Dying Declaration

by Randy Singer

A Page-Turning Courtroom Thriller By Award-Winning Author Randy Singer.Thomas and Theresa Hammonds believe in tough love and old-fashioned discipline. They do not believe in doctors. When their controversial religious practices lead to personal tragedy, however, the Hammonds face heartbreaking loss, a crisis of faith�and a charge of negligent homicide by a relentless prosecutor.Defending Thomas and Theresa is freewheeling African American lawyer Charles Arnold. Charles believes in grace and mercy. But nothing in his colorful past has prepared him for the challenges of this shocking case, or for the dangerous conspiracy at its heart. Cultures and Lawyers Collide�Teaming with Nikki Moreno, the court-appointed guardian for the Hammonds children, Charles pursues intractable questions. Who is responsible for Joshie Hammonds� death? Will this family�s tragedy lead to their destruction? Which will triumph�mercy or judgment? The answers hang on the traitorous testimony of a key witness�and on a dying declaration that will revolutionize the lives of everyone who touches the case.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Legal, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Paperback

First published May 18, 2004

About the author

Randy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned nine legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel Directed Verdict. In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his "Jekyll and Hyde thing"—part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children.

Reviews

[Sondra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had difficulty getting into this book. The beginning was very slow, I thought. However, I was determined to get through it -- and actually found parts of the story interesting. The ending seemed a bit "staged", which again left me with an "it's an ok book.

[JaneReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a very slow read and it took me a long time to read, I just never had the drive to pick it up. I felt the heartbreak of the parents and was saddened with what they were going through. There were so many characters introduced and it took a while to figure out how certain characters connected to the story. This showed the selfishness of people and how how they used others to get what they wanted, I was annoyed with the actions of so many people. By 75% I was fully invested in the story and could not put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen. But I was frustrated with the ending. While I was pleased with what happened for certain characters, I was annoyed that other characters got away with certain actions. Five year old Tiger was my favourite character.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you get when you cross the legal prowess of Grisham with the courtroom drama of Richard North Patterson or Scott Pratt, and the religious undertones of Joel C. Rosenberg? A great novel by Randy Singer.



SInger paints a great picture of the religious tug-of-war between faith and science when he pits the sickness of a little boy against a strongly religious family. Does prayer heal as strongly as medicine? Add to that the legal rambings of a street preacher and the court appointed guardian of the family's other children and you have a legal thriller that will keep you up well into the night.



Singer injects some religion into the book, but not so much that you are left wondering if you are on your way to Hell with your current lifestyle. He weaves some great Bioble stories int the novel to show some of the characterts the power to belief and how they too can 'find' Jesus. That said, Singer does not make the entire book a goody-twoshoes approach to Christianity, as he splices affairs, lust, and even something more deadly (you will have to read to find out).



I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have his other novels up to now. They touch on some great issues through a lens through which I may not otherwise llok. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a great read!

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all things I love about Randy Singer's writing. Lawyers, preachers, and defendants that aren't clearly innocent from the get go. Makes for a great page turner.

[Sara Eames · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hard for me to rate - some parts I really enjoyed, other parts not so much. It was definately a slow-burner of a book. The start was painfully slow - so much so that I almost gave up - the middle bit built to a good climax in court but the book was somewhat let down by the final section. I did feel cheated in the solution - it was just too pat - but I should have been warned what was going to happen by the title (I will say no more on this subject as I don't want to spoil this for other readers). I read quite a bit of Christian fiction, so the "religious" aspect of this book did not bother me at all. It was well-written but not completely to my taste.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book!! There was a note on the cover comparing the writing to John Grisham & I couldn't agree more. The writing style is the same as Grisham but Singer also has the faith element in the mix which is an improvement on my favorite author's writing. I am a full blown Randy Singer fan & look forward to reading more of his work in the very near future.


I found out about Randy Singer through the Tyndale Rewards program. If you are interested in joining the Tyndale Rewards program follow this link. It is a wonderful way to find new authors & earn free books.
www.tyndalerewards.com/signup/?pc=8bb...

[Larisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fast-paced, well-executed story, Randy Singer shares the troubling tale of Thomas and Theresa Hammond, two radically conservative Christians who belong to a church where seeking medical attention is viewed as sinful, and sickness comes from a lack of faith.

Could Christian parents allow their young son to die without seeking medical help? When does belief cross the lines into legalism?

Fans of Singer's earlier novels, IRREPARABLE HARM and DIRECTED VERDICT will recognize some of the characters that make appearances in DYING DECLARATION, although it reads beautifully as a stand-alone novel.

[LadyS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly Randy Singer has to be one of the best Christian authors out there. He knows how to bring his characters and plot to life. This is a book that could not be put down until I read the last page. Randy will take you write into the middle of heated courtroom proceedings and you can almost see the reaction of the lawyers and the witnesses.

This book was EPIC. Stunning, Fantastic!
I especially love how Randy does not write predictable plots at critical moments in the book.

[Kristy Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an emotional book. I loved how it brings the reader in. This is something that can happen to any of us and each step, each page drew you closer to this family.

I loved this book and think all the characters are befitting their parts perfectly.

[Wanda Burquest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Randy Singer. This one is features Nikki. The Christian message is clear, believable, and not sugar-coated at all. I hated to put this down! Looking forward to reading more of Singer's legal thrillers.

[Debbie Duffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked

[Catherine Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Thought provoking in how different “love” is defined and demonstrated. I usually do not enjoy courtroom dialogue but found it pertinent and not too lengthy for the story. Interesting cast of characters. It is a reminder of how diverse people are.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randy Singer has done a very hard thing by presenting a criminal or criminals to an audience and let them come away with their own opinion. Two parents that are impressionable, people pleasers, have been exploited for their personality traits by a religous denomination that makes faith a religous law. Whereas public opinion would crucify these parents, and mainstream christianity would distance themselves from a family like this, Singer gives them dignity and esteems them higher than himself. This was a delicate subject matter and he handled it tastefully. Just as you see grace and redemption given to thugs, crooked adulterous doctors, and negligent parents, you have a miraculous almost unrealistic ending that I think Singer intended.
Why?
That is the very bizarre scandal of the cross.
Proof?
The same ones judging the parents that genuinely loved their baby boy recieve no mercy while a woman seeking an appointment to the bench and aborted her baby probably did not cross their radar. The same miracle she needs for forgiveness of murder is the same for the parents deemed guilty by public opinion.

Singer led a horse to water. ... He has cleverly set us all up to see if we will deal with our own hypocrisy and come away with a new appreciation for the miracle of what the Son of God did. Many citizens are no different than criminals in prison, the only difference is the prisoners just got caught.

By the same measure you judge, it shall be measured unto you.

Nikki Moreno was a delight to go on adventure with and I look forward to seeing her grow.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not having medical backgrounds, how would Josh's parents have known that it was his appendix making him sick?

A bit legalistic but otherwise a decent Christian novel. There was a lot to like about it; Nothing preachy that I recall.

Just as many people believe it's God's will to heal every ailment, many believe it's based on having enough faith. The latter is what characters Thomas and his wife are taught and believe when their youngest child doesn't seem to be getting better despite their frantic prayers. Thomas blames himself for not having enough faith.

Most of my questions were answered by book's end however the ending was wrapped up a bit too conveniently as though the author couldn't come up with something more realistic and settled for mere mediocrity.

A struggle I had was the illegal actions of one of the defense team; things worked out a little too patly in the illegal discovery of information which led to an untight ending. It felt like frayed edges.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in a row that I've read that has started out with an awkwardness in the writing style. It's unpolished and rudimentary... I think this is Randy Singer second novel so maybe that's why... I love Randy so let's see how this goes. Definitely in the working on building the story phase currently.

Rough start, the book felt forced. It ended ok, def a circle of life type book. Not my favorite Randy book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well-written, exciting legal thriller. It deals with a child abuse/neglect case, and other cases come into play as the book develops. I have been involved with helping children who have been neglected or abused, so this made the story line very emotional for me.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book caused me physical revulsion. I did not feel attached or concerned for even one of the characters. The entire plot was so simplistic it was easy to follow but so boring and with such a tainted message I felt myself growing more nauseous by the seconds. The way the women of this book are written also repulses me. With just the opening paragraph showing me what kind of read I was in for. The romance was out of no where and left a gross feeling in the pit of my stomach, much like the rest of this book. The ending was so out of nowhere it read like a child trying to end their short story for 4th year literature class. There was no build-up, no suspense, no emotion, and the conclusion only made me mad. Spoilers ahead, but I wouldn’t know why you’d ever want to read this godforsaken book.

The fact that the antagonist of the story is the defense lawyer of a child murdered by negligence should show something right off the bat. The fact that she is shown to be a bit of a vixen AND a crone and that her being that bad guy is spelled out so simply, that with each word I grew more and more convinced a 4th year wrote this. The fact that the ending of the book is presented in a happy light as the 2 parents get to live happily ever after either the 2 kids they didn’t murder and with a replacement on the way shows how this book is very much written forbored old Christian women with time to kill and an affinity for the law.


If you read nothing else of this review read this. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thomas and Theresa are the parents of three young children. They have a strong faith. So strong that when their baby, Josh, takes ill Thomas will not allow Theresa to take him to the hospital. He insists they pray for Josh. By the time the couple does take Josh to the hospital it is too late.

Now they are being sued over their child's death. Thomas is his own worst enemy as his staunch faith won't allow him to go along with much that his lawyer wants to try.

Mr. Singer does a very good job of showing the dilemma of the deeply religious as they encounter the secular world. However, as much as I do like a package tied in a pretty bow this ending is a bit too chi-chi for my tastes.

[Harry DeNoers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Characters, Spell Binding Plot, Twists and Turns

Every character is deeply drawn, dialogue moves the story along without meandering, and there is a surprise on almost every page.

It's also nice to read a book with a Christian world view that's not cheesy.

There is plot and conflict and real people with real struggles. And the bad guys manage to be despicable without the usual gratuitous four letter words. Well done!

[Ila Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lawyers, preachers, and defendants made for a quick, interesting read. The writing style is somewhat like Grisham, but Singer also has the faith element in the mix. Could conservative Christians who don’t believe in doctors allow their young son to die without seeking medical help? Singer, one of my favorite Christian authors, is a veteran trial attorney and a teaching pastor. Nothing preachy or cheesy. He lets you come away with your own opinion.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the contemplation of the struggle that the parents were in. What does a believer who thinks faith should be enough, do when it looks like medical attention is needed too?

However, the ending bothered me. It felt like a bunch of wrongs made a right. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone else and will refrain from saying any more.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve read Christian fiction, and it felt a little (or a lot) heavy-handed to me. All of the non-Christian characters were full-on evil. That said, the legal storyline (which is what prompted me to check it out from the library) was pretty compelling and well crafted. I’d have given it 4 stars if the religious aspects were shoved down my throat a little less.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Randy Singer. I loved everything about it! The storyline was page turning, and the characters are realistic. This novel has a wonderful faith message throughout, but it is not preachy. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Margareth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een van de mooiste boeken van Randy Singer. Het verhaal is spannend, humoristisch, ontroerend. Ook schuwt hij niet om geloof in het verhaal te verweven, erg mooi en subtiel gedaan. Zeker aan te raden om te lezen; het stemt tot nadenken.

[Taija · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember being so turned off by this book. Christian lawyer man falls in love
lust with non-Christian hot law clerk, dates her and they try to make it work. Nicky Moreno (or however you spell her name) gives me Jezebel vibes.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this and found it to be interesting. I are with many others that the ending could have been a little better written, but overall it was a good book. I would give it 3.75 stars if I could.

[Kendall L. Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Singer never lets you down.

How deep is your faith? Especially with a dying baby and a preacher telling you that faith will heal him. And then it doesn't. And you are accused of murder. What then?
A masterfully told story of faith, love, hope, and a. New life through Christ.

[Lorri Coburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Randy Singer's mystery court-room thrillers. This one dealt with admitting a post-humous confession/statement in court if it was deemed a "dying declaration." Subject was prosecution of parents who did not believe in medical treatment and their child died.

[Jan Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so well written that I HAD to read every word. The story seems so read and the layers of plots was amazing. There is a thread of saddest in the story as it involves the death of a child. Randy Singer is a great example of an author who does not mass produce books, bout turns out books of depth and quality.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a friend of mine. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it.