A Question of Belief

Philip Winter is a bitter man who has earned the right to be acrimonious. After rejecting the attention of a co-worker out of loyalty to his spouse, the scorned woman accuses Philip of rape. Everyone assumes he did it even though the woman in question has slept with many of her co-workers. One peer tells Philip that he should have performed the act so that it would been over. The store where he worked fires Philip and his wife leaves him long before the case goes to court. He is unable to defend himself until the trail, where he is acquitted on all accounts. However, the public has convicted him and there is no appeal from that. A gloomy Philip fakes a suicide and disappears into the night. His former workers and his so-called loved ones are relieved because they no longer are confronted by their guilt. Philip meets other individuals on the edges of society, including animal rights activists led by Tessa Graham, who has a personal agenda that threatens to overwhelm their cause. Only Philip, if he stays and fights, has the strength to deal with Tessa, but a confrontation could cost him his life. A QUESTION OF BELIEF is a well written psychological and social explication with elements of a mystery. All the characters are clearly defined and the treatment of Philip by his loved ones and colleagues brilliantly developed. For instance, his wife originally trusts that he is telling the truth, but her belief in him ends when a large institution (the company) fires him. At times, the number of victims makes the book a bit difficult to follow, but the poignant story line still moves fabulously forward. Margaret Yorke continues to prove that she is one of the best writers of psychological suspense. Harriet Klausner