The Deception

Barry Reed is a fine story teller and trial lawyer who hasn't really been noticed since his debut effort, "The Verdict" made its mark in the theaters in the 1980's. Paul Newman is a hard act to follow but Barry's clear vision and dedication to craft flow throughout "The Deception". Rather than waste your time on lesser effort by other "attorney-writers" pick up any one of Reed's novels and enjoy!

While I really enjoyed the story line, there were occassional jolts of implausibility, and inattention to medical details. I beleive the author should make friends with a nurse for the medical editing, preferably a critical care nurse who can describe a ventilated patient with authenticity. Took me a couple of beats to get back into the story when I said "Do what?" after some descriptions of our comatose heroine. Mr. Reed has almost "got it" in describing the less altruistic values of the medical guys, but doesn't go nearly far enough - I'd give anything to tell him about the real world of the "Medicine Men" and their lifestyles (from a position of wife, victim and nurse). To those readers who question the implausability of the story, I say, "phooey" - this story has impact and carries all the elements of truth (as good fiction must), but only scratches the surface of the real truths. Keep digging, Barry

I have another 75 pages to go. Sure the end is predictable, but at least it's better than Reed's last two books. The second was terrible. The third better. This one -- his portrayal of two judges -- is worth it if you are a litigator who gets a chuckle on seeing your not-so-favorite judges in 3D. Barbara Mason, I'm going to guess is Wendie I. Gershengorn, hubby a surgeon. Irving Samuels, I'm going to guess is Judge Zobel of AuPair-trial fame. I happen to not care for WIGgie and wish she were the "Bad-dy" -- rather than Zobel. BR must be a buddy of Judge Judy Cowin, a brilliant judge: Sheridan's secy is Judy Corwin, another Jewish chicken-soup mother. Judge Elizabeth Dolan's namesake is still another secy in Deception. To those in the trade I say: the Let-me-explain "trick" is usually allowed by McHugh (who is Batman to WIGgie's Robin). It's in McHugh's bag of tricks . . . besides charging you out! McHugh, by the way, is in Sabin Willet's book. Instead of 11A in M'sex, he's in 11A in Suffolk. I'm going to give this book a 10 not because of its literary merit but because of Reed's bravery in exposing the judiciary for what it is. If he wrote a cut and dry courtroom drama, no agent would handle it, no publisher would buy it, no one would read it. So he has to soup and soap it up to get out his story of just how justice can be robbed in our precious Commonwealth. Barry, take on the OBC next! Thank for a fun read!

Dan Sheridan carries off a good tale, but a couple of his escapades border on incredulous. For example, his charter of a flight in terrible blizzard conditions to visit his client--and the pilot not charging his friend for the risk! Overall, story carries fairly well. A young tennis star can build up a lot of pressure, a la Jennifer Capriati. Or because of an overbearing sports parent, a la Mary Pierce. Sheridan has a good heart, and bends a lot of ethics to suit his own desires, albeit always with his client's best interests in the foreground. An astounding ending which was pretty unbelievable, considering the type of character that Sheridan portayed. Late in the story, he had betrayed the legal ethics of his fiance, she walked with cause, and yet as the book closes, Sheridan is flying to her home town and will try to insinuate himself into her life once more. Never mind that she is engaged to another. C'mon, Mr. Author, don't try 'Deception' on your faithful readers, too. In closing, would I read another book by Barry Read? You bet I will!