or at least that is what he is claiming to the police.

The fact is, Jack is framing himself because he fears his wife's murder was his daughter's crime of passion. Sixteen-year-old Paige Newlin is a successful model whose relationship with her manager-mother had been famously rocky. To make sure that he's convicted, Jack hires rookie lawyer Mary DiNunzio to defend him. But Mary doesn't buy Jack's story, and neither does the senior detective on the case. In a fascinating turn on the usual courtroom tale, then, Jack struggles to maintain his false story of guilt while his lawyer and the police struggle to prove him innocent. Meanwhile, Mary wrestles with both her uncertainty as a lawyer and with her attraction for her client.

Lisa Scottoline, often identified as the "female John Grisham," has led the pack of female authors in the legal thriller genre, winning an Edgar for her second novel, Final Appeal. Moment of Truth does have moments that don't, in fact, ring true. Why is Jack Newlin so quick to forgive his daughter when he thinks she's killed her own mother? And if he's so concerned with her welfare, why did he absent himself from her upbringing? But it's nonetheless interesting for its innovative plot conceit and its examination of high-profile murder trials. If one is able to overlook the problems with Newlin's motivation, the story Scottoline weaves is a compelling one, and her heroine, Mary, is an enjoyable, self-doubting twist on the super-lawyer at the center of most legal thrillers. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A bullet-proof premise distinguishes this expert crime thriller from Scottoline (Mistaken Identity): handsome, successful estates lawyer Jack Newlin frames himself for the murder of his heiress wife in order to shield the real killer, their 16-year-old daughter, Paige. It doesn't matter to Jack that Philadelphia's hyper D.A., Dwight Davis, wants the death penaltyAJack is determined to protect his girl, a legally emancipated model who dabbles in crystal meth despite her recently discovered pregnancy. But not everyone is buying Jack's eager confession. Something about his story bothers veteran detective Reginald Brinkley, who's convinced that the traces of physical evidence at the murder scene point to Paige, and possibly to her preppy boyfriend, Trevor. And Mary DiNunzio, the young lawyer Jack hires for her presumed inexperience, finds herself Jack's "worst enemy" as she, too, begins focusing on the jittery teenager. Scottoline cuts a few corners: it's implausible that Mary, schooled only in "the law according to Steven Bochco," would be running such a big case unsupervised, or that this lapsed Catholic with hardwired guilt would allow herself to represent Paige while fighting for Jack, on whom she's developed an unprofessional crush. But Mary is a most appealing crusader, with a highly developed working-class wit ("she struck Mary instantly as the kind of girl for whom the delicate cycle was invented"). Sharp, funny characters, crafty plot twists, and a flavorful depiction of high- and lower-middle Philadelphia society will keep readers riveted to this tense, often mischievous page-turner. Agent, Molly Friedrich. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

YA-Lawyer Jack Newlin faces his most difficult assignment when he has to convince the police to accept his confession to a crime he didn't commit. Coming home to find his wife stabbed to death, Jack assumes the killer is their 16-year-old daughter, a super model who had recently announced her pregnancy. To insure his conviction, he hires novice lawyer Mary Di Nunzio to defend him. Not only does Mary develop a crush on him but she also is determined to prove him innocent. She makes many wrong assumptions, follows many wrong leads, and is nearly killed herself, but her faith in Jack is not shaken despite the fact that he wants her off the case when he realizes that she may discover the real truth. A book with action, suspense, romance, and humor.
Katherine Fitch, Rachel Carson Middle School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A wealthy Philadelphia lawyer comes home one evening and finds the body of his wife, who has been brutally stabbed to death. He frames himself for the murder, confesses to the crime, and hires an inexperienced attorney to handle his defense. That is the beginning of the complex, twisted plot of Moment of Truth. It keeps the listener involved and guessing to the end. The story takes you on an entertaining tour of Philadelphia and into the workings of its police and court systems. Its characters are a real strength; they are engaging and believable even when they act in an irrational manner. Though this is a suspense novel dealing with serious legal issues, it is written with a good deal of humor. The author, a lawyer, does not hesitate to poke fun at the legal profession. Barbara Rosenblat does an excellent job of effectively portraying a wide variety of characters. Highly recommended for popular fiction collections.?Christine Valentine, Davenport Coll., Kalamazoo, MI
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Scottoline sets off plot lines like firecrackers bedazzling the reader. [She] is droll, intensely ironic and compassionate. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

“Scottoline sets off plot lines like firecrackers… bedazzling the reader. … [She] is droll, intensely ironic and compassionate.” -- --Philadelphia Inquirer

“You'll dig right into this hip thriller.” -- --Glamour magazine

Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels and a former trial lawyer and judicial law clerk. She won the Edgar® Award, the highest prize in crime fiction, and teaches Justice and Fiction at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, her alma mater. Her books are published in more than twenty languages, and she remains a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area.