The Last Appeal

With capital punishment increasingly in the spotlight and figuring in the current presidential campaign, "The Last Appeal" is a timely look at the process by which the ultimate penalty is imposed. Blum creatively weaves a plot line culled from recent U.S. history of environmental radicals (anyone remember those WTO riots in Seattle?)and creates fascinating characters.I was particularly struck by the authenticity of the legal procedures in this book which are compellingly and more importantly, ACCURATELY, portrayed, unlike many of the books in this genre which get it all wrong.In contrast to the one negative reviewer here, I found the book well written, carefully and intriguingly plotted and the characters deftly rendered. Well worth your time and your money. Check out another of Blum's books, "The Face of Justice," for a mystery that you'll NEVER uncover.

Peter Harrigan was immensely enjoying his lifestyle. He lived in the foothills outside Los Angeles with his beloved wife and two children. He was a rising criminal defense lawyer about to argue a death penalty appeal before the California Supreme Court. All that changed in a car accident in which his breaks failed him, resulting in the deaths of his entire family dead and part of his own leg amputated. Now seven years later, he still works the Ashbourne case as he fights to keep his client from being executed for the fire bomb killing of a professor and his son. ....... Peter becomes emotionally attached to the case, even though his therapists warn him not to get to close to his client. Peter believes that his client is innocent. He hires San Francisco investigator Josie Guzman to try locate a slippery Marxist Henri Debray, who probably has information that would prove that Ashbourne is innocent. As Josie and Peter search for evidence, a link between Peter's car crash and the death penalty case surfaces. If Peter follows this thread, he may find the missing evidence that would free Ashbourne, but then again he may find himself joining his family faster then he expected. ........ Bill Blum provides an intriguing legal thriller that highlights the game plan of lawyers working death penalty appeals (delay of game is the golden rule). Peter is an interesting character and the supporting players are top notch. The courtroom scenes are worth the admission price, even though the private investigation seems a bit lame. THE LAST APPEAL will appeal to readers who enjoy a legal thriller, especially one that provides insight into the legal maneuvering and manipulating surrounding death penalty appeals (remember there is no sudden death for the defense). .......Harriet Klausner