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Steve Winslow #2
The Anonymous Client
The Anonymous Client – What young attorney wouldn’t be delighted to get a $10,000 cash retainer in the mail? Steve Winslow might have been if he knew who sent it. As it is, it gets him arrested for murder, grilled by the cops, and hauled before the grand jury. And he still doesn’t know who his client is.
- GenresMystery
297 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1989
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69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 7, 2018
Intriguing setup. Who IS the client? Nice explanation of lawyer ethics. Great courtroom scenes.
January 1, 2022
Read this one in a day! Steve Winslow is really just starting out in his legal business, but having only one client so far and on a hefty retainer, his secretary has had it…puts in her 2 week notice and says she is bored; until, a letter comes with 10 $1,000-bills. This anonymous client means he has to be mindful that he cannot divulge anything, even though he doesn’t know who it is. This quirky story gets more interesting by the minute, but without his friend, Mr. Taylor and his detective business, Steve would be even more clueless. If anything, this is an amusing cat and mouse game all the way!
January 7, 2019
What would you do if you received an envelope with $10,000 cash and a note that says I may need you to be my lawyer. But doesn't have a way to contact and connect to this client. Hopefully, this new client doesn't cause a conflict of interests with his only other client.
August 23, 2012
This is another fast-paced novel featuring criminal defense attorney, Steve Winslow. The protagonist is clever and so is the novel. It’s also slick, fast-paced, amusing and entertaining. The author has a good sense of his readers and their likely primary interests. He also has a good eye for detail and a finely-honed ability to use words to their maximum effect.
The novel begins and ends with personnel problems in Winslow’s office, a nice counterpoint to the main theme. The problem is a little fillip that adds some rhythm to the book. In the beginning, Winslow’s sole employee, Tracy Garvin, complains of being seriously underworked. That’s because her boss has a tendency to not appear in the office for weeks on end, and that’s because Winslow has few clients.
One day, as the novel opens, a letter arrives. It contains ten one thousand dollar bills. Thus is laid the basis for a very entertaining, very complicated murder and blackmail plot. As is the case with other novels in this series, the plot is a morass of mis-direction, tricky timing, private detectives, and a lot of both internal and external speculation and dialogue. The book is rife with minutia, details that enhance and color the reader’s perceptions of what has just happened, what it may mean and where the story is going next.
Set in New York City, Hall and his protagonist mine the rich variety of setting and character in mostly excellent ways. There is considerably less action in the novel than is often found in crime fiction except for the courtroom scenes which are among the most compelling I have ever read. Dialogue heavy, with sometimes arcane legal maneuvering; these scenes crackle with urgency and tension as we watch the nimble attorney skate along the edge of legal chasms while trying to save his client, sometimes without even knowing who his client is.
The novel begins and ends with personnel problems in Winslow’s office, a nice counterpoint to the main theme. The problem is a little fillip that adds some rhythm to the book. In the beginning, Winslow’s sole employee, Tracy Garvin, complains of being seriously underworked. That’s because her boss has a tendency to not appear in the office for weeks on end, and that’s because Winslow has few clients.
One day, as the novel opens, a letter arrives. It contains ten one thousand dollar bills. Thus is laid the basis for a very entertaining, very complicated murder and blackmail plot. As is the case with other novels in this series, the plot is a morass of mis-direction, tricky timing, private detectives, and a lot of both internal and external speculation and dialogue. The book is rife with minutia, details that enhance and color the reader’s perceptions of what has just happened, what it may mean and where the story is going next.
Set in New York City, Hall and his protagonist mine the rich variety of setting and character in mostly excellent ways. There is considerably less action in the novel than is often found in crime fiction except for the courtroom scenes which are among the most compelling I have ever read. Dialogue heavy, with sometimes arcane legal maneuvering; these scenes crackle with urgency and tension as we watch the nimble attorney skate along the edge of legal chasms while trying to save his client, sometimes without even knowing who his client is.
July 25, 2012
This book is written under a different name by Parnel Hall. It is the 2nd story in his series about Steve Winslow, a lawyer/actor. Winslow is now on annual retainer from his client in the first book. He does not have to work now, but he maintains an office and assistant. In the mail arrives an envelope with no client's name. Winslow can not accept the client without making sure that interests are not counter to his current client, so he hires a detective to find out who this anonymonous client could be. In the course of things Winslow ends up incourt again. I like this story. Winslow has a sharp witt, and great style. Winslow is like a very funny Perry Mason. The characture is very smart and well defined. I look forward to reading more stories about Winslow.
April 28, 2013
If you don't know who your client is - you can't keep the money. Not one dime of the ten one-thousand-dollar bills can even be deposited into your bank account. That is what Steve told himself and Mark. Or was it Perry telling Paul? Now Steve Winslow is no Perry Mason but during the trial you would have thought Steve took lessons.
I read a few pages last night and went to bed - this morning, an hour and ten minutes later--I'm finished! FANTASTIC! This may not be everyone's cup of tea but it sure is mine! It may not be great literature--I do not care. It was FABULOUS!!
You are just going to have to read the book to find out how Steve caused the murderer to confess.
I read a few pages last night and went to bed - this morning, an hour and ten minutes later--I'm finished! FANTASTIC! This may not be everyone's cup of tea but it sure is mine! It may not be great literature--I do not care. It was FABULOUS!!
You are just going to have to read the book to find out how Steve caused the murderer to confess.
August 23, 2011
I'll keep reading Parnell hall. I think I like him. This book reads like watching "In Session " on TRU TV!
July 29, 2012
loved this book as well as the last one. The courtroom antics are interesting. The whol story line intriguing. After reading this I have gone on to buy the next four books in the series.
October 22, 2012
Steve is such a likeable character he keeps your interest. This story, like the previous title, is one of those you lose yourself in & eat it in chunks.
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June 24, 2013Good
May 19, 2016
This was a terrific legal procedural. I love PI stories and this has a wonderful convoluted plot.
I also enjoyed the courtroom gymnastics.
I also enjoyed the courtroom gymnastics.
May 11, 2025
Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews