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Silent Counsel
Suppose the unimaginable: What if your child were killed in a hit-and-run? And the one person who knew the driver's identity - his lawyer - couldn't tell you his name because of a legal technicality? Silent Counsel is the story of just such a nightmare.
After Stacy Altman's six-year-old son is run down in front of their house, with no witnesses to the tragic accident, she learns that the driver has hired attorney Scott Heller to negotiate a plea arrangement with the prosecutor. But he's instructed Scott not to reveal his name until a satisfactory agreement is in place. The prosecutor refuses to make a deal, and the court rebuffs Stacy's efforts to force Scott to tell her - or even the authorities - who his client is, holding that the information is protected by the attorney-client privilege.
Since the court won't do anything to help Stacy track down her son's killer, she takes matters into her own hands. And she's determined to make Scott talk - at any cost...
After Stacy Altman's six-year-old son is run down in front of their house, with no witnesses to the tragic accident, she learns that the driver has hired attorney Scott Heller to negotiate a plea arrangement with the prosecutor. But he's instructed Scott not to reveal his name until a satisfactory agreement is in place. The prosecutor refuses to make a deal, and the court rebuffs Stacy's efforts to force Scott to tell her - or even the authorities - who his client is, holding that the information is protected by the attorney-client privilege.
Since the court won't do anything to help Stacy track down her son's killer, she takes matters into her own hands. And she's determined to make Scott talk - at any cost...
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2007
73 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 29, 2011
This is a legal thriller that can compete with the best of them!
Imagine your child being hit and killed by someone, who panics and does not stop.
Imagine that the only person who knows who did it was his lawyer, and isn't giving the name because of attorney client privilege.
IMAGINE--that the COURTS UPHELD that ruling!
Well that's when Stacy Altman starts to take things into her own hands. The action is fast, the suspense is high, and the internal struggles of both ethics and morals on both parties come to a head.
If you don't like to read these kinds of books because of all the legal mumbo jumbo, don't worry! Ken Isaacson explains things in ways that anyone can understand. He doesn't drag pages and pages down to do it!
So probably my favorite scene in the book is the deposition to remove the attorney-client privilege, in which the decision to keep it in tact is upheld. One of the reasons is because the explanation of why is kind of sneaky, but well explained. The other reason is that really starts the downward spiral of Stacy. It was interesting to see her fall, mainly because you really feel for her, you didn't like what she was doing, but if you are parent, I don't know if you wouldn't do the same type of thing. All you need is one name, and I know I'd do anything to get it!
Pick this one up, this book is a BARGAIN!!! It's ONLY .99 CENTS!!! And you don't get charged tax...so I bet it's more filling than a value fry at Wendy's! :)
Can't wait for his sophmore entry into the world of literature!
Imagine your child being hit and killed by someone, who panics and does not stop.
Imagine that the only person who knows who did it was his lawyer, and isn't giving the name because of attorney client privilege.
IMAGINE--that the COURTS UPHELD that ruling!
Well that's when Stacy Altman starts to take things into her own hands. The action is fast, the suspense is high, and the internal struggles of both ethics and morals on both parties come to a head.
If you don't like to read these kinds of books because of all the legal mumbo jumbo, don't worry! Ken Isaacson explains things in ways that anyone can understand. He doesn't drag pages and pages down to do it!
So probably my favorite scene in the book is the deposition to remove the attorney-client privilege, in which the decision to keep it in tact is upheld. One of the reasons is because the explanation of why is kind of sneaky, but well explained. The other reason is that really starts the downward spiral of Stacy. It was interesting to see her fall, mainly because you really feel for her, you didn't like what she was doing, but if you are parent, I don't know if you wouldn't do the same type of thing. All you need is one name, and I know I'd do anything to get it!
Pick this one up, this book is a BARGAIN!!! It's ONLY .99 CENTS!!! And you don't get charged tax...so I bet it's more filling than a value fry at Wendy's! :)
Can't wait for his sophmore entry into the world of literature!
May 24, 2009
Ken Isaacson's debut legal thriller SILENT COUNSEL centers around the attorney client priviledge. When a man driving recklessly simply for the thrill runs down and kills an innocent six-year-old boy, no one is around to witness. The driver takes off but later has an attack of guilty conscience, but not so guilty that he wants to pay a high penalty. So, he hires an attorney to negotiate a plea for him. The catch is this: the attorney can't reveal the driver's name - attorney client priviledge.
The plot of SILENT COUNSEL mimics Vince's BMW Z4: sleak, fast, powerful. You needn't even bother trying to figure this one out because as soon as you think you have it pegged, Isaacson will pull the rug out from under you, leaving you to wonder what the heck just happened. Which is not to say that Isaacson pulls things out of the air. All the pieces parts are there, they're just weaved together ingeniously so you don't always see them there. Kind of like an Escher piece. It doesn't seem like it would be possible, but you're looking at it right there, so it must be.
The characters in this novel will cause your emotions to run the gamet. You want to feel sympathy but at the same time if they don't scare the be-geebers out of you, something's wrong. I would wring my hands and say out loud, "WHAT are you thinking?" And at the same time wonder exactly what I would do under the same circumstances. Isaacson interjects many viable ethical situations, and while they are at the extreme (or let's hope they're the extreme) of the possible circumstances, they are still viable.
The themes are infused with contraversy, many of the same contraversies that arise in our legal system on a daily basis. Exactly how far should our laws go, the laws that are in place to protect the innocent? The same laws that often end up freeing the guilty.
This is definitely NOT a thoughtless read. You're going to tax your own beliefs as you race through the events that compose SILENT COUNSEL. And at the end, you may have more questions than when you started. I challenge you not to think about them after you've closed the book!
The only criticism I might interject on this book is that at times the dialogue is a bit rough around the edges, which isn't uncommon for a first novel. And there were a couple times when some information was repeated. It was probably an unnecessary repeat for anyone paying attention while reading. But neither item undermined the plot, so the book definitely kept moving.
The plot of SILENT COUNSEL mimics Vince's BMW Z4: sleak, fast, powerful. You needn't even bother trying to figure this one out because as soon as you think you have it pegged, Isaacson will pull the rug out from under you, leaving you to wonder what the heck just happened. Which is not to say that Isaacson pulls things out of the air. All the pieces parts are there, they're just weaved together ingeniously so you don't always see them there. Kind of like an Escher piece. It doesn't seem like it would be possible, but you're looking at it right there, so it must be.
The characters in this novel will cause your emotions to run the gamet. You want to feel sympathy but at the same time if they don't scare the be-geebers out of you, something's wrong. I would wring my hands and say out loud, "WHAT are you thinking?" And at the same time wonder exactly what I would do under the same circumstances. Isaacson interjects many viable ethical situations, and while they are at the extreme (or let's hope they're the extreme) of the possible circumstances, they are still viable.
The themes are infused with contraversy, many of the same contraversies that arise in our legal system on a daily basis. Exactly how far should our laws go, the laws that are in place to protect the innocent? The same laws that often end up freeing the guilty.
This is definitely NOT a thoughtless read. You're going to tax your own beliefs as you race through the events that compose SILENT COUNSEL. And at the end, you may have more questions than when you started. I challenge you not to think about them after you've closed the book!
The only criticism I might interject on this book is that at times the dialogue is a bit rough around the edges, which isn't uncommon for a first novel. And there were a couple times when some information was repeated. It was probably an unnecessary repeat for anyone paying attention while reading. But neither item undermined the plot, so the book definitely kept moving.
February 18, 2013
Layers upon layers upon layers in this book. If you read carefully, it's not confusing, there's just a lot to take in. The whole idea of this book was very interesting, how the law always gives more privileges to the criminal. As a mother of a 6 year old son, I really identified with Stacey and her anguish. Not only to lose a child but then to have the killer protected would be awful. We got to read about her descent into madness and I was with her every step of the way. I was very happy with the ending, the last few chapters keep you at the edge of your seat. All in all, I thought this was a pretty good book. It was exciting and had lots of twists and turns. My only complaint would be that the author spends a great deal of time describing things in depth that really didn't have anything to do with the story. A few times you find your mind wandering until the story gets back on track.
September 14, 2017
Great Legal Mystery Novel
This author specializes in keeping the storyline jam packed with multifaceted suspense that will keep you up all night reading this book. If your an attorney or just a legal thriller fan this book is a must-have novel.
This author specializes in keeping the storyline jam packed with multifaceted suspense that will keep you up all night reading this book. If your an attorney or just a legal thriller fan this book is a must-have novel.
September 17, 2017
An Amazing Read!!
As I said this book h been an amazing read because when I guessed who the cowardly client was I was proven wrong then I would have to start from the beginning again which was driving me crazy.
As I said this book h been an amazing read because when I guessed who the cowardly client was I was proven wrong then I would have to start from the beginning again which was driving me crazy.
July 28, 2017
Compelling
This is one book your not able to put down. The plot weaves can amazingly tangle tale. The good - the bad - and crazy?
This is one book your not able to put down. The plot weaves can amazingly tangle tale. The good - the bad - and crazy?
January 16, 2018
Book
Liked the book although i don't know if I believe the story, you kinda knew how and what was going to happen except for
Liked the book although i don't know if I believe the story, you kinda knew how and what was going to happen except for
September 24, 2019
Quite the literally debut for Mr. Isaacson. The plot twists and turns make this a page turner. Thoroughly enjoyed the novel.
May 19, 2024
Imagine your child has been killed by a hit & run driver, but someone’s knows the identity of the driver, but cannot tell? More twists than enough in this one!
June 5, 2013
This book was very easy to read. Mechanics of good writing were fine. The book started with a bang, lagged in the middle and finished with a twist. The author did not describe his characters. This may have been intentional because I could feel what the characters were feeling. I just did not have a mental picture of them. There were some throw away characters and actions, but not so many as to cause reader confusion. The characters did act true to their roles.
The book centers around a man 'trying out' his new BMW. In the act he hits and kills a child but leaves the scene of the accident. I wondered what I would do in such a case? Had he not been trying to go from zero to sixty mph in a minute, would he have stayed at the scene of the accident and sought help? It was his character that I found the most intriguing of all. His last stupid act was uncloseting the beemer after the case was closed. At that point, the duped upon lawyer showed real character. Thank you, Mr. Isaacson, for a special good read.
The book centers around a man 'trying out' his new BMW. In the act he hits and kills a child but leaves the scene of the accident. I wondered what I would do in such a case? Had he not been trying to go from zero to sixty mph in a minute, would he have stayed at the scene of the accident and sought help? It was his character that I found the most intriguing of all. His last stupid act was uncloseting the beemer after the case was closed. At that point, the duped upon lawyer showed real character. Thank you, Mr. Isaacson, for a special good read.
February 5, 2013
Interesting novel based on the ramifications of the attorney-client privilege. A bit too convoluted in terms of how well hidden the perpetrator is, I think. Also, it seems impossible to me that no one seemed to be following what the mother of the accident victim was doing or try to intervene. The whole section on the kidnapping was unbelievable to me...they wouldn't call in the authorities for DAYS???? No way. Also, they never asked Stacy's mother about her whereabouts, and she actually knew where she had gone. Still, some interesting ideas. I'll hope for a bit better next time.
December 9, 2007
This book started well. It has an interesting premise, and the author starts the action immediately. From there, well, the book just plods along. Perhaps I was somewhat bored because I have a legal background--the author spends a great deal of time explaining certain aspects of attorney-client privilege and court proceedings. There are some gaps in the plot as well that are only briefly addressed at the end of the book.
April 24, 2011
Excellent legal thriller, right up there on the John Grisham level. The lawyer/author took the issue of client/lawyer privilege and showed how it could be manipulated from both victim and plantiff sides in a very intriguing and heart-rending story. A mother searches for the identity of her 6-year old son's hit and run killer.
December 23, 2012
This book was captivating from the start. This was really a suspenseful thriller. I enjoyed all the characters and could identify with each of his/her pains. Deceits, disloyalty, and conceit all wrapped up into one. What goes around comes around, Murphy's law at its best. Great READ, highly recommended.
Sincerity Isabel Moczo
Sincerity Isabel Moczo
February 18, 2013
For a free book, I was very impressed! An interesting story with a moral dilemma. I wish it was paced a little better - the story was slow and then the climax, ending and epilogue felt rushed - but overall, I enjoyed it. I wish that one of the big spoilers wasn't part of the book's description, though, as I kept reading and waiting for that to happen.
February 19, 2013
I thought the story was very slow. By the end of Chapter 2 you knew the who what when and where of the story and it seemed to not really move to truly interesting until somewhere between chapters 14 and 17. However there were a lot of layers on layers and some twists but by the time it was done I found I really didn't care too much anymore
April 5, 2013
Interesting premise - I don't think I've run across it before. The book really held my interest at first, but it bogged down about halfway. Some of the events in the second half were improbable, and the writing became a little less sophisticated as it went along. Still, the book was good enough that I kept going to the end. Can't say that I would recommend it to anyone, though.
July 9, 2011
Much suspension of disbelief required here, especially at the climax. I may be displaying some of the natural antipathy between doctors and lawyers here, but I didn't find many likeable characters in this story. On the other hand, I must say the epilogue surprised me.
May 17, 2012
Great quick read. I enjoyed the book though I felt the Author took so much time describing situations that didn't need too much detail. Other than that, I would recommend it. Great moral story.
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December 22, 2012This book was very slow to get going and I almost gave up about half way trhough. The first half is full of legal jumbo jumbo that I just skipped over. However, things take an interesting turn and all the legal lessons given in the beginning of the book pull everything together at the end.
February 26, 2013
Really enjoyed this book! Being married to a lawyer, I am familiar with "the privilege" and how seriously confidentiality must be taken. The ending of the book was really well done, and I will be looking for more books by this author.
July 26, 2013
Silent Counsel was an engaging, suspenseful read with good twists of plot that illustrated how certain points of the legal justice system do/don't work. Isaacson leaves that up to the reader to decide. Riveting read!
October 16, 2014
I liked the premise of the book. It pretty much held my interest in the beginning. The middle (some parts I skipped) the explanation in some of the parts where just too long. But all in all a very good read. The twist and turns in the end keeps your there.
May 8, 2015
Ahhhh I want to know what happened to the driver!!!! So many lives affected by one reckless person! This isn't the best writing in the world but it did keep my attention. Really makes me wonder about the justice system. Seems like it's all a game
April 22, 2016
This was a fantastic book. It dealt with some of the ethical dilemas that face criminal attorneys and just well written. It was suspenseful and you weren't quite sure what the outcome would be. I really enjoyed this one and recommend it.
June 26, 2008
My dad's neighbor wrote this and it is a good quick read
February 24, 2013
An absolutely stonking good read which raced along at a cracking pace. I felt sympathy for all of the main characters - will be keeping an eye open for more of Ken Isaacson's books!!
February 13, 2013
Very repetitive, loose plot, a bit predictable until the end.
February 20, 2013
Started out very interesting and ended with a surprise, but just kept plodding along very slowly. Found myself reading the first and last sentences of many of the pages and not missing anything.
March 2, 2013
Morals vs. no morals!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews