Conflict of Interest

by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

District Attorney Joanne Kuhlman is struggling to put her own life together after the trauma of retrieving her children from her ex-husband who had kidnapped them. Now she must make a decision that could end her career. While trying three defendants for robbery, Joanne discovers a far more serious crime may be unfolding. One of the defendants is ignorant of the true nature of the crime. His attorney and mother insist he was cruelly exploited by his crime partners. When the young man disappears, Joanne fears he may have been murdered in a ruthless act to silence him. Her sympathies for this defendant lead her to entangle herself with his attractive attorney and compromise her career so the truth may be revealed.

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

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

With a BA in English and 5 years as a photographic model behind her, Nancy Taylor Rosenberg studied criminology. She served in the Dallas Police Department, New Mexico State Police, Ventura Police Department and as an Investigative Probation Officer in Court Services for the Country of Ventura where she handled major crimes. She lived in California.

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another excellent stand-alone thriller from Nancy Taylor Rosenberg, Conflict of Interest, she enthralled us with another shocking tale to tell. For District Attorney Joanne Kuhlman, she struggled in her life to rescue her children from her ex-husband who kidnapped them. Now she must make a decision that might end her career. While representing three clients for a robbery, one of them was ignorant from the true nature of the crime. His attorney and mother argue that he was cruelly exploited by his partners. When he disappeared, Joanne believed he was murdered to remain silent. Now Joanne must compromise herself to reveal the truth.

[Mischelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great law thriller! Had me going through out the whole story! I couldn't put it down. I walked to work with this book stuck to my face.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a real page turner

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything this author writes and this was no exception.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, which I listened to on CD, was satisfying who-dun-it...It kept me engaged to the very end...however, the plot was a bit contrived. Joanne, an assistant DA, becomes involved with a defense attorney, Arnold, whom she opposes in court at the beginning of the story. As the plot unravels, the two end up working on the same side to help Arnold's client free himself from the clutches of two thugs who have coerced him into a crime spree.

[Neil Arrowsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of this book that were decent. But the vast majority were very wishy washy. It was like watching a daytime crime matinee. Okay for a Sunday afternoon, but you’re likely to fall asleep half way through, wake up and still follow it with ease. The ending was awful. A horrifically cheesy way to end a book. My mum (aged 65) said it was a really good book. But then again she always did like Murder She Wrote so I should have known.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best of Rosenberg’s books. Pick another one.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bonnie, Page patron, June 2019, 2 stars:

It was ok.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 2 out of 5]

After spending more than one hundred pages trying to get into this book, I set it aside. It just wasn't that interesting.

[Linda McCune · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read, one of my faves👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Kathleen Hagen]

Conflict of Interest, by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. B-plus. Produced by Brilliance Audio and purchased through Audio Bookstand.

Joanne is an assistant prosecuting attorney. She is handling a case of three men charged with burglary. They each have separate attorneys, with one of the three, Ian, having a private attorney because the attorney was the cousin of Ian’s mother and was representing him as a favor to her. Ian is developmentally disabled. He drove the getaway car and didn’t know there was a robbery planned and committed by the other two. The other two brothers took advantage of him in many other ways as well. His attorney made a lunch date with the assistant prosecutor to try to get Ian’s case seen differently from the other two. In the course of this meeting, they both learn that they are recovering from past tragedies. Joann’s husband embezzled a great deal of money from his employer. When he knew that Joann had found out, he was afraid she would turn him in, so he left her and took the two children. They were on the run for two years and he told the children that their mother had left with another man and didn’t love them. Joann had just recently gotten the children back. Ian’s attorney’s son had committed suicide and his father couldn’t figure out why, even after five years. As both attorneys continue to become better friends and deal with their own tragedies, and as the case unfolds, Ian disappears. His mother is convinced that the two brothers who had him virtually as a prisoner had killed him. This is a good book with many twists and turns and with a feel-good ending.

[Isabelle Newman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book at an antique shop in Naples because I didn’t have another book to read. I picked it because the cover was pretty and that way even if I didn’t like it it would look cool. I am not one to give up books but this was just objectively bad. The writing was poor the characters were flat, and I didn’t even find the story that compelling.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not sure I wanted to continue reading this book after the first chapter or two. A mentally challenged young man is used by his childhood friend and the friend’s brother and gets involved in a few robberies and could be caught up and lost in the legal system. What I had read so far didn’t seem to bode well for this young man. I’m glad I picked this up again and finished this book.

This is a very well written mystery. The twist and turns in this book just leave you on the edge of your seat and keep you hooked. It was a very satisfying book.

I know I have one more of her books on my Kindle – maybe two. I can’t wait to get to those to see what treat I may have in store.

[Nickitopster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to be critical because wrting a book is hard work. But I don't know why it's getting all the 5 and 4 stars because 1) the writing wasn't very good, 2) don't writers use editors to check spelling and grammar (e.g., "when did you father die?" There were others that someone else pointed out) and 3) it was as if the author couldn't decide on how many plots he wanted to cram in the book. We had the legal case, the marital issues, the murder mystery, the parents' relatioship; heck, the only thing missing was a space landing! Sorry, but I'm not going to be looking for more books from this author unless he takes writing lessons.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prosecutor develops sympathy for the defendant based on his mental disabilities, and initiates further investigation of a robbery case. Interwoven into this plot is the story of her own recovery from the trauma of her children’s abduction by her ex-husband. It doesn’t all hang together perfectly, but well enough to result in a suspenseful narrative.

[SethMantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The one word for the writing in this? Facile. Perhaps pretentious as well, but by merit of being a facile book entry with such a serious-sounding name. I do strongly empathize with the social mission depicted, however, but the feel-good ending was just kitsch. Six years after having read it, I remember a trite insubstantial love story in the mix.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know when she hit her stride, but Conflict of Interest (2002) demonstrates a mature talent. She's written her characters with unflinching honesty, and interwoven their stories masterfully.

[Karla Lokker]

Currently reading-very good crime book

[Justging]

Everything she writes will keep you turning pages and wanting more.

[Catyana Falsetti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too emotional

[Lynn Calvin]

ereader ebook

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery, centered in Ventura County. I've liked her other books.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was ok, but the writing style was rather immature.

[Mistressofmetal Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't bare to read stopping at chapter 6... characters are too immature and not pleased with the writing style. epic failure!

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read and "almost" predictable! It's nostalgic to read books by authors from your past, and I always liked Nancy Taylor Rosenberg.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 12/02

[Jim Moffett · Rating 4 out of 5]

07-02

[Andrew Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, but fun, read. Joanna is a great lead and the introduction of a love interest late in the book adds a nice touch.

[Pat Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I discovered there a number of books with the same title. This one is patetically trite.