- Audio Cassette
- Publisher: Random House Audio; abridged edition edition (Jan 26 1993)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0679420142
- ISBN-13: 978-0679420149
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 11.7 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 113 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
In Chicago, a sainted archbishop is murdered, mutilated, and dismembered in his rectory. Aaron Stampler, an angelic-looking young man, is found crouched in a confessional, covered with blood, clutching a butcher's knife, swearing his innocence.
Martin Vail is the brilliant lawyer every prosecutor and politician loves to hate. It is up to him to defend Stampler, the young human monster. But first he must uncover the horrifying truth about the crime. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Ringing dazzling changes on the suspense format he worked so successfully in Sharkey's Machine and four other thrillers, Diehl here focuses on the maneuvers of Chicago defense attorney Martin Vail, a prosecutor's worst nightmare. Vail has vexed the political machine by winning a multimillion-dollar brutality judgment against the city, county and state police, but the powers that be think they see a way to pay him back. After discovering the mutilated body of Archbishop Richard Rushman in the rectory of his church, police find Aaron Stampler cowering in a confessional, blood-soaked and gripping the murder weapon. It seems like an ironclad case--psycho slasher carves up "the Saint of Lakeview Drive"--and a hostile judge appoints Vail as pro bono defense attorney, hoping to publicly humble him. Vail is impressed by Stampler, a runaway from the bishop's haven, Savior House, and builds a maverick defense team to butt heads with vengeful prosecutor Jane Venable. PI Tommy Goodman digs up some nasty news about the bishop (not what the reader expects) and uncovers a childhood of abuse and mysterious deaths in Stampler's Kentucky hometown. Psychiatrist Molly Arrington blows the case wide open by unearthing a terrifying secret that Vail springs in court. Diehl builds delicious tension, keeping the reader off balance right up to the gavel-pounding finale. 50,000 first printing; major ad/promo; movie rights to Paramount; Literary Guild special featured selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
First-rate legal thriller,
By
This review is from: Primal Fear (Mass Market Paperback)
Aaron Stampler is found in a confessional booth holding a knife, proclaiming his innocence, after someone killed the revered Bishop of the city. Martin Vail, a quick-witted lawyer who isn't afraid to leap before he looks, is basically coerced into defending the young man who appears guilty in every sense of the world. Every politician in the city seems to have a vendetta against Vail and looks foward to seeing him lose the case.Liked the movie. Loved the book. As with most book-to-movie adaptations, the book was better. Unlike his movie persona, Vail isn't cool, well-dressed sauveness that Richard Gere presented. The Vail in the book is a man who isn't overly concerned about his personal appearance, and he isn't afraid to grab at straws, and he makes lawyers tremble just at the mention of his name. The book also provided more insight on Aaron. You get a taste of his childhood and find out more about what molded him. In the book, Aaron is a genius, despite the accent and his angelic appearance. His childhood wasn't the best thing, and he's even described as being able to detach himself from tragedies. Is that enough to make him a killer? Is he mentally stable? I'm sure by now, most people have heard about the twist, but that doesn't take the impact away from reading it for yourself. I read the "twist" over and over again, even though I've seen the movie and knew what to expect. A first-rate legal thriller. I can't wait to read the sequel.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful !!,
By badger203 (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Primal Fear (Mass Market Paperback)
I had happened to see bits and pieces of this movie on HBO a couple of years ago..including the ending. But I got around to reading this book only now. Why did I read this book since I already knew what was goin' to happen?? I wanted to read n see for myself why this is a classic. I am glad I did it. I sat up thru most of the Saturday night, went to bed at about 3:00 AM clutching the book, woke up at 10:00 AM and started reading it again. Same thing happened Sunday night and as a result I came late to office. But, what the heck..it was well worth it. This timeless story of Aaron Stampler and the lawyer defending him, Martin Vail must be one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well researched and well written, witty dialogue ("Is that like curbing your dog ?" etc)..you would be a quasi-psychologist yourself by the time you are through. The courtroom scences are sizzling and you keep thinking 'Is Aaron for real ??'. I know that there are a couple of sequels out there. Would it come close to this ? That I have to see for myself. Well, the next thing I have to do is to go to Blockbuster, rent the movie and see it properly.
5.0 out of 5 stars
ONE HELLUVA THRILLING SUSPENSFUL NOVEL BY DEIHL,
By A Customer
This review is from: Primal Fear (Mass Market Paperback)
For someone like me who easily gets bored in reading books...This book kept my attention and I was constantly asking myself, "DID AARON REALLY DO IT OR NOT?"Mr. Deihl did an OUTSTANDING job when he wrote "Primal Fear"!!!! The last couple of pages of this book will definitely BLOW YOUR MIND!!!! There is a second (continuation) book by Deihl that picks up where this book leaves off but, it is a few years later and has the same characters. I can't remember the title though. It is definitely worth the search. Just another great book by William Deihl.
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