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Trial & Error    by Paul Levine Amazon.com order for
Trial & Error
by Paul Levine
Order:  USA  Can
Bantam, 2007 (2007)
Softcover, e-Book

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* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

The delightful Solomon vs. Lord series is back with another escapade. This time around, Steve Solomon, trial lawyer extraordinaire, is awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call from his twelve year-old nephew Bobby. Someone is trying to kidnap his friends – two dolphins! Seems ecoterrorists want them to be free. Bobby, working on a dictionary of dolphin sounds, is concerned for their safety.

Steve to the rescue. Unfortunately, someone is killed and a trial ensues. Solomon and his live-in-lover will be on opposite sides during the trial. Victoria for the prosecution and Steve for the defense. The plot is tightly worked, the characters genuine, and the sense of place acute. Steve injects humor at every turn and has the reader laughing out loud in spots. The courtroom scenes are worthy of a read just for themselves. The judge's concentration on model trains during court sessions makes one wonder if things like this could really happen. After all, the author – Paul Levine – is a former trial and appellate lawyer. Does he write more from happenings in his own cases or from his imagination?

Steve has a sober side also – especially where Bobby is concerned. Bobby is plagued with a form of autism and was abused by his druggie mother. Steve shows a soft side while he tries to do the best he can in bringing up Bobby to face a realistic world. Of course, his soft side also includes Victoria, although he torments her to distraction.

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