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Nina Reilly #1
Motion to Suppress
The suspect confessed. Now her only hope is a lawyer who believes she lied.
Misty Patterson only remembered the fight, the polar bear statue she used as a bludgeon, a trail of blood, and the comatose sleep that followed. When she awoke, her husband and the statue were missing. Only the blood was left. She had come to attorney Nina Reilly's office seeking a divorce. But when Anthony Patterson was found on the bottom of the frigid lake, Misty needed a miracle.
Barely a week before, Nina Reilly had been a happily married San Francisco lawyer. Suddenly she's a single parent, opening a shoestring practice in Lake Tahoe. And now Nina finds herself embroiled in a case that's going to change everything she believes about the law. It's going to rock everything Misty Patterson believes about herself. And it's going to give both women a look at the damning piece of evidence that will challenge their faith in each other. Or give them their one and only chance to win...
Misty Patterson only remembered the fight, the polar bear statue she used as a bludgeon, a trail of blood, and the comatose sleep that followed. When she awoke, her husband and the statue were missing. Only the blood was left. She had come to attorney Nina Reilly's office seeking a divorce. But when Anthony Patterson was found on the bottom of the frigid lake, Misty needed a miracle.
Barely a week before, Nina Reilly had been a happily married San Francisco lawyer. Suddenly she's a single parent, opening a shoestring practice in Lake Tahoe. And now Nina finds herself embroiled in a case that's going to change everything she believes about the law. It's going to rock everything Misty Patterson believes about herself. And it's going to give both women a look at the damning piece of evidence that will challenge their faith in each other. Or give them their one and only chance to win...
420 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Perri O'Shaughnessy
57 books280 followersPerri O’Shaughnessy is the pen-name for two people, Pamela and Mary O’Shaughnessy, sisters. The authors' pseudonym is an homage to Perry Mason, the man who never met a guilty client, and a melding of their two first names, Pamela and Mary. O’Shaughnessy is their paternal family name.
They are the authors of eleven bestselling Nina Reilly novels as well as a collection of short crime fiction, Sinister Shorts.
They are the authors of eleven bestselling Nina Reilly novels as well as a collection of short crime fiction, Sinister Shorts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
July 13, 2016
Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Shaughnessy
Nina Reilly series Book #1
4.5★'s
From The Book:
Returning from her late shift as a barmaid at a casino in Lake Tahoe, Misty Patterson struck her violently jealous husband in self-defense. She admits that–but did she kill him? She says she can’t remember. Like so many times before, Misty blacked out and the rest of the evening is a blank. Now her husband has disappeared, leaving behind a trail of blood, and she’s the number-one murder suspect with no one to turn to for help.
San Francisco attorney Nina Reilly is also on the run—from a bad marriage and a worse career setback. Relocated to Lake Tahoe, Nina is resolved to recover her spirit, give her young son a secure home, and build up a small solo practice. But, when Misty Patterson walks in the door, a blond Barbie doll of a cocktail waitress accused of murder, it triggers a harrowing series of events that will change both women’s lives forever.
My Thoughts:
In this first book of the Nina Reilly series we are introducted to Nina who is a truly likeable character. We learn how Nina's marriage to Jack ends, and how as a newly-single mom, heads off to Tahoe to start a new life. We are also meet Sandy Whitefeather, Nina's receptionist, Nina’s brother Matt Reilly and his family.
Usually first novels are set in larger towns but Lake Tahoe works out well for the setting. I liked how the author provided so many possible suspects for Anthony’s murder. She never ruled out Misty or Anthony’s ex-wife, her husband, Misty's lover, Misty's therapist and his wife, and employees at the casino where the couple worked all have possible motives. Even Misty's parents cast suspicion on themselves with their strange behavior. There's enough crime to form a great story and deliver a good level of suspense right up to the trial. The court proceedings are quite dramatic, similar to that which you would find on television. Real justice is rarely that exciting. The story is easy to follow and relatively light, making this a quick, fun read.
Nina Reilly series Book #1
4.5★'s
From The Book:
Returning from her late shift as a barmaid at a casino in Lake Tahoe, Misty Patterson struck her violently jealous husband in self-defense. She admits that–but did she kill him? She says she can’t remember. Like so many times before, Misty blacked out and the rest of the evening is a blank. Now her husband has disappeared, leaving behind a trail of blood, and she’s the number-one murder suspect with no one to turn to for help.
San Francisco attorney Nina Reilly is also on the run—from a bad marriage and a worse career setback. Relocated to Lake Tahoe, Nina is resolved to recover her spirit, give her young son a secure home, and build up a small solo practice. But, when Misty Patterson walks in the door, a blond Barbie doll of a cocktail waitress accused of murder, it triggers a harrowing series of events that will change both women’s lives forever.
My Thoughts:
In this first book of the Nina Reilly series we are introducted to Nina who is a truly likeable character. We learn how Nina's marriage to Jack ends, and how as a newly-single mom, heads off to Tahoe to start a new life. We are also meet Sandy Whitefeather, Nina's receptionist, Nina’s brother Matt Reilly and his family.
Usually first novels are set in larger towns but Lake Tahoe works out well for the setting. I liked how the author provided so many possible suspects for Anthony’s murder. She never ruled out Misty or Anthony’s ex-wife, her husband, Misty's lover, Misty's therapist and his wife, and employees at the casino where the couple worked all have possible motives. Even Misty's parents cast suspicion on themselves with their strange behavior. There's enough crime to form a great story and deliver a good level of suspense right up to the trial. The court proceedings are quite dramatic, similar to that which you would find on television. Real justice is rarely that exciting. The story is easy to follow and relatively light, making this a quick, fun read.
April 5, 2015
It has been quite a while since I have read this series, so I thought I would re-read it and to see if I would like it as much as the first time when I got it from the library. It certainly withstood the test of time for me. I truly enjoyed this, although I do have to admit that some of the legal and courtroom aspects were a bit too much for me. Sometimes bordering on the point of annoying -almost like filler. But since this is the first in the series I made allowances,
There are 13 books in this series and each one seems to get more complicated and exciting than the last one. As each book goes by old threads are tied up, the characters grow and blossom, relationships are fleshed out and the characters become more believable and endearing.
Nina Reilly is an attorney with a young son and a new divorce of her own. She is just striking out with her own law practice and one of her first cases is a divorce case that soon becomes a murder defense case. If anything can go wrong with this case, it does. That aspect made for some frustrating, but interesting reading...it was amazing for me to see how the O'Shaughnessy sisters made this book come alive. A lot of the plot is pretty amazing (defending a person with amnesia?), nearly implausible but in real life even crazier things have happened.
It is very interesting to see things that had been happening in the mid-90's change so much when read in 2015.
There is a possibility of romance, but though that takes up some of this book, it is not the focus of this book.
There are 13 books in this series and each one seems to get more complicated and exciting than the last one. As each book goes by old threads are tied up, the characters grow and blossom, relationships are fleshed out and the characters become more believable and endearing.
Nina Reilly is an attorney with a young son and a new divorce of her own. She is just striking out with her own law practice and one of her first cases is a divorce case that soon becomes a murder defense case. If anything can go wrong with this case, it does. That aspect made for some frustrating, but interesting reading...it was amazing for me to see how the O'Shaughnessy sisters made this book come alive. A lot of the plot is pretty amazing (defending a person with amnesia?), nearly implausible but in real life even crazier things have happened.
It is very interesting to see things that had been happening in the mid-90's change so much when read in 2015.
There is a possibility of romance, but though that takes up some of this book, it is not the focus of this book.
August 2, 2022
4,5 stars - English Ebook
Leaving her ex-husband and old job in San Francisco, attorney Nina Reilly opens a practice in Lake Tahoe hoping to start life over. As she waits for a big case, Nina decides to help Misty Patterson divorce her abusive husband. When said husband is found murdered, Nina agrees to defend Misty against murder charges.
But Misty's defense isn't easy , there are big blank spots in Misty's memory, she has a tendency toward promiscuity, and there is some very damning circumstantial evidence. Where does the truth lie? Is Misty a clever liar, a victim of some early trauma, or is she simply manipulated by others? Does someone else control the strings of Misty's life? Misty just wants to know the truth. And Nina wants justice.
Nina Reilly, was a character that I really liked and would love tp know. Her combination of strength and humility is charming. A real whodunit with a defendant that is so flawed but likable, and therefore so real!
It was a fast, can't put it down read, but there were a few things not very well researched. To my knowledge Red chips are fives, Green chips are $25 and Blacks are a Hundred.
And how negatively the portraited a Black Jack card counter. A card counter is a highly skilled player that has invested years and risks a big bankroll to have a small percentage advantage over a Casino. If a card player had this much skill at Bridge he would be applauded. This skillful Black Jack player was depicted as a criminal just because he had the skill to beat the house.
The "skilled" players mostly are College Professors, Accountants and Mathematicial men or woman.
Nevada Casinos love people to come in and lose. Being skilled at BlackJack is not cheating nor is it criminal, even if the Casinos would like you to play elsewhere.
Aside from that I enjoyed the novel very much.
Leaving her ex-husband and old job in San Francisco, attorney Nina Reilly opens a practice in Lake Tahoe hoping to start life over. As she waits for a big case, Nina decides to help Misty Patterson divorce her abusive husband. When said husband is found murdered, Nina agrees to defend Misty against murder charges.
But Misty's defense isn't easy , there are big blank spots in Misty's memory, she has a tendency toward promiscuity, and there is some very damning circumstantial evidence. Where does the truth lie? Is Misty a clever liar, a victim of some early trauma, or is she simply manipulated by others? Does someone else control the strings of Misty's life? Misty just wants to know the truth. And Nina wants justice.
Nina Reilly, was a character that I really liked and would love tp know. Her combination of strength and humility is charming. A real whodunit with a defendant that is so flawed but likable, and therefore so real!
It was a fast, can't put it down read, but there were a few things not very well researched. To my knowledge Red chips are fives, Green chips are $25 and Blacks are a Hundred.
And how negatively the portraited a Black Jack card counter. A card counter is a highly skilled player that has invested years and risks a big bankroll to have a small percentage advantage over a Casino. If a card player had this much skill at Bridge he would be applauded. This skillful Black Jack player was depicted as a criminal just because he had the skill to beat the house.
The "skilled" players mostly are College Professors, Accountants and Mathematicial men or woman.
Nevada Casinos love people to come in and lose. Being skilled at BlackJack is not cheating nor is it criminal, even if the Casinos would like you to play elsewhere.
Aside from that I enjoyed the novel very much.
July 12, 2017
Misty Patterson killed her husband, or did she? After Nina Reilly, appellate lawyer, moves into the town of South Lake Tahoe, to live with her brother and his family, after her husband found her kissing the hunk of a hottie plumber. She immediately decides to open up her own practice and try her hand at civil cases. Her native Indian assistant, Sandy, leads clients in faster than you can say 'I want a lawyer'. She meets Misty who doesn't know where her husband is, but thinks she might have killed him in self defense, while he was drunk. Hit him once and went to bed she says, but swears he was alive. While Nina prepares Misty's divorce papers, Misty's husband, Anthony, is found, dead in Lake Tahoe. Nina, with no experience with criminal law, decides to take on the case. The only female lawyer in town, she finds herself in over her head with the big macho male attorneys who don't make it easy for her to defend her client, much less herself.
This was a great legal thriller. Like me, I'm sure you'll have your suspicions, even assume the worst, but you'll never guess the very end. Lots of great characters who could have dunnit, would have dunnit and even thought of doing it. I was on the edge of my seat, reading faster with each paragraph. I just didn't see that one coming. I sure do wish the ending could have been just a tad different, but I'm not the writer. Still an excellent read.
This was a great legal thriller. Like me, I'm sure you'll have your suspicions, even assume the worst, but you'll never guess the very end. Lots of great characters who could have dunnit, would have dunnit and even thought of doing it. I was on the edge of my seat, reading faster with each paragraph. I just didn't see that one coming. I sure do wish the ending could have been just a tad different, but I'm not the writer. Still an excellent read.
October 8, 2019
I wavered between giving this two and three stars. I actually thought it was a pretty good story, especially once the trial started. But there were a few too many things that bugged me that I couldn't get past. First was all the ridiculous sexism. Believe me, I absolutely know it still exists. But the men in this book were completely over the top, especially for the late 90s. They weren't even the worst part. The women in the book contributed to it. Michelle is a gorgeous but dumb woman who can't do anything without a man and constantly cheats on her husband. And Nina is attracted to Paul, for no reason that I can see. Is he supposed to be a "bad boy," the kind women love to tame? (Excuse me while I throw up over that notion.) Because to me he seemed like an asshole who would have no problem backhanding a woman to "teach her a lesson" or even getting rapey when a woman dared tell him no.
The bigger thing that bugged me was that one of the authors is supposedly a former editor. Maybe there's a reason she's "former." For one thing, this book is a LOT longer than it needs to be. There's a lot of extra and boring crap that should have been cut out. Even worse than that was the giant factual error in the book. I know this was written pre-Google, but a former editor should have known how to fact-check. In one part they say a doctor got his medical degree from Temple University in New York. I have been to Temple University Hospital, the place where they train the doctors, many, many, many times. And each time I have driven to Philadelphia, not New York. It's a very large school. There's no excuse for putting it in the wrong city. Maybe people on the west coast think all east coast cities are interchangeable?
I hope for later books in this series the authors got their shit together because it actually does have decent bones.
The bigger thing that bugged me was that one of the authors is supposedly a former editor. Maybe there's a reason she's "former." For one thing, this book is a LOT longer than it needs to be. There's a lot of extra and boring crap that should have been cut out. Even worse than that was the giant factual error in the book. I know this was written pre-Google, but a former editor should have known how to fact-check. In one part they say a doctor got his medical degree from Temple University in New York. I have been to Temple University Hospital, the place where they train the doctors, many, many, many times. And each time I have driven to Philadelphia, not New York. It's a very large school. There's no excuse for putting it in the wrong city. Maybe people on the west coast think all east coast cities are interchangeable?
I hope for later books in this series the authors got their shit together because it actually does have decent bones.
July 21, 2021
This is the first book in a series featuring Nina Reilly, a lawyer who recently moved from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe, Nevada. One of her first clients is Misty Patterson, a woman with a troubled past who confesses to murdering her husband. She admits she hit him in the head with a statue but isn't clear about how his body ended up at the bottom of the lake. Nina has never tried a murder and tries to convince Misty and her family that she needs to hire a criminal lawyer but they want Nina and she can't say no. She hires one of her ex-husband's investigators and tries to find enough evidence to keep Misty out of jail.
I really enjoyed this fast paced legal thriller. Published in 1995, it seems a bit outdated in many places. The characters need to be a bit more developed but that's normal in a debut novel. I see there are now thirteen books in the Nina Reilly series and I definitely plan to pick up another one in the future. It's not John Grisham, but I didn't expect it to be. While a little too long, it was still an entertaining read.
I really enjoyed this fast paced legal thriller. Published in 1995, it seems a bit outdated in many places. The characters need to be a bit more developed but that's normal in a debut novel. I see there are now thirteen books in the Nina Reilly series and I definitely plan to pick up another one in the future. It's not John Grisham, but I didn't expect it to be. While a little too long, it was still an entertaining read.
September 11, 2018
The book started off so-so but really picked up for me once the trial started. I couldn't put it down towards the end there. I will definitely be reading the rest of the Nina Reilly series.
March 23, 2018
A new Author on my shelf and decided to read it... It is actually 2 Sisters... I have been wanting to read a book about Courtroom Drama and these Two Sisters Writing, Absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! So much so ordered all 14 more of their books*****
Read
September 13, 2019I stopped reading it when it said Temple University is in New York. Just in case they have a campus there I googled it. Turns out they do but it isn't called Temple and it isn't a medical school. If I'm wrong and someone could have got his MD at Temple in New York, someone let me know and I'll finish the book.
November 2, 2008
I'm not sure if this was the first book of the "Nina Reilly" series or not, but it was close. It gave a good foundation and a better understanding of the events in one of her later books I just read.
It's a slow read, and the story is drawn out much more than it should be; it gets to be boring pretty quick.
It's a slow read, and the story is drawn out much more than it should be; it gets to be boring pretty quick.
August 28, 2009
Dissappointimgg book. Slow to start & get going. Wish author had spent more time with the ideas of repressed memorries. I felt the ending was rushed & not well concluded. Verry long book & not satifying.
August 13, 2023
Dnf'd at page 104
February 6, 2018
I do believe the Andy Carpenter series has ruined me for all other law books. Nina Reilly is a female attorney starting her own practice in the small Lake Tahoe area. She is recently divorced and trying to start over with her son in a new town. She accepts the divorce case for Misty, but it quickly turns in to a murder case. There is some suspense here, but the courtroom isn't very exciting. It's an okay book and I will read the next book in the series to see if it gets better from here.
May 2, 2026
I read the series several years ago and decided to start on a re-read. I am already on the third book in the series. It is a very solid series that kept me engaged despite its quirks and irritations The first time around.
June 22, 2026
4 Stars
August 23, 2018
Quite a few years ago, I tried to read a different book in this series and couldn’t get into the story so I gave up on it. When this book popped up, I thought I’d give O’Shaughnessy a second chance.
The opening scene of this book is a bit disorienting. It is written in first person point of view, so the reader assumes that this is the main character. Several pages into the scene, however, it becomes clear that this assumption is wrong, that this isn’t the main character but the woman Nina will be defending. Later scenes in this person’s POV are written in third person – disorientation X 2.
This novel starts off slow as O’Shaughnessy uses the first two chapters as backstory to establish Nina Reilly, her main character. The story proper doesn’t really start until Chapter 3.
The story is told from a somewhat distant point of view. The reader is more of an observer of what’s happening instead of being solidly in a character’s head. And O’Shaughnessy drifts from one character’s POV to another’s whenever the mood strikes her without benefit of scene breaks to alert readers to the shift (except for once in the whole book). Although that could be a problem just with the download. There are small gaps, too, (too many of them) in the storytelling where the reader says, “Hunh?” because he feels something is missing.
A scene in Chapter 15 has some of the most overblown prose I’ve ever read. O’Shaughnessy was trying for tension but what she put on the page was scattered, clunky, hard to read nonsense. Here’s one paragraph:
A louder, sharper noise explained how the screen was being removed. Cold sweat stuck her T-shirt to her body. Evidence, plain as Michael Jackson’s nose before he cut it, Anthony would say. We got ourselves an emergency. Slowly, slowly she lifted her head and pulled herself on her arms across the sheet toward the phone. She punched 0, despairing at the small sound of its tone. Nobody answered at the desk. With a discreet little screech behind her curtain, the window glass gave in.
This book has a Perry Mason-esque twist near the end that I saw coming somewhere around 150 pages into this almost 500-page book. Although O’Shaughnessy did follow it up with one I didn’t see coming.
All in all, this book was at best just okay and only by the narrowest of margins. I should have stuck with my impression of the first one in the series I tried to read. I won’t go looking for any more books in this series but will pick them up only when I am desperate for something to read.
The opening scene of this book is a bit disorienting. It is written in first person point of view, so the reader assumes that this is the main character. Several pages into the scene, however, it becomes clear that this assumption is wrong, that this isn’t the main character but the woman Nina will be defending. Later scenes in this person’s POV are written in third person – disorientation X 2.
This novel starts off slow as O’Shaughnessy uses the first two chapters as backstory to establish Nina Reilly, her main character. The story proper doesn’t really start until Chapter 3.
The story is told from a somewhat distant point of view. The reader is more of an observer of what’s happening instead of being solidly in a character’s head. And O’Shaughnessy drifts from one character’s POV to another’s whenever the mood strikes her without benefit of scene breaks to alert readers to the shift (except for once in the whole book). Although that could be a problem just with the download. There are small gaps, too, (too many of them) in the storytelling where the reader says, “Hunh?” because he feels something is missing.
A scene in Chapter 15 has some of the most overblown prose I’ve ever read. O’Shaughnessy was trying for tension but what she put on the page was scattered, clunky, hard to read nonsense. Here’s one paragraph:
A louder, sharper noise explained how the screen was being removed. Cold sweat stuck her T-shirt to her body. Evidence, plain as Michael Jackson’s nose before he cut it, Anthony would say. We got ourselves an emergency. Slowly, slowly she lifted her head and pulled herself on her arms across the sheet toward the phone. She punched 0, despairing at the small sound of its tone. Nobody answered at the desk. With a discreet little screech behind her curtain, the window glass gave in.
This book has a Perry Mason-esque twist near the end that I saw coming somewhere around 150 pages into this almost 500-page book. Although O’Shaughnessy did follow it up with one I didn’t see coming.
All in all, this book was at best just okay and only by the narrowest of margins. I should have stuck with my impression of the first one in the series I tried to read. I won’t go looking for any more books in this series but will pick them up only when I am desperate for something to read.
March 2, 2010
Let me start by saying that I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book! It was fast-paced, intelligent, suspenseful and exciting, all the way to the very last page!
I first became interested in this novel after reading the cover story of the August 2002 edition of BOOK PAGE about Mary and Pamela O'Shaughnessey ("Sisters in Crime: Career Crossroads turned Siblings into Co-Authors"). These two women are sisters who use the pen name "Perri O'Shaughnessey" in their wonderfully unique brand of legal thriller - one in which the main character is a female attorney. Even though the O'Shaughnessey sisters have written a number of these novels, I decided to get to know Nina Reilly from the beginning, which is MOTION TO SUPRESS.
I can't remember the last time I was so drawn to a character. Nina Reilly is intelligent and strong-willed while at the same time being as human as the next person in her faults, doubts and desires - this makes her seem so real that one can't help but want to see her succeed. I can't wait to read the next novel!
If you think you've had enough of the typical legal thriller, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this book. Kind of a feminine combination of Grisham, COLUMBO and QUINCY. Have fun with this one - and when you start it, give yourself long stretches of reading time. You won't want to put this one down!
I first became interested in this novel after reading the cover story of the August 2002 edition of BOOK PAGE about Mary and Pamela O'Shaughnessey ("Sisters in Crime: Career Crossroads turned Siblings into Co-Authors"). These two women are sisters who use the pen name "Perri O'Shaughnessey" in their wonderfully unique brand of legal thriller - one in which the main character is a female attorney. Even though the O'Shaughnessey sisters have written a number of these novels, I decided to get to know Nina Reilly from the beginning, which is MOTION TO SUPRESS.
I can't remember the last time I was so drawn to a character. Nina Reilly is intelligent and strong-willed while at the same time being as human as the next person in her faults, doubts and desires - this makes her seem so real that one can't help but want to see her succeed. I can't wait to read the next novel!
If you think you've had enough of the typical legal thriller, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this book. Kind of a feminine combination of Grisham, COLUMBO and QUINCY. Have fun with this one - and when you start it, give yourself long stretches of reading time. You won't want to put this one down!
February 22, 2018
Motion to Suppress
Good idea for a plot but the writing itself is very choppy and all over the place. Events happen at an incredibly quick, unrealistic pace - like Nina's actions and decision-making, which seem unbelievably off the cuff and inconsistent for a lawyer. Scenes almost feel summarized and I felt like I was missing big chunks of information. The characters are more caricature than real people and there isn't much depth to the dialogue. The autopsy scene was a total joke, the men all come across as patronizing, misogynistic jerks and the women come across as rude, impulsive, slutty faux-feminists. Everyone is totally self absorbed and a couple of the main characters are painfully immature. It was hard to stay focused and make it through this book; I found myself skimming several sections. I am willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and maybe try book 2 at some point since debuts can be somewhat rougher than subsequent books; however, there is a serious lack of follow-through within scenes and everyone is like a character in a play. Also, this book was WAY too long at 466 pages. Still, despite all of these issues it was weirdly compelling and I stuck with it.
Good idea for a plot but the writing itself is very choppy and all over the place. Events happen at an incredibly quick, unrealistic pace - like Nina's actions and decision-making, which seem unbelievably off the cuff and inconsistent for a lawyer. Scenes almost feel summarized and I felt like I was missing big chunks of information. The characters are more caricature than real people and there isn't much depth to the dialogue. The autopsy scene was a total joke, the men all come across as patronizing, misogynistic jerks and the women come across as rude, impulsive, slutty faux-feminists. Everyone is totally self absorbed and a couple of the main characters are painfully immature. It was hard to stay focused and make it through this book; I found myself skimming several sections. I am willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and maybe try book 2 at some point since debuts can be somewhat rougher than subsequent books; however, there is a serious lack of follow-through within scenes and everyone is like a character in a play. Also, this book was WAY too long at 466 pages. Still, despite all of these issues it was weirdly compelling and I stuck with it.
October 16, 2018
First time reader of this author and now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative series. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this series.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this series.
March 14, 2017
Ugh! This was brutal to read!
I'm so mad at myself for pushing through and reading this all the way! So hard to stick with. Please don't waste your time. You'll regret it for sure! The premise was there but it was painful to push through and the ending was so unbelievable. This sucked!
I'm so mad at myself for pushing through and reading this all the way! So hard to stick with. Please don't waste your time. You'll regret it for sure! The premise was there but it was painful to push through and the ending was so unbelievable. This sucked!
January 11, 2022
Wow, what a bore. Halfway through and nothing had really happened. I started wanting to hit myself on the head with a statue and throw myself into Lake Tahoe. At least there would have been some action instead of a bunch of people blabbing at each other and to themselves. Some of the most flaccid writing I've ever encountered. DNF
April 23, 2022
Some of the worst writing I have ever read! The word choose was horrible….. to the point where parts didn’t make sense. The premise of the book was good, but it was way longer than it needed to be and some of the choice of words just made the book…… well , just plain stupid. There is no other word for it. I contemplated quitting it every day.
April 3, 2021
Enjoyed the mystery aspect of the case but the writing drags in some spots, the romance is laughable, the primary male character is a chauvinistic pic, and the internal dialogue of the main character re: romance and primary male character is unrealistic and distasteful at best.
December 11, 2011
I have heard this is and good series but I found this book to be terrible. Too many stereotypes and poor character development.
June 25, 2015
I was craving a legal thriller and this fit the bill. As an opening to a series I thought it was good... I enjoyed that the characters, even the main character, were not entirely good or bad.
December 12, 2015
Confusing, unbelievable
August 2, 2017
I spent too much time thinking I was getting into the book. All I did was waste my time. I finally gave up when I was at page 100.
October 20, 2025
Plot
Leaving her ex-husband and old job in San Francisco, attorney Nina Reilly opens a practice in Lake Tahoe hoping to start life over. As she waits for a big case, Nina decides to help Misty Patterson divorce her abusive husband. When said husband is found murdered, Nina agrees to defend Misty against murder charges.
But Misty’s defense isn’t easy – there are big blank spots in Misty’s memory, she has a tendency toward promiscuity, and there is some very damning circumstantial evidence. Where does the truth lie? Is Misty a clever liar, a victim of some early trauma, or is she simply manipulated by others? Does someone else control the strings of Misty’s life? Misty just wants to know the truth. And Nina wants justice.
My Analysis
I read O’Shaughnessy once every several years. Enjoy the legal mysteries. This one was no exception, and it’s always nice to see how a main character starts out. I’ve read about Nina before but it’s been long enough it’s a nice refresher to get the origin of how she came to be.
I like the murder mystery. This one went right to the end and was something I hadn’t expected.
I enjoyed the build up. The danger Misty was in. Did she do it? What was the secret from so many years ago? Who’s hiding secrets?
The character of Misty was well-developed. The beautiful and sexy young woman haunted by a forgotten event and destroying her life a bit at a time. Men find her attractive and she responds. Then you have her developing an inner strength to take what comes regarding the trial and her future.
Nina develops throughout, finding her own strength. There might be something in the future between her and her investigator, Paul, but that can wait.
Each character was nicely rounded, even if they didn’t get a whole lot of time in the spotlight. This includes Hallowell who wasn’t the typically slimy prosecutor. He actually cared. Yes, he was determined to win and wouldn’t cut Nina too much slack, but it was a nice change. The weasel lawyer so often seen in these legal mysteries was the other guy. Always good to see those types get taken down a notch.
The one issue I had was the book tended to shift POVs in a few scenes. That was a jolt and I see why authors are discouraged in writing stories that way. The reader has to shift gears.
Otherwise, this was a longer book, not too bad, but longer.
My rank:
Blue Belt
Leaving her ex-husband and old job in San Francisco, attorney Nina Reilly opens a practice in Lake Tahoe hoping to start life over. As she waits for a big case, Nina decides to help Misty Patterson divorce her abusive husband. When said husband is found murdered, Nina agrees to defend Misty against murder charges.
But Misty’s defense isn’t easy – there are big blank spots in Misty’s memory, she has a tendency toward promiscuity, and there is some very damning circumstantial evidence. Where does the truth lie? Is Misty a clever liar, a victim of some early trauma, or is she simply manipulated by others? Does someone else control the strings of Misty’s life? Misty just wants to know the truth. And Nina wants justice.
My Analysis
I read O’Shaughnessy once every several years. Enjoy the legal mysteries. This one was no exception, and it’s always nice to see how a main character starts out. I’ve read about Nina before but it’s been long enough it’s a nice refresher to get the origin of how she came to be.
I like the murder mystery. This one went right to the end and was something I hadn’t expected.
I enjoyed the build up. The danger Misty was in. Did she do it? What was the secret from so many years ago? Who’s hiding secrets?
The character of Misty was well-developed. The beautiful and sexy young woman haunted by a forgotten event and destroying her life a bit at a time. Men find her attractive and she responds. Then you have her developing an inner strength to take what comes regarding the trial and her future.
Nina develops throughout, finding her own strength. There might be something in the future between her and her investigator, Paul, but that can wait.
Each character was nicely rounded, even if they didn’t get a whole lot of time in the spotlight. This includes Hallowell who wasn’t the typically slimy prosecutor. He actually cared. Yes, he was determined to win and wouldn’t cut Nina too much slack, but it was a nice change. The weasel lawyer so often seen in these legal mysteries was the other guy. Always good to see those types get taken down a notch.
The one issue I had was the book tended to shift POVs in a few scenes. That was a jolt and I see why authors are discouraged in writing stories that way. The reader has to shift gears.
Otherwise, this was a longer book, not too bad, but longer.
My rank:
Blue Belt
April 12, 2024
The talent these sisters exhibit in their writing is refreshingly evident. If you enjoy both a mystery and courtroom action, this series is for you.
Nina Reilly abandons a marriage and a law career in San Francisco to take up residence on the California side of Lake Tahoe. As the book opens, she’s busy setting up a new law office there, hiring a legal secretary, and negotiating a divorce from a husband who saw her reluctantly kiss a plumber. Lake Tahoe is awash in lawyers, but Nina hopes she’ll be successful just the same.
Her legal secretary essentially walks in off the street and announces herself as the heir apparent for the job. A native American woman, she rapidly gets Nina’s work life organized in grand style.
Nina catches a high-profile case when a young woman walks in asking for help with a divorce. Before the book ends, that same young woman will need help defending herself in a murder trial. It’s going to be a tough case for Nina. The promiscuous young woman can’t remember whether she killed the guy, and it’s going to take some hypnotism to get to the bottom of things. But that opens a separate set of problems which you’ll read about if you take this on. There’s a car crash scene here that is so vivid you’ll be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t read it.
This is a solid balance of mystery and courtroom action that entirely captivated me. I had no problem sacrificing sleep time to read this, and I had no regrets when I finished. All that remains are the memories of the book finished and the anticipation of the next book in the series.
Nina Reilly abandons a marriage and a law career in San Francisco to take up residence on the California side of Lake Tahoe. As the book opens, she’s busy setting up a new law office there, hiring a legal secretary, and negotiating a divorce from a husband who saw her reluctantly kiss a plumber. Lake Tahoe is awash in lawyers, but Nina hopes she’ll be successful just the same.
Her legal secretary essentially walks in off the street and announces herself as the heir apparent for the job. A native American woman, she rapidly gets Nina’s work life organized in grand style.
Nina catches a high-profile case when a young woman walks in asking for help with a divorce. Before the book ends, that same young woman will need help defending herself in a murder trial. It’s going to be a tough case for Nina. The promiscuous young woman can’t remember whether she killed the guy, and it’s going to take some hypnotism to get to the bottom of things. But that opens a separate set of problems which you’ll read about if you take this on. There’s a car crash scene here that is so vivid you’ll be doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t read it.
This is a solid balance of mystery and courtroom action that entirely captivated me. I had no problem sacrificing sleep time to read this, and I had no regrets when I finished. All that remains are the memories of the book finished and the anticipation of the next book in the series.
November 19, 2025
This series is usually very good and this FIRST outing for Nina Reilly provides some of the early background that the later novels hint at.
This time, Nina has moved to Tahoe and set up shop as an attorney. With no real experience as a criminal defense attorney she is thrust into a murder case of a ditzy blonde. Everyone around this woman seemed to have sympathy for her and at times i was exasperated by their tolerance of her immoral behavior and treatment of a possessive\abusive husband. As the novel progresses though, details regarding her psychological makcup and reasons for her poor behavior become clear. Even better, she grows as a person.
This one will keep you guessing to the very end. Just when you think it was all revealed-- you find out that it wasn't. There were some lesser mysteries in the novel that the authors (a team of sisters) chose to allow the readers to figure out as they read along.
The legal wrangling is all very fun, but the moment when Nina puts a witness on the stand without a clue as to what she will say under oath stretched credibility a bit. I mean the lawyer's unwritten rule is never ask a question for which you don't already know the answer. Still, the novel is well written and compelling enough to keep the reader deciding to read just one more chapter.
A fine mystery and I recommend this series, even though at times portions read a bit like a romance novel.
This time, Nina has moved to Tahoe and set up shop as an attorney. With no real experience as a criminal defense attorney she is thrust into a murder case of a ditzy blonde. Everyone around this woman seemed to have sympathy for her and at times i was exasperated by their tolerance of her immoral behavior and treatment of a possessive\abusive husband. As the novel progresses though, details regarding her psychological makcup and reasons for her poor behavior become clear. Even better, she grows as a person.
This one will keep you guessing to the very end. Just when you think it was all revealed-- you find out that it wasn't. There were some lesser mysteries in the novel that the authors (a team of sisters) chose to allow the readers to figure out as they read along.
The legal wrangling is all very fun, but the moment when Nina puts a witness on the stand without a clue as to what she will say under oath stretched credibility a bit. I mean the lawyer's unwritten rule is never ask a question for which you don't already know the answer. Still, the novel is well written and compelling enough to keep the reader deciding to read just one more chapter.
A fine mystery and I recommend this series, even though at times portions read a bit like a romance novel.
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