A Darker Justice

I met Sallie Bissell at a book fair in Kentucky in April 2002, and just now got around to reading A Darker Justice. I won't wait so long to read her first book, "In The Forest of Harm" in order to catch up on the other adventure in the life of Mary Crow.A Darker Justice is the story of Mary Crow, an assistant district attorney in Atlanta who is asked to convince her friend and mentor, Judge Irene Hannah to accept FBI protection in order to avoid being the next victim on a killer's list. Actually it is a combination of three plots that are intrically woven togeter to make a great suspense read. The FBI is aware of a conspiracy to kill federal judges, and the race to find out both why and who makes for a page turner from start to finish. In case Ms. Bissell is reading reviews of her book, it was a pleasure meeting you in Bowling Green and your book was a great new find. I'm looking forward to both catching up and to the next Mary Crow book.

I read Ms. Bissell's first book about assistant DA Mary Crow, "In The Forest of Harm", by chance last year. This year I made sure that I read this sequel. I've definitely put Ms. Bissell on my must-read list.Mary Crow is an intriguing character. She's obviously a dedicated public servant, yet she is also a product of her upbringing, someone raised out of the urban setting. Her ethnic heritage is mixed and she's still trying to reconcile who she is and who her parents were, but not to the point where introspection become repetitive or boring. She tries to do her best, but even though her forest skills are above average, she's not superwoman and still makes dumb mistakes. This book involved an increasing number of deaths of federal judges, all without apparent rhyme or reason. The FBI knows there is a conspiracy, but they can't pinpoint the origin. The obvious next target is a very stubborn judge, living on a horse-breeding farm, who Mary considers to be almost a surrogate mother. Mary is recruited as a volunteer by the FBI to try to protect her, since the judge will not agree to any other form of protection. The setting is out in the country - at the judge's farm, at an old sanitorium, and in the surrounding woods.The book is tightly plotted and well written. The evil presented is believable. The characters and their relationship to one another all have depth. If you read the first one, you'll definitely want to read this one. Each Mary Crow novel can be read as a stand-alone book, but I'd recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.

If you liked 'In The Forest of Harm', then you are sure to love this one as well. This book is just like the other, as far as being very hard to put down. After reading the first 30 pages or so, it seemed too political and did not seem like it would be as good, but I read on, and it got MUCH better. A lot of it takes place back in the mountains again, well, all of it pretty much, which is one reason why I liked the other so well. It's not a courtroom drama, it's an intense book on survivial in the wilderness against people who have one thing on their minds - murder. Mary Crow was just as great in this as the first book. I strongly recommend it. The ending did not turn out quite like I'd hoped, but from the way it ended I believe there will be a third novel picking up where this one left off, or explaining some of the things that never got explained. Definitely read it.

It looks like someone is trying to kill off the federal judiciary. One judge has been murdered each month for the last eleven months, each in a different way. The FBI and local police are stumped. There are no clues, no forensics, no witnesses, and no suspects. Now there's only one circuit left untouched, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the FBI thinks Judge Irene Hannah could be the next target. Enter Deckard County Assistant District Attorney, Mary Crow. When her mother was brutally raped and murdered thirteen years ago, Irene Hannah was more than there for her. She helped her deal with and accept the terrible loss, and find direction and a new life in the law. Now the feds are asking for Mary's help. It seems the very stubborn and principled Judge Hannah has refused federal protection. Agent in Charge, Daniel Safer, wants Mary Crow to work with him, and change the judge's mind, and of course, she's only too glad to do it. She can't imagine her life without her friend and mentor. But when Irene is kidnapped on Mary's watch, she defies the authorities, and sets out on her own to find the judge before it's too late, and she's willing to risk everything, even her own life to bring Irene Hannah back home..... Sallie Bissell has written a fast paced and suspenseful thriller, complete with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises, that begs to be read in one sitting. Her crisp and eloquent writing is full of detail, and atmosphere, the intricate story line tight, tense, and compelling, and her scenes vivid and riveting. But it's her marvelously complex and intriguing characters that really make this novel stand out, and once you've been introduced to empathetic Mary Crow, you won't be able to put this thriller down. This is the second installment of a superb series. If you're new to author, Sallie Bissell, start at the beginning with In The Forest Of Harm. If you're already a fan, A Darker Justice doesn't disappoint.

Sallie Bissell knows people; she understands the complexity of personality, and has no inhibition about delving into the darker side of the human mind. In A Darker Justice she has painted a prolific scenario of greed and power counterbalanced by her female protagonist-Mary Crow-who portrays the strength and determination of all women with a purpose. This is the finest psychological thriller I have read in a very long time. If you have not read Bissell, you have not experienced pure exhilaration!