Prey to All

Another great Trish Maguire mystery novel. And although this third installment in the series lacks a little the vinegar of the first two, it still makes for compelling reading.Trish is persuaded by her friend, Anna Grayling, to take a look at the case against Deb Gibbert. Four years ago, Deb was convicted of murdering her very sick father in a fit of anger. The whole case against Deb seemed to hinge on the somewhat hostile evidence provided by her father's attending physician, Dr. Foscutt, and Deb's sister, the "perfect" Cordelia. Both Dr. Foscutt and Cordelia painted Deb as a very angry, violent and unsympathetic indiviual. Even Deb's barrister believed her to be guilty of the crime. However Anna believes differently. She believes that Deb was convicted on circumstancial evidence; and that the prejudiced testimony of Cordelia and the good doctor, together with Deb's barrister's inept handling just added more weight to the Crown's shaky case. Anna is an independent TV producer who wants to do a documentary on Deb's case, and she asks Trish to take a look at the case -- to provide legal advise, as well as to see if she could help Deb in any way.This case hits home with Trish, esp as her estranged father is now in hospital, seriously ill. And as Trish begins to read the trial transcripts and take a look at the evidence, she becomes convinced that Deb was short changed. So, out of a sense of seing justice done, Trish begins to sift through the evidence to see what she can further dig up. And then one of Deb's strongest advocates is shot in front of his house. Could Trish's investigation have been a trigger to murder? Trish is afraid but she is resolved to see the case to its end and to obtain justice for Deb.This book was compelling reading. As with the other two Trish Maguire mysteries, the reader is treated to a look at the British judicial system -- a system that seems to have as many problems as any other. The chilling reality that the fate of anyone facing trail is truly in the hands of the lawyer handling the case really hits home with this mystery! Trish seems to have mellowed a little in this novel, but she hasn't lost her edge (thank goodness). I'm definitely looking forward to the next Trish Maguire mystery.

Independent TV production company chief Anna Greyling is working on Rough Justice, the story of a woman serving life for murdering her acerbic, ailing father. Anna asks her friend, barrister Trish Maguire, to provide legal advice to the show as well as proving that Deb Gibbert, the mother of four, did not kill her father. Unable to resist the lure of film and the case itself, Trish accepts the offer.After reviewing the case files, Trish realizes that the case against Deb is extremely powerful. Besides having the means, motive, and opportunity, her loved ones and the attending physician believe patricide occurred. In Trish's opinion Deb's barrister put up only a half-hearted defense. Only Anna and a former lover of Deb give credence to the woman's innocence.PREY TO ALL is an exciting, well-written British legal thriller. The story line belongs to the charcaters, especially Trish and Deb, as readers understand their feelings. That insight along with close scrutiny into the thoughts of the doctor and Deb's lawyer augments the entertaining plot that looks carefully at the price of a weak defense. Anyone who has tried a Natasha Cooper novel (see Willow King books) knows that the author is one of the best writers of the British psychological legal thriller.Harriet Klausner