False Testimony

Marty Nickerson #4

by Rose Connors

What does a lawyer do when she discovers her client may be a liar, or worse? Charles Kendrick, the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, has been named a "person of interest" in connection with the disappearance of his twenty-five-year-old spokesperson, Michelle Forrester. Attorney Marty Nickerson is representing Kendrick, a high-profile resident of Cape Cod, but soon finds that parts of his story don't check out. Meanwhile, Marty and her law partner -- and lover -- Harry Madigan, are defending ex-con Derrick Holliston, who stands accused of murdering a popular local priest on Christmas Eve. He admits the killing, but claims, improbably, that he acted in self-defense. Michelle Forrester's body is found the day Derrick Holliston's trial begins, which leaves Marty and Harry facing two mounting legal battles and two clients whose stories don't make sense. Together they must confront the law in all its maddening complexity, battling for -- or maybe against? -- their own cagey clients in order to see that justice is ultimately served.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 15, 2005

About the author

Rose Connors is an author of mystery fiction. She has written four books about her fictional attorney Marty Nickerson, but hasn't been published in more than a decade. Connors, whose debut novel, Absolute Certainty, won the Mary Higgins Clark Award, grew up in Philadelphia and received her law degree from Duke in 1984.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

False Testimony, by Rose Connors, is a terse legal mystery that intertwines two cases. It centers on the work of criminal trial attorneys and is very well-written. Close to my heart, the ethical dilemmas facing the two defense lawyers provide the background and heart of the mystery. I listened on Audible and truly enjoyed the story. However, I am completely flummoxed as to this story's appeal to those who don't find ethical issues quite as intriguing as I do. It is a fairly quick read/listen with engaging characters and a straight-forward plot. Give it a try!

[K. East · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed listening to the audiobook versions of the four books in this series, and I'm sorry to see that Rose Connors has not written anything else in the last 12 years. These were interesting characters, with intelligent plots that didn't depend on gore or psychological hand-wringing to maintain the plot and keep the reader listening.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fourth book in the series, set in Chatham, on Cape Cod, was another good read by this author. It seems that she is now putting two cases in her books, and somehow they are thematically related.
Rose Connors herself lives in Chatham, and she writes very well. I hope this series keeps adding books!

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a young girl I loved the Perry Mason series. I still enjoy good courtroom drama. This novel was suspenseful...it was a nice surprise :)

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Marty book! The courtroom drama in this was fun, twists abound, and I am sorry she is apparently not writing anymore. I've tried to find out why, but no one is talking!

[Kathy LeJeune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have certainly enjoyed Rose Connors books. Bernadette Dunne does an excellent job reading the audiobook.
I have completed the series! I want another book!

[Karen ReadsALot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Wish there were more.

[Patricia R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all 4 of her novels

[Kathleen Hagen]

False Testimony, by Rose Connors. A.
narrated by Anna Fields, produced by Blackstone Audio, downloaded from audible.com.

I like the Marty Nickerson books and I seem to be on a roll with them. This is my third, and it appears to be the third in the series as well. In this book, Harry is getting ready to defend a case assigned to him by the court through the public defender program. He was a public defender for 20 years, and he seems to end up still assigned by judges to cases even though he is now in private practice. This particular case involved a particularly unpleasant teenager who admits to having killed a priest, but he’s claiming self defense, instead of attempting to rob the church, (there are items and money missing) and he says it was self defense because the priest was sexually aggressive. Harry and Marty are both convinced he committed the robbery and the priest was killed because he showed up at the wrong time, but they have to “zealously represent” their client in line with the code of professional conduct. He is a bigot with a big mouth who thinks he knows how the case should be tried and tells off his lawyers at every turn.

Marty’s primary case involves a senator who is suspected of murder because his top aide disappeared. He admitted to having an affair with her. The body was found in proximity to his property and it was known that, although he said he had broken it off, the aide had been with him the night before her death. As if that wasn’t complicated enough, Marty’s teenage son is starting to date the senator’s daughter. A very good book in the series with the expected trial dialogue and interactions between Marty and Harry.

[Maggi Smith-Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it so far--I enjoy courtroom procedurals. But what annoys me about most audiobooks is the excessive "voice acting" people seem obligated to do. (It is sometimes amusing how they forget to lose the persona voice when they read the narrative bridges between dialogue.)

Anyway...I dislike fiction. Usually, if I try read it, I nod out, bored silly, after the first chapter or so but for some reason, I like listening to fiction in audiobooks. Go figure.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounded almost like a true story since politicians always seem to be getting mixed up in missing person or murder stories these days! Well maybe not quite that bad, but just about. Anyway it was believable. And it was nice to read about lawyers with consciences and see things from a perspective of ones that were defending people they didn't like - and how they had to go about that.

[Glenda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this on my shelf forever ... I liked it ... it was a good "who-dun-it" and why. I see that Rose Connors has written lots of mystery books and will seek out more ... good reading. This book features a female lawyer who is battling with clients who want to do the opposite of what they should. She shows a blend of courtroom drama and dry humor. Recommend it for mystery lovers.

[Yves Brunet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good suspenseful court drama that got me to read it a second time as I had forgotten everything other that it was good. Holliston claims he was sexually assaulted by a priest and killed him. Or was it robbery and he needed to get a hold of the monstrance and the Christmas dime. A Senator is accused to kill his mistress but they had separated months before... Is he guilty?

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this series-it has good characters, good plots, and the stories are absorbing. This one also dealt with some real issues related to criminal defense attorneys and lying clients. A solid mystery and court room procedural, but not more.

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting legal story. I enjoyed the characters and the sometimes moral dilemmas that lawyers have to face both defense attorneys and prosecutors. There were twists and turns and it was a good story. Definitely worth reading.

[Kiesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another murder mystery. A little predictable but still a fun read.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, I like her books. This was a courtroom story and was enjoyable. A quick read.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marty Nickerson #4. The team defends the killer of a priest and congressman from charges of murder. Another quick, entertaining read.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long commutes give me lots of time for audiobooks. The narrator is good, in my opinion. The characters are credible and the mysteries complex enough to be engaging.

[Karin]

I enjoy the characters and the legal stuff.

[Teri Pre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope she writes another one in this series. I really enjoy it!

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this author, regularly, and was pleased with the narration of Bernadette Dunne, as always.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believable short courtroom stories. Good narrator. I enjoyed this - what do you go when. Your client lies - 2 such stories. Hmmm

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good discovery - set on Cape Cod, and good strong characters.

[Carolyn Russett · Rating 3 out of 5]

even though this is an older book it was a good read. Easy to read, doesn't take long, not confusing. good beach read.

[Jami · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good legal thriller, a little predictable but worth reading.

[JUDY Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 murders unrelated but told through the eyes of the lawyers involved in the separate cases
.

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Bernadette Dunne