Dead
Even ,
by Brad Meltzer (Read by Scott Brick)
Theirs should have been the kind of life
that other couples only dream of…two bright, young
attorneys, in love with each other and with the profession
they've chosen, envied by their peers for their skills
and for their beauty and charisma. Instead of a fairy
tale existence, though, their life becomes a horror
story with the most frightening consequences. After
a near-fatal career misstep, Sara Tate lands a job as
an assistant D.A. Eager to stand out among the new hires,
she grabs a case intended for a senior attorney. The
nightmare begins when her husband, Jared, is hired as
the defense attorney in the case, and it's clear that
both their lives depend on the outcome of the trial.
What she'd thought was a simple burglary case is soon
found to be much more as the bodies pile up, and she
and Jared find themselves questioning everyone involved,
even each other.
Meltzer has combined an ingenious plot
with strong, well-developed characters to create an
engrossing, spine-tingling thriller that keeps the reader
guessing until the final scenes. As in life, the characters
have both negative and positive qualities, so it's impossible
to determine who the heroes and villains truly are until
the conclusion. Scott Brick's confident and commanding
narration makes the portrayals of both champions and
scoundrels very convincing at the appropriate moments.
Being exposed to the inner workings of
the court system, from the DA's office to the plush
offices of expensive defense attorneys is an added bonus
in this audio book. Meltzer shows the seamy side of
what is usually assumed to be a glamorous occupation.
In contrast, he points out the principles of justice,
truth and righteousness that are practiced by most attorneys,
despite what is commonly believed about them. This audio
book is not only an exciting and suspenseful story,
it inspires introspection and reflection. The listener
can't help but ponder the depth of commitment between
husbands and wives and the ambiguities in our legal
system. This is one of those books that lends itself
to an encore performance, because the characters and
the situations warrant meticulous reexamination.
Ruth
Mormon
12/12/08
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