Twisted Justice

I loved this book! First off, instead of just coming along with the story which I'm usually doing when reading a mystery, I felt myself echoing each choice made by the characters, often feeling as if I would speak in the same voice were I in that situation. Gussin's ability to place the reader within the plot in such a visceral, yet subtle way, is a true talent. Her protagonist, Dr. Laura Nelson, is a real woman, who despite being a top thoracic surgeon, can be hurt just like any woman when she finds her husband cheating on her. When the woman her husband cheated on her with is found dead, she's accused of the murder, and to make matters worse, her husband thinks she did it. While the backbone of the plot is the murder mystery, the story of her family being pulled apart and what she has to do to keep it together is the heart of the novel. Gussin paints a layered portrait of how fragile happiness can be.

This is the definition of a solid thriller. Too often, I'm annoyed by dialogue or plot devices that feel shoe-horned in just so the author can stunt a little. Twisted Justice feels real: you can see yourself making the same decisions, good and bad, that the characters make. That authenticity elevates the novel far above most of the other books I've read in the genre. The novel also doesn't rely just on the murder mystery aspect of the plot: it fleshes out the relationships between characters who are, once again in recognizable fashion, often acting on gut instinct, sometimes to disastrous effect. A fascinating and assured addition to the mystery thriller canon.

Twisted Justice by Patricia Gussin was an absolute delight from beginning to end. Not only was it a well-drawn and detailed mystery thriller, with precise and accurate descriptions of medical procedure, at its core, it's a naturalistic portrait of a family caught in a horrible situation. Dr. Laura Nelson, mother of five, finds her husband, Steve in bed with his co-worker, Kim, who also happens to be the girlfriend of a local mobster. Laura's distraught and goes to talk to Kim, only to find her dying from a chest wound. Laura tries to save her, but the cops show up and take her into custody on suspicion of the murder. When Steve cravenly assumes that Laura is guilty, she's left alone to marshal her defense and try to keep her family from falling apart. I was amazed at how real each plot point felt, particularly in a genre where the twists are mainly just to keep you off-balance. Great characters, with authentic flaws and believable actions, make this a winner.

Reviewed by Rachael Dimond Laura Nelson is a successful thoracic surgeon, one who specializes in chest diseases and operations. Her husband, Steve, is a famous newscaster. They have five children and live a comfortable life together with a housekeeper who helps them with their children. After a late night at the hospital, Laura comes homet to the shocking site of her husband being intimate with another woman, his co-anchor Kim Connor. Laura kicks Steve out of the house and plans to file for divorce. But before she can file any papers, Steve takes all five children with him and doesn't contact Laura to let her know when they will be coming home. After two days of worrying about her children, Laura drives to her husband's apartment to see if they are there. Instead of finding Steve and the kids, she stumbles upon Kim Connor's dead body. With a specialty in chest injuries, Laura decides to try to save the woman but is caught by police with blood on her hands. Laura is arrested for the murder of Kim Connor and ends up fighting for her life back and the custody of her missing children. Why would Steve take the kids and run off with them? Who killed Kim Connor? Quickly, Laura's life unravels into tiny pieces with one disaster after another. Will Laura be able to get her children back and clear her name? Twisted Justice is an intense family-oriented mystery about one woman's fight to keep her children safe and clear her name after being arrested for murder. The mystery is tightly plotted with exciting revelations around every turn. The suspense never lets up with one exciting event after another unfolding. Twisted Justice is a fantastic mystery that I would highly recommend. I read this book rather quickly, desperately needing to know the outcome of the scenario. It is an adrenaline ride of pure suspense that will demand your undivided attention from start to finish. Armchair Interviews says: You won't be disappointed.

Twisted Justice Seven years have passed in Laura Nelson's life since she debuted in Patricia Gussin's first novel, Shadow of Death. Now, in Twisted Justice, it is the later '70s. Jimmy Carter is President of the US, Laura Nelson has completed medical school and has become a thoracic surgeon and mother of five bright children: Mike, 14; Kevin, 11; Patrick (child of the rape that occurred in Shadow of Death), 7; and twin daughters Natalie and Nicole, three. Steve, her gorgeous husband, appears on billboards across the Tampa Bay area as co-anchor on Channel 8's 11 o'clock news with the blonde and lovely Kim Connor, who, we quickly learn, is the more talented of the duo. It's a seemingly beautiful, busy, and successful time in all their lives as we open the book. Called to the hospital for emergency surgery on a little girl, Laura arrives home at 2:30 a.m. and discovers her husband and Kim Connor in what Steve later swears is his first indiscretion since their marriage. Laura is hurt and devastated as Steve explains that Kim's boyfriend beat her up, that he invited her over to comfort her, and things took an unexpected turn. As they talk, we sense that their marriage has been floundering for some time while each has worked to advance their careers. Laura tells Steve to move out. Kim resigns and moves away from her abusive boyfriend, the TV station lets Steve go, and when Kim is found murdered in Steve's apartment, the evidence points to Laura, who is arrested and jailed. The plot moves at a rapid-fire pace and holds the reader intently. Laura Nelson is a self-actualized woman who manages her mounting challenges smartly, yet with genuine emotion. This could be rather unbelievable if it were not for the fact that she has a circle of friends, acquaintances, and distant college contacts who value her highly and want to help. Conveniently, too, Laura has a large stash of money in a hidden account left to her by a friend--unknown to Steve, who has nearly cleaned out their joint bank accounts. This enables her to hire a team of lawyers and an investigator, who work with her to unravel the fascinating twists and turns of this compelling mystery, as Laura determines to regain her life, children, and career. The historical setting of the later '70s adds another fascinating dimension to this mystery. Gussin's first novel, Shadow of Death (a nominee for Best First Novel in the Thriller Awards), was selected by Michigan State University as one of the textbooks for a U.S. Urban History course and also as a freshman text at Duquesne University. A mystery lover all my life, I couldn't put Twisted Justice down. I've already ordered Gussin's first novel and will be anticipating her next. This review also appears at www.storycirclebookreviews.org