Client Privilege

This Boston based novel is a straightforward whodunit that is well written, cleverly plotted and easy to read. The narration is provided by attorney Brady Coyne. An important client of his, Judge Chester Popowski has been threatened with blackmail. When the blackmailer is murdered, Coyne finds himself high up on the police's list of suspects. Author William Tapply is obviously a keen observer of human behavior. The characters in Client Privilege are depicted in a realistic fashion, complete with flaws and frailities. Moreover, the plentiful dialogue rings quite true. Client Privilege is an enjoyable murder mystery written with lots of insight into the human condition. A solid 4 stars.

Having a well-respected judge as a client and friend had never been a problem for Brady Coyne until the day the judge received a blackmail note. Even a whisper of impropriety can ruin the Honorable Chester Y. "Pops" Popowski's judicial career prospects, and this note hints at a very severe scandal indeed. But when the blackmailer turns up dead, Brady's in a real bind. Client privilege means he can't tell the cops why he met the blackmailer in a dingy bar off State Street or why that meeting was violent. He can't reveal his client's name. Now as prime suspect, Brady Coyne takes a trip down the dark side, caught between his need for justice, freedom, and the nagging feeling that the prison doors are going to slam with him on the inside. A superbly written thriller with a good sense of humor.