Kill All The Lawyers - Paul Levine

Kill All The Lawyers
A Solomon vs. Lord Novel
Paul Levine
Bantam Books

Legal Thriller

You might think that, once you wake up to find a dead 300 pound marlin impaled on your front door, that your day isn’t going to get any worse from there. You might think that, but you’d be so very wrong.

When attorney Steve Solomon finds the dead fish impaled on his door, he immediately begins running through a list of people who might be angry enough with him to do such a thing. He doesn’t get very far before his partner, in life and the law, Victoria Lord, arrives with news. She’s been listening to the radio. To Dr. Bill, aka Dr. William Kreeger, a pop psychologist who is just as popular now as he was when he was convicted of manslaughter. Being an ex-con has knocked him down a few rungs on the entertainment and respect ladder, but it certainly hasn’t stopped him. This morning’s show contained a rant about his former defense attorney, Steve Solomon, and his incompetence.

Despite his bravado in front of Victoria and his 12-year-old nephew, Bobby, Steve is worried. Years ago, he defended Kreeger and lost the case. There was no talk of incompetence at the time, and when the appeals (handled by a different attorney) were denied, that should have been the end of it. This new, public challenge can only mean that Kreeger is now aware that Steve pretty much took a dive on the case. Steve knows that telling Victoria about it is the least of his worries. Because, now that he’s free, Kreeger wants revenge. And, being a highly intelligent psychiatrist, Kreeger knows just how to wound. He’s going after the people around Steve, his law practice, and, last but not least, Steve’s life.

In the third installment of this very entertaining series, the author takes a walk on the darker side, without sacrificing the wit and humor that readers have come to expect. The characters continue to become more complex, in realistic yet unexpected ways. The pacing is fast and never falters. Kreeger makes a great villain and a worthy opponent for Steve, as he attacks from all sides. Longtime readers and newcomers alike will enjoy this visit with Solomon and Lord, and wait impatiently for the next installment.

Rating: 8
September 2006
ISBN# 0-440-24275-4 (paperback)