Officer of the Court

This book kept me totally spellbound for three days. I loved the intrigue and the characters. It is a tricky but realistic plot and really fun to follow. I strongly suggest reading this book along with Ms. Kelly's other books since they are really all part of the same story. This author is a master story teller!

Lelia Kelly's heroine once more surprises the reader by not following any pre-established rules of the game as a prosecutor. Kelly presents the interesting point of view, of what a prosecutor faces, when he/she knows the person on trial is really innocent of the crime. Chastain follows her own moral code, and not necessarily what the law, or the pattern of activities we have allowed to surround the law, dictates.While delving into the story of the death of Lawrence Belew, Kelly gives us an accurate picture of today's Atlanta, with all of its finer points, and warts, on display. There is an incident of road rage that is becoming typical for the Atlanta road system, which, despite its growth, can't possibly keep up with the sprawl of the city. Kelly also gives us a satsifying look at Laura's relationship with Amos Kowalski, and keeps us guessing at the motivation and eventual uncovering of the true killer in the Belew murder.Difficult to put down, Kelly has once again succeeded in a satisfying portrayal of today's courtroom through the eyes of her young prosecutor. Unlike many series, Kelly's seems to just get better and better!

"Officer of the Court" is Lelia Kelley's third and best novel. Laura Chastain is a talented Atlanta lawyer who switched from a high paying job with a large firm to become a prosecuting attorney. She has a comfortable relationship with a cop named Amos Kowalski and life is looking good.Unfortunately, Laura's feeling of well-being is short-lived. She is assigned to prosecute a small-time criminal named Roland Jervis. Jervis is accused of brutally murdering a successful black entrepreneur named Lawrence Belew in order to steal Belew's expensive car. The case seems to be a slam dunk, which is a good thing since Laura's boss is facing a tough reelection campaign and Belew's family is politically connected. All Laura has to do is go through the motions and she will get a conviction.Unfortunately, Laura detects a number of holes and inconsistencies in the case which lead her to believe that Jervis is not the murderer. She wrestles with her conscience and ultimately concludes that as an "officer of the court," her first obligation is to seek justice. Laura takes drastic action to get at the truth and it costs her dearly, both personally and professionally. Kelly has again crafted an exciting and suspenseful legal thriller with an intelligent and courageous heroine. Kelly believably describes the strains that test Laura's relationship with Amos, who is angry that his girlfriend is challenging the judgment and perfomance of his colleagues on the Atlanta police force.In spite of pressure from all sides to back off, Laura delves deeper into the case with the help of a private investigator and a high-powered defense attorney. Eventually, the surprising truth behind Belew's murder emerges. "Officer of the Court" is a solid legal thriller. It raises important moral issues and provides solid entertainment for fans of this genre.

I've just finished the new Lelia Kelly Laura Chastain mystery and it's the best yet. Kelly is becomming a master at pulling together exciting plot lines with deft characterization and tying them together with language of such wit and intelligence. I hate to use a cliche, but "you won't be able to put it down."

Once again Lelia Kelly has written a great book. I was very impressed with her first two books, and this one is just as good if not better.I'm alaready looking forward to her next book, as her main characters Laura, Amos, etc., are so real and this reader really cares what happens to them.So Lelia keep up the good work and the high standard in your books.