Mark Giminez - The colour of Law

review by showhost If you enjoy John Grisham then you will enjoy Mark Giminez. A. Scott Fenney is a very successful, American corporate lawyer. He drives a ferrari, lives in a mansion in an elite village in Dallas (where the only non-whites are employed as maids/nannies and home helps), is a member of the prestigious golf club and eats expensive lunches at a members only luncheon club. He has a very beautiful wife, (who has an open account, doesn't work, but climbs the social ladder and plays tennis) and a 10 year old daughter Boo who attends a prestigious Dalla school, is still a tomboy, much to her mothers despair, and hates wearing pretty clothes. Life for A Scott Fenney begins to change after a gala legal dinner and a speech given by himself. Scott delivers a convincing speech about the publics perception of lawyers and how they should be aspiring to Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird). His speech impressed a federal judge who was sat in the audience. Scott was summoned by the judge to take on a civil criminal case. A black, heroin addicted prostitute is accused of shooting dead the son of a Senator, a Senator who is in the running for the Presidential election. The judge wants Scott to be her defence lawyer because he believed Scotts words in his speech, he believed that Scott is different from the usual money grabbing corporates, he believes that Scott has morals. Scotts does not want to take the case because he doesn’t get paid, he’ll lose money and she’s guilty anyway. His firm do not want him to take the case but they can't afford to offend the judge. They strongly advise the accused to plead guilty on the grounds of self-defence, which should bring a sentence of life imprisonment instead of execution. The accused refuses - she is pleading innocent. Scott and his firm try to appoint a downtown criminal lawyer (a buddy of Scott’s from university days) to represent her but the accused refuses and the Federal judge upholds her rights. Scott is stuck with the case and as he upsets the Senator by carrying on with the case he finds his standing in the community slowly diminishing: memberships recinded, losing high profile clients and banks foreclosing. Its a courtroom drama with moments of light humour and a human element. It is somewhat predictable at times but I found it an entertaining read. also, very reminiscent of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Mark Giminez - The Abduction

Reviewed live on the bookshow by Brian Lowen 15th August

Mark Gimenez has been dubbed the new John Grisham but to my way of thinking he is better than Grisham because there are no long scenes set in courts and no legal battles, in fact he seems to have a very poor opinion of the legal profession. Instead the story is packed with non-stop action.

This is his second book – the first being Colour of the Law which was very good, but this is even better.

A very well contrived, detailed plot, that has many twists and turns. The build up of characters is excellent, from the well dressed, glamorous  wife to the hen pecked husband who is only permitted sex twice a month, and the Grandfather, an ex- marine and war hero having served with distinction in Vietnam and collected a string of medals.

It is the 10 year old daughter who is abducted after a football game when all the kids go to the concession hut which appears to be the tuck shop or ice cream stall. There are many Americanisms in the story which are not explained, also many abbreviations, which is a great shame as I would have thought Mark G. would have wanted his book to be understood in other countries apart from the USA. This is a small criticism though of a great story.

The daughter is abducted from behind the concession and whisked away before anybody notices – least of all her dad who is sitting in the stand busy on his mobile talking to his stockbroker. When the Mother arrives late, delayed by a long court case, to collect her daughter she is informed by the coach that her uncle has picked her up. But she does not have an Uncle! The Mother goes ballistic at the Dad for not looking after her properly and a State wide search is put in place by the local police and the FBI who also get involved as it is a child abduction case.

The local police think they have caught the kidnapper but he has been set up and subsequently hangs himself. The cops close the case without the daughter being found, so the grandfather sets off to find her accompanied by his son who is determined to do something to prove himself a man, after a childhood being continually bullied.

I won’t give any more of the story away, only to say that it had me on edge right the way through until the dramatic conclusion on a mountain in Idaho. There are flashbacks to the grandfather’s time fighting in Vietnam, which eventually show why the child has been abducted.

Thoroughly recommended as a great thriller. I am now looking forward to getting his next book which is called The Perk.

Mark Giminez - The Colour of Law

review live on show 3rd Jan 2012 by Brian Lowen
  A Scott Fenney is a Dallas corporate lawyer in the prime of his life. Raking in $750,000 a year with a beautiful house, a beautiful wife and an adored daughter, life could not be better. But when a rich Senator’s son is murdered Fenney is asked by the federal judge to put his air-conditioned life on hold to defend the accused – a black, heroin-addicted prostitute, who proclaims her innocence.

Fenney realises he is in danger of losing all he has gained over the years as he will not be able to combat the wrath of the crooked Senator who has his eyes set on the White House and realises the bad publicity generated from his son’s dark deeds will destroy that ambition.

It takes several chapters for Fenney to make up his mind as to whether he stays in the good books of the judge and complies with his basics instincts, or whether he complies with the Senator and drops the case, so maintaining his high standard life style.

It says on the book cover that Mark Grimenez is the new John Grisham and after reading this book I can accept that as it is an excellent story. It is somewhat degrading for the American legal profession where it appears justice comes second place to winning a case and making money.