Accident, Suicide or Murder?

Title: Indefensible by Pamela Callow
Publisher: Harlequin (Mira)
512 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller

This book will be released in December 2010.  I received this from the publisher as an advanced electronic galley from netgalley.com

Synopsis: When Elise Vanderzell plummets from her bedroom balcony one gorgeous summer night, her children awaken to a nightmare.

THEIR MOTHER IS DEAD. THEIR FATHER IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.

Lawyer Kate Lange knows all about nightmares. She’s survived the darkest period of her troubled life and the wounds are still raw. Now she’s been handed a case that seems utterly unwinnable: defending her boss, high-profile lawyer Randall Barrett. A prosecutor’s dream suspect, Randall is a man who was cuckolded by his ex-wife. A man who could not control his temper. A man who had argued bitterly with the victim the previous day in full view of the children.

With limited criminal law experience, Kate finds herself enmeshed in a family fractured by doubt. Randall’s teenage son is intent on killing him. His daughter wants only to feel safe again. And the entire legal community would like nothing better than to see Randall receive a public comeuppance. As Kate races to stay a step ahead of the prosecution, a silent predator is waiting for the perfect time to deal the final blow.

Review: I didn't read the first Kate Lange book but there were several times I wish I had.  There were many references to cases and incidents that happened prior to this book.  The cop who is investigating the death of Elise seems to harbor bad feelings toward the main suspect but you are never completely sure why and the angsty teenage son's behavior and actions are exaggerated to the extreme.  In fact this character almost spoiled the book for me.  I didn't hate this book, I just didn't love it.  It was an easy, slightly predicable but entertaining read.  It would probably make a good summer beach read.

 The plot came together toward the end of the book, when it seems like the author finally hit her stride. I think this is when I actually started to feel for the characters.  Actions seemed more realistic and not over played and the story began to engage me instead of preach to me.

I  don't know for certain but it seems that we haven't seen the last of Kate Lange.  Indefensible seemed to open the door to more stories and surprisingly by that time I was interested in reading more.

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