Sullivan's Law

Sullivan's Law was a can't put down novel. Rosenberg has to be one of the most thrilling and captivating author of our time.

This is at least the third novel I've read by this author, and perhaps because I get them from the library instead of shelling out dollars, I've enjoyed each one. This one requires a huge suspension of disbelief because of convenient coincidences and other plot twists. The four reviews posted prior to mine are each reasonable, although they differ in opinions as to the book's overall success or which flaws are worst. If you like crime and suspense novels with spunky females who are full-fledged adults, carrying the baggage of failed relationships, overwork, over-worry, sexual frustrations, parenting problems, etc., you will like Carolyn Sullivan, author Rosenberg's probation officer heroine. Her villains are thoroughly nasty, with no redeeming qualities. One character, Daniel, a schizophrenic who was unjustly imprisoned for 23 years, turns out to be a scientific genius. That's a bit hard to believe, yet he is a likeable guy. Had I spent $20 on the book, I might have given it three stars instead of four. But for free, it was worth the few hours it took to spend a couple of weeks in Ms. Sullivan's world, our famous and quite imperfect corrections system. This is Rosenberg's ninth novel, and while I liked the other two I've read a bit better than this one, she knows her territory: cops, judges, probation officers, jails, lawyers...all the stuff that is done so well on the multitude of "Law and Order" episodes on television. Her writing is not as crisp as those formula TV scripts, but one would not expect it to be."Sullivan's Law" is what it is: a three-to-four star crime novel, depending on one's particular view of the genre. She isn't as good as Patricia Cornwell or Lawrence Block, but she is better than many others who have works on the shelves.

Parole officer Carolyn Sullivan is struggling with an overwhelming workload, single motherhood, and law school when she lands two overlapping, high profile cases. The first case is when one of her parole cases rapes and almost murders a young girl. The second case is a 20-plus year old murder case, and Carolyn's involvement begins when she starts to think that the parolee might not ever have been guilty after all. Carolyn feels guilty that because of her heavy caseload, she had not seen the accused rapist for the past year. The case of her newest parolee, a mathematical genius convicted of murdering the son of a local police chief, immerses her in police corruption and cover-ups. The background of Carolyn's working life are the challenges of single motherhood, a difficult law school curriculum, a past romance with her boss, the career of her artist brother, and a new romance with a neighbor. Too many of the situations in Sullivan's Law are contrived, particularly Carolyn's actions when her children are threatened and a gun fight in a safe house. Although not as engaging as it might have been, Sullivan's Law is a fast read, and Rosenbergy's writing has improved measurably since some of her earlier work.

Carolyn Sullivan does nothing halfway; in her world, if she lets down, murderers and rapists go free. A tough but fair parole officer, Sullivan does whatever she can to ensure criminals get what's coming to them. Around the police station, her nickname is the Angel of Death, because inmates whom she interviews tend to get the maximum sentence. Twenty-three years ago paranoid schizophrenic Daniel Metroix went to prison for pushing the son of the police chief into the path of an oncoming car. When Carolyn Sullivan discovers her new parolee, Metroix, is not only innocent of murder but is in danger of being executed to protect the guilty, Sullivan cannot step aside until justice is done. With the flair of a mystery/thriller action movie, Nancy Taylor Rosenberg has woven a fast-paced tale with a heroine any working woman can identify with. Sullivan wants nothing more than to do right by her family, but she is in too deep too fast. After an explosion almost kills her, and vandalism strikes too close to home, Carolyn realizes that the only way to protect her family is to reveal the truth behind the twenty-three year old murder. With twists and turns that strike to the core, Sullivan's Law is told in convincing detail. Rosenberg's own history as a parole officer paints a vivid picture of the realities of that system and all of its flaws. Rosenberg knows how to captivate her audience with gripping detail and compelling characters that keep you turning pages late into the night. For lovers of crime-drama, this is a must-read, and will leave you wanting more of Carolyn Sullivan.There is an informative Q & A on Sullivan's Law on the site: nancytrosenberg.com as well as a contest to win 1st edition/autographed copies of her books! Rosenberg Fans should check it out!

Raising two children alone and attending law school part-time would fill up most people's days and nights, but Ventura County probation officer Carolyn Sullivan also is overworked with a caseload of over two-hundred offenders. However, the media and the public do not care about her workload when one of her probationers, Eddie Downly rapes an eight year old girl. Everyone at work suggests a low profile until the media feeding frenzy calms down.Carolyn is too dedicated of a civil servant to hide. Instead, she wonders if her latest assignment, schizophrenic parolee Daniel Metroix might be innocent of the murder conviction that put him behind bars for over two decades. While someone wants Daniel dead; Carolyn makes inquiries into what happened to the victim, the son of the former police chief. Soon Carolyn reconsiders, wondering if her investigation is worth the lives of her children as someone wants to stop her from learning the truth.Legal thriller fans will enjoy Nancy Taylor Rosenberg's latest tale that focuses on a hard working, caring person trying to do the right thing amidst an overwhelming inhuman caseload. Readers will appreciate what the media and the politicians blithely ignore when they place blame on the bureaucracy that many of our government employees work impossible jobs hampered by ridiculous laws. The insight into the parole system is a close look at what an officer deals with. Though the investigation is fun, it seems off kilter for someone who has no time and must worry about the threats to her children. Still melodrama aside, SULLIVAN'S LAW is a terrific glimpse of a broken system.Harriet Klausner