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Innocent Prisoners Project #1
Unintended Consequences
Nineteen years ago, Indiana police found the body of a young girl, burned beyond recognition and buried in the woods. They arrested George Calhoun for murdering his daughter, and his wife testified against him at the trial. George maintains he didn’t do it. That the body isn’t his little Angelina. But that’s all he’s ever said—no other defense, no other explanation. The jury convicted him. Now his appeals have been exhausted, and his execution is just six weeks away.
Dani Trumball, an attorney for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project, wants to believe him. After all, there was no forensic evidence to prove that the body in the woods was George’s daughter. But if the girl isn’t Angelina, then who is it? And what happened to the Calhouns’ missing daughter? Despite the odds, the questions push Dani to take the case.
For nineteen years, George Calhoun has stayed silent. But he’s ready to talk, and if the story he tells Dani is true, it changes everything.
Dani Trumball, an attorney for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project, wants to believe him. After all, there was no forensic evidence to prove that the body in the woods was George’s daughter. But if the girl isn’t Angelina, then who is it? And what happened to the Calhouns’ missing daughter? Despite the odds, the questions push Dani to take the case.
For nineteen years, George Calhoun has stayed silent. But he’s ready to talk, and if the story he tells Dani is true, it changes everything.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 16, 2012
798 people are currently reading
2741 people want to read
About the author
Marti Green
8 books163 followersAfter receiving her Master of Science degree and New York State Professional Certificate in school psychology, Marti Green realized her true passion was the law. She went on to receive her law degree from Hofstra University and worked as an in-house counsel for a major cable television operator for twenty-three years, specializing in contracts, intellectual property law and regulatory issues.
A lifelong New Yorker, Marti Green moved to The Villages, FL nine years ago, and now lives there with her husband, Lenny, and cat, Howie. She has two adult sons and five grandchildren.
Five books have been published in the Innocent Prisoners Project series with the sixth to be published in the spring of 2020. The first, Unintended Consequences, won first place in the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm awards in the thriller/suspense category, and has reached the number one rank on Amazon's best-selling kindle books list. The Price of Justice won the Silver medal in The Florida Book Awards popular fiction category. The Good Twin, a stand-alone psychological thriller, was published in May 2018.
A lifelong New Yorker, Marti Green moved to The Villages, FL nine years ago, and now lives there with her husband, Lenny, and cat, Howie. She has two adult sons and five grandchildren.
Five books have been published in the Innocent Prisoners Project series with the sixth to be published in the spring of 2020. The first, Unintended Consequences, won first place in the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm awards in the thriller/suspense category, and has reached the number one rank on Amazon's best-selling kindle books list. The Price of Justice won the Silver medal in The Florida Book Awards popular fiction category. The Good Twin, a stand-alone psychological thriller, was published in May 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
March 20, 2017
After being on death row for 20 years George Calhoun, who was convicted of his daughters death, still maintains his innocence. When he has six weeks left, and all of his appeals have been exhausted, the Help Innocent Prisoners Agency takes his case. This story has a huge twist that if investigated properly would change many lives, not just the man who is to be executed. I enjoyed this conflicting, crime mystery. The weeding through so many leads and wrong turns of an important decision made so many years ago, kept this plot going at a suspenseful, break neck speed. It's hard to say too much because spoilers would definitely ruin the the ride. It is on sale for $.99 on Audible right now.
November 27, 2019
I read it so you won’t have to.
March 8, 2013
I stayed up until 2 AM to finish UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, that’s how engrossing it was
Dani Trumball worked as a lawyer for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project in New York City. While her job was preparing cases and presenting them in court, a letter from a man sentenced to be executed in six weeks in Indiana grabbed her attention. It read, “I loved my little girl and only wanted to help her....Maybe I deserve to die, but it’s not because I killed my little girl.”
George Cahoun was sentenced to death seventeen years earlier after his four-year-old daughter, Angelina, disappeared and the badly burned body of a three or four-year-old girl was found buried in a forest. A witness saw a man going into the woods carrying a large package. George’s wife, Sallie, testified against him and said they both killed her. She was serving a 25 to life sentence in another prison in Indiana. They had had no contact over the years.
Dani was given the job of determining whether George was actually innocent or if he was just claiming to be to get out of prison. If he was innocent, she had only six weeks to find a cause for retrial or reversal.
She and her team checked records, spoke to the Calhouns and many others involved in the case and she decided he was indeed innocent. She used two major paths to stay the execution: Showing that his lawyer did not do his job properly and that the child in the grave was not his daughter.
One of the major obstacles was finding out what happened to Angelina. I don’t want to spoil the story so I will just say the problem has not disappeared though there are programs in place to make it less likely today.
The book introduced me to two new pieces of information: Williams Syndrom, a rare genetic disorder and Martindale Hubbell, a site that provides ratings on lawyers throughout the country.
The story, predictably, had Dani running into a lot of frustration as her appeals were rejected and she tried to find out what happened to Angelina: Was hers the child in the grave? If not, who was that child? What happened to Angelina: On the whole, the situations are plausible and the plot moves forward at a quick pace. At the end, all the loose ends are tied up
I found one bit of snobbery Marti Green’s writing: “She hated country music, which inevitably was the only music she could find on the dial outside New York.” Dani was traveling in Indiana and other states in the upper Midwest. There are a lot of radio stations that play rock and roll, blues, jazz, and classical music in that area.
This book was a free Amazon Kindle download.
Dani Trumball worked as a lawyer for the Help Innocent Prisoners Project in New York City. While her job was preparing cases and presenting them in court, a letter from a man sentenced to be executed in six weeks in Indiana grabbed her attention. It read, “I loved my little girl and only wanted to help her....Maybe I deserve to die, but it’s not because I killed my little girl.”
George Cahoun was sentenced to death seventeen years earlier after his four-year-old daughter, Angelina, disappeared and the badly burned body of a three or four-year-old girl was found buried in a forest. A witness saw a man going into the woods carrying a large package. George’s wife, Sallie, testified against him and said they both killed her. She was serving a 25 to life sentence in another prison in Indiana. They had had no contact over the years.
Dani was given the job of determining whether George was actually innocent or if he was just claiming to be to get out of prison. If he was innocent, she had only six weeks to find a cause for retrial or reversal.
She and her team checked records, spoke to the Calhouns and many others involved in the case and she decided he was indeed innocent. She used two major paths to stay the execution: Showing that his lawyer did not do his job properly and that the child in the grave was not his daughter.
One of the major obstacles was finding out what happened to Angelina. I don’t want to spoil the story so I will just say the problem has not disappeared though there are programs in place to make it less likely today.
The book introduced me to two new pieces of information: Williams Syndrom, a rare genetic disorder and Martindale Hubbell, a site that provides ratings on lawyers throughout the country.
The story, predictably, had Dani running into a lot of frustration as her appeals were rejected and she tried to find out what happened to Angelina: Was hers the child in the grave? If not, who was that child? What happened to Angelina: On the whole, the situations are plausible and the plot moves forward at a quick pace. At the end, all the loose ends are tied up
I found one bit of snobbery Marti Green’s writing: “She hated country music, which inevitably was the only music she could find on the dial outside New York.” Dani was traveling in Indiana and other states in the upper Midwest. There are a lot of radio stations that play rock and roll, blues, jazz, and classical music in that area.
This book was a free Amazon Kindle download.
September 13, 2013
In 1990 George Calhoun felt he had no way out, no other means to help the one thing that is absolutely precious to him…so he did something he thought he’d never do. Ask yourself these questions; how much would you do for your child? Especially if that child was gravely ill and you had absolutely no means of helping them? The state system tells you that your income is too high to qualify for medical benefits yet your job does not offer the benefits you so desperately need? As a parent I know the battle George faced – I’ve been there, done that, lost my insurance, was unable to obtain medical benefits for myself and my husband but we were able to get insurance for the kids, thankfully – but then your faced with difficult decisions…take care of you or take care of child. George thankfully did not have that internal battle, it was all about his baby girl…yet we know as a parent that we would do absolutely anything for our children, even if that means doing the unthinkable. Only he knows the truth and it's up to Dani Trumball and HIPP to find out the truth!
This book grabbed me from the off! The minute I opened it until the very end! If I didn’t have work and family obligations I would not have put it down. The way the author interwove all of the characters' back stories, how their past history and current lives affect the way each character approaches the case and what that will ultimately mean for George and the final outcome. The means in which Marti takes to walk the reader through the appeals process, the court process and just what the system was like in 1990 vs. modern day is not like anything I have read previously. Unlike a normal crime-legal-mystery novel this one did not introduce the “voice” of the criminal until more than half way into it, so the reader is left wondering what actually happened to the child found in the woods – how does George Calhoun and Dani’s HIPP office fit into the equation? The suspense and intrigue of the case and the means that Dani is willing to take to achieve her goal of freeing George keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last word! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Crime Novels!
This book grabbed me from the off! The minute I opened it until the very end! If I didn’t have work and family obligations I would not have put it down. The way the author interwove all of the characters' back stories, how their past history and current lives affect the way each character approaches the case and what that will ultimately mean for George and the final outcome. The means in which Marti takes to walk the reader through the appeals process, the court process and just what the system was like in 1990 vs. modern day is not like anything I have read previously. Unlike a normal crime-legal-mystery novel this one did not introduce the “voice” of the criminal until more than half way into it, so the reader is left wondering what actually happened to the child found in the woods – how does George Calhoun and Dani’s HIPP office fit into the equation? The suspense and intrigue of the case and the means that Dani is willing to take to achieve her goal of freeing George keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last word! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Crime Novels!
April 22, 2014
The storyline on this "thriller" is fairly good but the book is so full of superfluous sidelines that I found it, overall, pretty boring. This is a story about a man accused of murdering his own daughter and sentenced to death, and the final hour efforts of an attorney to prove he didn't do it. This is a story you might see on an hour-long detective show but dragged out into a book. The writing is quite elementary.
If you want a quick read (which would be a lot quicker without all the sideline silliness), this is okay...just okay.
If you want a quick read (which would be a lot quicker without all the sideline silliness), this is okay...just okay.
September 16, 2019
Vor Gericht gilt weder der gesunde Menschenverstand noch Empathie, genauso wenig wie im Gesundheitssystem. - Das ganze ist fast ein Plädoyer gegen die Todesstrafe.
Vor 19 Jahren wurde die Leiche eines verbrannten Mädchens im Wald gefunden. George Calhoun erklärte, es sei nicht seine verschwundene Tochter Angelina, während seine Frau behauptete sie hätten das Mädchen gemeinsam umgebracht. Damit hat sie ihn in die Todeszelle geschickt.
Seine Berufungen wurden abgewiesen. er hat nur noch wenig Zeit bis zur Hinrichtung.
Anwältin Dani Trumball und ihr Team von HIPP, die unschuldigen Verurteilten helfen, wollen die Wahrheit herausfinden. Aber es ist ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit und das System und irgendjemand hat etwas gegen ihre Ermittlungen...
Als Leser tappt man lange im Dunkeln, malt sich alle möglichen Szenarien aus, was passiert sein könnte und nichts macht wirklich Sinn. Dazu kommen immer mehr Fragen. Wer war das Mädchen? Was ist Angelina passiert? Warum behauptet die Mutter sie hätten sie getötet? Was verschweigt George?
Das Emotionale fesselt direkt, das schnelle Tempo, der komplexe Plot, die vielen Fragen, die Twists und ständigen Rückschläge - alles zusammen machen das Buch durchgehend interessant.
Fragwürdig getroffene Entscheidungen, voreingenommene Beteiligte tragen toll zum Verlauf bei.
Dann kommen die Twists, die alles verändern und ihm doch nicht helfen können. Den Weg eines Unschuldigen zu begleiten, der durch alle Instanzen Rückschläge einstecken muss, ist frustrierend und traurig.
Nur ist die mühevolle Kleinarbeit oft Schritt für Schritt, sehr detailliert dargestellt, was für Längen sorgt.
Gleichzeitig wirkt es nicht überdramatisiert sondern eher authentisch und nachvollziehbar, dass so ziemlich alles schlief läuft und die Endlosschleife aus Frust, Druck und Verzweiflung wird gut transportiert.
Dani, ihr Team und ihre Familie sind sympathisch und man lernt sie gerne kennen. Allgemein gefällt mir die Idee hinter der Serie. Einfach mal nicht die klassische Polizeiarbeit, was Anderes als die klassischen Thriller.
Nur gab es hier den wohl größten Fehler, der mir je in einem Buch begegnet ist. Da wird 9/11 wird zum "berüchtigten 9.November". Wie kann das denn keiner bemerken?!
Vor 19 Jahren wurde die Leiche eines verbrannten Mädchens im Wald gefunden. George Calhoun erklärte, es sei nicht seine verschwundene Tochter Angelina, während seine Frau behauptete sie hätten das Mädchen gemeinsam umgebracht. Damit hat sie ihn in die Todeszelle geschickt.
Seine Berufungen wurden abgewiesen. er hat nur noch wenig Zeit bis zur Hinrichtung.
Anwältin Dani Trumball und ihr Team von HIPP, die unschuldigen Verurteilten helfen, wollen die Wahrheit herausfinden. Aber es ist ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit und das System und irgendjemand hat etwas gegen ihre Ermittlungen...
Als Leser tappt man lange im Dunkeln, malt sich alle möglichen Szenarien aus, was passiert sein könnte und nichts macht wirklich Sinn. Dazu kommen immer mehr Fragen. Wer war das Mädchen? Was ist Angelina passiert? Warum behauptet die Mutter sie hätten sie getötet? Was verschweigt George?
Das Emotionale fesselt direkt, das schnelle Tempo, der komplexe Plot, die vielen Fragen, die Twists und ständigen Rückschläge - alles zusammen machen das Buch durchgehend interessant.
Fragwürdig getroffene Entscheidungen, voreingenommene Beteiligte tragen toll zum Verlauf bei.
Dann kommen die Twists, die alles verändern und ihm doch nicht helfen können. Den Weg eines Unschuldigen zu begleiten, der durch alle Instanzen Rückschläge einstecken muss, ist frustrierend und traurig.
Nur ist die mühevolle Kleinarbeit oft Schritt für Schritt, sehr detailliert dargestellt, was für Längen sorgt.
Gleichzeitig wirkt es nicht überdramatisiert sondern eher authentisch und nachvollziehbar, dass so ziemlich alles schlief läuft und die Endlosschleife aus Frust, Druck und Verzweiflung wird gut transportiert.
Dani, ihr Team und ihre Familie sind sympathisch und man lernt sie gerne kennen. Allgemein gefällt mir die Idee hinter der Serie. Einfach mal nicht die klassische Polizeiarbeit, was Anderes als die klassischen Thriller.
Nur gab es hier den wohl größten Fehler, der mir je in einem Buch begegnet ist. Da wird 9/11 wird zum "berüchtigten 9.November". Wie kann das denn keiner bemerken?!
April 19, 2015
This was a very entertaining read for me. I really like legal dramas and this one was particularly emotional, considering the frame of the story.
The main character, Dani Trumball, is an attorney that works with the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP), she is confronted with the decision of taking on a new case to defend George Calhoun, a man that is on death row and only a few weeks away from his execution. He and his wife were convicted of murdering their your daughter 17 years earlier, but he claims innocence. What follows is an intense chase for the truth and evidence, filled with lots of interesting developments.
Overall this is a light read but it has some intense moments with many of the characters involved on a wild, crazy chase for evidence in order to save a man's life.
I found particularly interesting to learn about how this types of lawyer networks ( in real life I know of The Innocence Project) decides which cases to take, considering that I guess in prison everybody claims to be innocent, and these organizations have limited resources. Learning about the inner workings of a justice system designed to maintain the status quo was quite disturbing.
Dani Trumball, is a likable character, a professional woman that also has to deal with the challenges of having a son with Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder that can caused various levels of retardation. So she has a pretty intense life, and I am sure that many of us modern women can sympathize with her.
This book might or it might not make you reconsider your position on the death penalty, but at the very least it can help you put yourself in the shoes of somebody who's in dead row and claims to be innocent, and learn a little bit about America's legal system with all its limitations and shortcomings.
If you are into legal thrillers, similar to Scott Turow & John Grisham's, you will probably enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
The main character, Dani Trumball, is an attorney that works with the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP), she is confronted with the decision of taking on a new case to defend George Calhoun, a man that is on death row and only a few weeks away from his execution. He and his wife were convicted of murdering their your daughter 17 years earlier, but he claims innocence. What follows is an intense chase for the truth and evidence, filled with lots of interesting developments.
Overall this is a light read but it has some intense moments with many of the characters involved on a wild, crazy chase for evidence in order to save a man's life.
I found particularly interesting to learn about how this types of lawyer networks ( in real life I know of The Innocence Project) decides which cases to take, considering that I guess in prison everybody claims to be innocent, and these organizations have limited resources. Learning about the inner workings of a justice system designed to maintain the status quo was quite disturbing.
Dani Trumball, is a likable character, a professional woman that also has to deal with the challenges of having a son with Williams syndrome, a genetic disorder that can caused various levels of retardation. So she has a pretty intense life, and I am sure that many of us modern women can sympathize with her.
This book might or it might not make you reconsider your position on the death penalty, but at the very least it can help you put yourself in the shoes of somebody who's in dead row and claims to be innocent, and learn a little bit about America's legal system with all its limitations and shortcomings.
If you are into legal thrillers, similar to Scott Turow & John Grisham's, you will probably enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
November 2, 2018
I've been wanting to read this book (well actually this series) for quite some time and I'm glad that I did! You always want to read about a happy ending, but I really like the idea of the innocent prisoner's project and the type of work this book is about!
It was nice unraveling the story of George and Angelina!
I can't wait to read the rest in the series!
It was nice unraveling the story of George and Angelina!
I can't wait to read the rest in the series!
February 24, 2013
Unintended Consequences by Marti Green is a fictional crime/legal thriller full of suspense and nail biting activity. I had to check before I starting writing this review to make sure this was a work of fiction since it was so believable. It could have been a story of non-fiction since there really is an organization that tries to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals and although the story line was a bit twisted, it could have been true. What further adds to the believably of the story is that the main character was at times in turmoil and has uncertainties of whether to take this case and later on to go home to be with her sick son. There are other instances of this kind of 'real world issues' effecting the story too. Luckily Dani had a good head on her shoulders, a great team, and a supportive and understanding husband.
Dani Trumball, an attorney with Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) receives a letter written by George Calhoun claiming he didn't kill his little girl although he has been in prison over nineteen years and is waiting on Death Row with only six weeks until his execution. Dani normally don't take child murder cases but found she was haunted by Mr. Calhoun's plea of innocence. After going to the meet him, Dani learns some disturbing facts about his conviction including that his attorney at the time didn't order any kind of blood test or DNA test to prove the burnt body of the child found buried in the woods was indeed Mr. Calhoun's daughter, Angelina. The attorney claims he had Mrs. Calhoun's confession saying that her husband killed their little girl and that was enough proof and there was no need to go any further. More importantly Dani learns the answer to some burning questions, such as why Mr. Calhoun kept saying the girl found in the woods wasn't his daughter, why Mrs. Calhoun said that her husband killed Angelina, what really happened to Angelina Calhoun, and why her father remained silent for so long, now all she had to do was prove it.
This wasn't a clear cut case which made it more believable. There were obstacles to overcome and that ever present clicking of the clock counting down the minutes Mr. Calhoun had to live. Then there was the mystery of why the key person ended up dead and who left the death threat on the car of one of the HIPP workers. All this going on while trying to answer the two main questions, if the body found in the woods wasn't Angelina's, then who's was it, and who killed and buried her there. Further adding to the believably of the story was the realization that the system was not perfect and at times it fails. There was also the added acknowledgement that some lawyers are in it for the money and not the best interest of their client as well as the ever so present lack of commitment from those higher up because of political reasons. Even Dani had issues when she was torn between being there for her client and being away from her son, Jonah who has William's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that caused mild retardation, when he became ill.
I totally enjoyed the story which had me turning page after page to see who lives or dies and what happens next. Some of the story was predictable but certainly not all of it and at times had me on the edge of my seat. I think it was well written with a good pace. I felt the main characters were developed sufficiently and I especially felt connected with Dani. I would recommend this to anyone who likes crime/legal thrillers although I would guess that mothers could relate more closely with the characters/story.
Dani Trumball, an attorney with Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) receives a letter written by George Calhoun claiming he didn't kill his little girl although he has been in prison over nineteen years and is waiting on Death Row with only six weeks until his execution. Dani normally don't take child murder cases but found she was haunted by Mr. Calhoun's plea of innocence. After going to the meet him, Dani learns some disturbing facts about his conviction including that his attorney at the time didn't order any kind of blood test or DNA test to prove the burnt body of the child found buried in the woods was indeed Mr. Calhoun's daughter, Angelina. The attorney claims he had Mrs. Calhoun's confession saying that her husband killed their little girl and that was enough proof and there was no need to go any further. More importantly Dani learns the answer to some burning questions, such as why Mr. Calhoun kept saying the girl found in the woods wasn't his daughter, why Mrs. Calhoun said that her husband killed Angelina, what really happened to Angelina Calhoun, and why her father remained silent for so long, now all she had to do was prove it.
This wasn't a clear cut case which made it more believable. There were obstacles to overcome and that ever present clicking of the clock counting down the minutes Mr. Calhoun had to live. Then there was the mystery of why the key person ended up dead and who left the death threat on the car of one of the HIPP workers. All this going on while trying to answer the two main questions, if the body found in the woods wasn't Angelina's, then who's was it, and who killed and buried her there. Further adding to the believably of the story was the realization that the system was not perfect and at times it fails. There was also the added acknowledgement that some lawyers are in it for the money and not the best interest of their client as well as the ever so present lack of commitment from those higher up because of political reasons. Even Dani had issues when she was torn between being there for her client and being away from her son, Jonah who has William's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that caused mild retardation, when he became ill.
I totally enjoyed the story which had me turning page after page to see who lives or dies and what happens next. Some of the story was predictable but certainly not all of it and at times had me on the edge of my seat. I think it was well written with a good pace. I felt the main characters were developed sufficiently and I especially felt connected with Dani. I would recommend this to anyone who likes crime/legal thrillers although I would guess that mothers could relate more closely with the characters/story.
July 9, 2015
Marti Green’s UNITENDED CONSEQUENCES (Help Innocent Prisoners Project #1), a riveting and emotional journey of one man’s sacrifice to save his daughter, and a flawed criminal justice system, of murder, and corruption for page-turner legal crime thriller.
Attorney Dani Trumball, is an Ivy League trained lawyer devoted both to seeking justice for the wrongly convicted and to her husband and son. A driven attorney defending the wrongfully imprisoned at the non-profit Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP)— Dani is one tough cookie, fighting to help those who cannot help themselves, with tenacity and determination, overcoming insurmountable obstacles in a world of poor health care, legal injustice, corruption, greed, and politics.
Dani feels compelled to take on a case of a man on death row, nearing execution, and after receiving a note requesting help—she thinks he may be innocent and is in a race against time to overturn the sentence.
George Calhoun claims he did not kill his four year old daughter, Angelina and has been in prison serving his sentence for over nineteen years, within six weeks of his execution. The body of a young girl was found burned beyond recognition and buried in the woods. Even though there was no evidence, his wife testified against him at the trial and was convicted. Many questions surface as to why does he now want to clear his name after nineteen years? Why did the wife testify against him and how does he know this is not his daughter; if not, whose body was buried and where is his daughter?
What happens next is a complicated and complex web of deceit and lies with two different stories connecting for an explosive conclusion. (Nothing is as it appears). Green delivers a heart-pounding page turner, leaving you glued to the pages, as you learn the fate and motives of all the characters involved in this heartfelt saga.
Those who enjoy courtroom drama, family drama, tough challenges and obstacles as one strong female attorney fights the system against all odds, in order to deliver justice. I listened to the audio book narrated by Tanya Eby for a suspenseful performance.
Green keeps you guessing the identity of the killer for a suspenseful and intriguing drama. Would recommend reading her latest book, Presumption of Guilt for a continuation of tenacious Dani Trumball with book two in the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) as she battles legal injustice and corruption, coming to the defense of the innocent.
The Price of Justice 7/21/2015
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Attorney Dani Trumball, is an Ivy League trained lawyer devoted both to seeking justice for the wrongly convicted and to her husband and son. A driven attorney defending the wrongfully imprisoned at the non-profit Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP)— Dani is one tough cookie, fighting to help those who cannot help themselves, with tenacity and determination, overcoming insurmountable obstacles in a world of poor health care, legal injustice, corruption, greed, and politics.
Dani feels compelled to take on a case of a man on death row, nearing execution, and after receiving a note requesting help—she thinks he may be innocent and is in a race against time to overturn the sentence.
George Calhoun claims he did not kill his four year old daughter, Angelina and has been in prison serving his sentence for over nineteen years, within six weeks of his execution. The body of a young girl was found burned beyond recognition and buried in the woods. Even though there was no evidence, his wife testified against him at the trial and was convicted. Many questions surface as to why does he now want to clear his name after nineteen years? Why did the wife testify against him and how does he know this is not his daughter; if not, whose body was buried and where is his daughter?
What happens next is a complicated and complex web of deceit and lies with two different stories connecting for an explosive conclusion. (Nothing is as it appears). Green delivers a heart-pounding page turner, leaving you glued to the pages, as you learn the fate and motives of all the characters involved in this heartfelt saga.
Those who enjoy courtroom drama, family drama, tough challenges and obstacles as one strong female attorney fights the system against all odds, in order to deliver justice. I listened to the audio book narrated by Tanya Eby for a suspenseful performance.
Green keeps you guessing the identity of the killer for a suspenseful and intriguing drama. Would recommend reading her latest book, Presumption of Guilt for a continuation of tenacious Dani Trumball with book two in the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) as she battles legal injustice and corruption, coming to the defense of the innocent.
The Price of Justice 7/21/2015
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
December 31, 2012
In the interests of full disclosure, I got the Kindle version of this book at no cost. That said, before I download any book - even if it's free - I do some checking to be relatively sure I won't be wasting my time. This one seemed right up my alley; 19 years ago, a Pennsylvania man was convicted of killing his daughter, burning her beyond recognition and burying her in rural Indiana. Now facing execution in just a few weeks, he's making a last-ditch effort have the conviction overturned.
That in and of itself sounded appealing (no pun intended), but the fact that I'm a Hoosier by birth and now live 15 minutes away from Pennsylvania added to my interest. When I learned the book had won first place in the suspense category of the Royal Palm Literary competition, I figured there was a better-than-average chance I wouldn't be disappointed.
Right away, I ran into still another "personal" connection: Dani Trumball, the attorney who works for the New York City-based Help Innocent Prisoners Project and has agreed to take on the case, has a last name eerily similar to Trumbull, the Ohio county in which I've lived for more than 50 years. Well, even if the book turns out to be a bit trite - after all, I've read my share of books and seen enough TV shows that focus on pulling rabbits out of hats to save innocent prisoners from electric chairs or lethal injections - I'll at least get a kick out of reading about familiar ground.
Happily, although much of the book happens in places I've been, I got much more than that. To be sure, it's the same old wading through pages with baited breath - can they, will they, solve the case in time to save the innocent man (if, that is, he's really innocent)? But the author does the whole thing expertly and effectively, always keeping me hoping (but never sure) that all will work out in the end as Trumball and her team try to unravel enough of the mystery and gather sufficient evidence of their client's innocence to convince the powers-that-be to let him live.
Are they successful? I'll never tell. What I will do, though, is say this one's a winner in my book. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.
That in and of itself sounded appealing (no pun intended), but the fact that I'm a Hoosier by birth and now live 15 minutes away from Pennsylvania added to my interest. When I learned the book had won first place in the suspense category of the Royal Palm Literary competition, I figured there was a better-than-average chance I wouldn't be disappointed.
Right away, I ran into still another "personal" connection: Dani Trumball, the attorney who works for the New York City-based Help Innocent Prisoners Project and has agreed to take on the case, has a last name eerily similar to Trumbull, the Ohio county in which I've lived for more than 50 years. Well, even if the book turns out to be a bit trite - after all, I've read my share of books and seen enough TV shows that focus on pulling rabbits out of hats to save innocent prisoners from electric chairs or lethal injections - I'll at least get a kick out of reading about familiar ground.
Happily, although much of the book happens in places I've been, I got much more than that. To be sure, it's the same old wading through pages with baited breath - can they, will they, solve the case in time to save the innocent man (if, that is, he's really innocent)? But the author does the whole thing expertly and effectively, always keeping me hoping (but never sure) that all will work out in the end as Trumball and her team try to unravel enough of the mystery and gather sufficient evidence of their client's innocence to convince the powers-that-be to let him live.
Are they successful? I'll never tell. What I will do, though, is say this one's a winner in my book. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.
April 30, 2013
I was asked by the author to review this book and received a free copy in exchange.
This is a gripping story that combines several elements. It's not just a murder mystery. In fact, the who/why/where surrounding the burned body of a little girl takes a second seat to the death sentence and the legal maneuvering to try and save George Calhoun.
The execution of George Calhoun, convicted of murdering his daughter, will take place in 6 weeks. Dani Trumball, an attorney at the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) believes he's innocent and she has to race against the clock to find a way to prove it before all his chances are gone. George's conviction rests on the discovery of the burned body of a little girl, believed to be the Calhoun's daughter, who has disappeared, and his wife's insistence that George killed their daughter. George insists the remains are not those of his daughter, but he refuses to say what actually happened to her.
This race against time is an obstacle course; or rather, a minefield. For one thing, the case is 17 years old. Even without red tape and people who don't have the same sense of urgency as the HIPP team, it's difficult to investigate a case that old. People have died or moved away, memories aren't as sharp as they used to be. I had a difficult time putting it down.
My only criticism is the amount of time spent on things the reader doesn't really need to know and that didn't move the story forward. There's a fair number of words spent of travel and food details I felt were unnecessary. I think the story would have moved faster without them, but overall it didn't detract that much from my enjoyment. I was still eager to find out how the story ended and I just blew over those parts.
This book will keep you reading and make you think. It's a great deal for the price.
This is a gripping story that combines several elements. It's not just a murder mystery. In fact, the who/why/where surrounding the burned body of a little girl takes a second seat to the death sentence and the legal maneuvering to try and save George Calhoun.
The execution of George Calhoun, convicted of murdering his daughter, will take place in 6 weeks. Dani Trumball, an attorney at the Help Innocent Prisoners Project (HIPP) believes he's innocent and she has to race against the clock to find a way to prove it before all his chances are gone. George's conviction rests on the discovery of the burned body of a little girl, believed to be the Calhoun's daughter, who has disappeared, and his wife's insistence that George killed their daughter. George insists the remains are not those of his daughter, but he refuses to say what actually happened to her.
This race against time is an obstacle course; or rather, a minefield. For one thing, the case is 17 years old. Even without red tape and people who don't have the same sense of urgency as the HIPP team, it's difficult to investigate a case that old. People have died or moved away, memories aren't as sharp as they used to be. I had a difficult time putting it down.
My only criticism is the amount of time spent on things the reader doesn't really need to know and that didn't move the story forward. There's a fair number of words spent of travel and food details I felt were unnecessary. I think the story would have moved faster without them, but overall it didn't detract that much from my enjoyment. I was still eager to find out how the story ended and I just blew over those parts.
This book will keep you reading and make you think. It's a great deal for the price.
March 8, 2013
I enjoyed every second I spent reading this book. It was a relatively short read for me as I had little else to do today (got in done in one day). I got it as a free kindle book, so I honestly wasn't expecting all that much, but boy was I wrong.
The book starts off with the urgent plea of a man on death row, only 6 weeks away from his final execution, put away for a murder he claims never even happened. Could his crazy story of what really happened to his daughter be true? What about the testimony from his wife that put both of them in jail?
Legalease is not one of the language I speak. Thankfully, though a few more common terms were thrown around, jargon was either skipped or explained inline. The courtroom scenes were interesting and I would be interested in discussing the book with someone who knows how the legal system REALLY works in such cases.
The characters were all well developed and the story line flowed along at a nice pace, with just enough glimpses into several character's homelives to get a feel for them as really being PEOPLE.
I would definitely recommend this book to people who like a little suspense, a little courtroom action, and a good solid story for their afternoon read.
The book starts off with the urgent plea of a man on death row, only 6 weeks away from his final execution, put away for a murder he claims never even happened. Could his crazy story of what really happened to his daughter be true? What about the testimony from his wife that put both of them in jail?
Legalease is not one of the language I speak. Thankfully, though a few more common terms were thrown around, jargon was either skipped or explained inline. The courtroom scenes were interesting and I would be interested in discussing the book with someone who knows how the legal system REALLY works in such cases.
The characters were all well developed and the story line flowed along at a nice pace, with just enough glimpses into several character's homelives to get a feel for them as really being PEOPLE.
I would definitely recommend this book to people who like a little suspense, a little courtroom action, and a good solid story for their afternoon read.
July 7, 2013
I haven't finished the book yet but I know it won't get more than an ok from me. Great premise, average writing, very appropriate stretching of the "suspension of disbelief" until...POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW...
May 26, 2014
It was okay. Much better legal thrillers out there. It was obviously who the girl in the woods was and who the killer was from almost the get go. The sheer number of setbacks the legal team faced as they have appeals rejected at every turn was ridiculous. Then a final reprieve at 3 hours to lethal injection. Ultimately a pretty unsatisfying novel. The language was easy though so it wasn't a hardship to get through it. Would not pursue this authors works.
September 30, 2014
Great book!
The story was captivating. The characters of the story came across as real and the dialogue was believable. The story offered several courtroom drama scenes which I look for in a legal thriller. I am now a fan and look forward to the authors other books.
The story was captivating. The characters of the story came across as real and the dialogue was believable. The story offered several courtroom drama scenes which I look for in a legal thriller. I am now a fan and look forward to the authors other books.
June 13, 2019
Mini-Review:
3 Stars for Characters
3 Stars for Story Concepts
2 Stars for Execution
1 Star for Breaking Suspension of Belief
2.5 Stars Rounded up to 3
Is it okay if you have to suspend thinking for a story to work? Nah. The story isn't terrible. It seems to come from a "feel good" place but it's hard to care about the ending when the suspension of belief has been battered into smithereens.
3 Stars for Characters
3 Stars for Story Concepts
2 Stars for Execution
1 Star for Breaking Suspension of Belief
2.5 Stars Rounded up to 3
Is it okay if you have to suspend thinking for a story to work? Nah. The story isn't terrible. It seems to come from a "feel good" place but it's hard to care about the ending when the suspension of belief has been battered into smithereens.
July 26, 2017
An interesting story that I sped through (and that's saying something for me). Legal team do all they can to try and save a man from death row. I enjoyed following their investigation and the sub stories about their personal lives. It's been too long since I read a good legal drama. I'm going out to find me some more!
February 14, 2013
A legal thriller of unparalleled proportions, Marti Green provides an amazing novel in Unintended Consequences. This novel grabbed me in the very first chapter. Green wastes no time with frivolous wordiness as you may sometimes encounter with novelists, she gets straight to the point. The main lawyers are portrayed as really strong characters, knowledgeable and consistent in wanting to get to the truth of the missing girl/murdered girl. Upon purchasing this book I did not really know what to expect. This was my first thriller novel and quite frankly I equated "thriller novel" with gore. Green has none of that in this novel.
Unintended Consequences is a well written novel that catches you early while giving the reader enough twists and turns to keep them off balance of solving the mystery. I quite enjoyed this adventure into the legal system and will be reading more of Marti Green in the near future.
Unintended Consequences is a well written novel that catches you early while giving the reader enough twists and turns to keep them off balance of solving the mystery. I quite enjoyed this adventure into the legal system and will be reading more of Marti Green in the near future.
July 27, 2013
This was a great book! A real page turner! I started this book one night and read two chapter until I was so tired I fell asleep. Then the next night I was up til 4am finishing it! I had to see how it ended.
Long story short - a man (father) is on death row for supposedly killing her daughter. He requests at a few weeks before his death that he seek legal advice to help him get off death row and to find out what happened to his daughter as he stated he had not killed her.
I don't want to give too much away - but it was a really good book. Kept me interested enough to stay up til 4am to finish it. I would read another book by this author as well. I highly recommend it. What also made this book fun for me was reading what was happening in the court room. I always loved movies that had the court room scene in it and this book does it well.
Long story short - a man (father) is on death row for supposedly killing her daughter. He requests at a few weeks before his death that he seek legal advice to help him get off death row and to find out what happened to his daughter as he stated he had not killed her.
I don't want to give too much away - but it was a really good book. Kept me interested enough to stay up til 4am to finish it. I would read another book by this author as well. I highly recommend it. What also made this book fun for me was reading what was happening in the court room. I always loved movies that had the court room scene in it and this book does it well.
February 8, 2013
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I was afraid it would be all "preachy" against the death penalty - but it was really well written and used the story to get the point across. When reading it, you have to ask yourself, would I have made the same choices? Well, if faced with the same situation - very possible. I'm grateful conditions are different today. The main plot line was truly about the HIPP team trying to investigate the innocent claims of a death row inmate. There were several twists and turns along the way that kept the pace pretty quick. Overall, I really liked this book - in addition to a good mystery and legal story, it gave you plenty to think about outside of the book.
December 11, 2012
(This review may contain spoilers).
Okay, so I didn't intend to finish this book today, but I just kept on reading. I formed an empathic connection with the characters almost straight away and ended up reading through some television programs I'd intended to watch. I could feel Dani's frustration each time an appeal was overturned. The suspense was almost nail-biting.
The only thing that kept this from being five stars was the fact that, having a five-year-old niece, my imagination went into overdrive about the horrible things that could happen. But I enjoyed the book and I was incredibly relieved by the ending.
Okay, so I didn't intend to finish this book today, but I just kept on reading. I formed an empathic connection with the characters almost straight away and ended up reading through some television programs I'd intended to watch. I could feel Dani's frustration each time an appeal was overturned. The suspense was almost nail-biting.
The only thing that kept this from being five stars was the fact that, having a five-year-old niece, my imagination went into overdrive about the horrible things that could happen. But I enjoyed the book and I was incredibly relieved by the ending.
August 28, 2016
This book read like a bad soap opera. Tommy calling every woman he met sweetheart and patting their fancies was just disgusting. Instead of smiling at him I think most would have charged him with sexual harassment. Dani breaking down and sobbing every time something didn't go her way was annoying. You're a lawyer for crying out loud; get over it. Of Doug always made her feel better during their honeymoon hour (eyeroll). No surprises at all to the outcome either. Was definitely not a thriller rather a waste of time.
December 19, 2013
Two girls, one presumed dead and the other a burnt corpse.
Two sets of parents, one set waiting for news of their missing girl the other sentenced for killing their child.
What happened to Angelina Calhoun?
We are taken on this mystery with great skill and suspense. Martin Green weaves a wonderful story of desperation, love and secrets. I cannot recommend this read enough.
Two sets of parents, one set waiting for news of their missing girl the other sentenced for killing their child.
What happened to Angelina Calhoun?
We are taken on this mystery with great skill and suspense. Martin Green weaves a wonderful story of desperation, love and secrets. I cannot recommend this read enough.
October 28, 2014
awesome gripping read!
July 27, 2018
Desperate times demand desperate measures. Sometimes trying to do the best for your daughter can land you on death row! This is the premise of Unintended Consequences. I was hooked from the word go. The story is told from the Point of View of Dani, a lawyer who works for an organization that helps people who have not been given due justice and have been wrongfully sentenced. Dani is not sure whether the man she is representing is actually a victim of an unfair system or a child murderer. But her instinct, and a few facts that don't add up, make her take up his case. As the story builds to its climax, it seems like Dani is on an impossible mission. The obstacles are tremendous and yet with her small team she continues to press on. And finally the stunning denouement. An amazing read that could well be based on a true story!
July 30, 2018
It was good, not great, but compelling.
My biggest beef with this book was the ex-FBI character. Did he really fucking grab a female character's butt (to say nothing of calling women "sweetheart" and "honey", etc...)? Did Dani's husband, a law professor at Columbia, REALLY hire actors to come into his classroom and appear to hold him at GUNPOINT just to make a point about the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Both of these almost made me insane and absolutely interfered with my enjoyment of this book. I grew weary reading about Dani's son and marriage.
Still, despite that, I listened to it in two days, and didn't lose interest.
My biggest beef with this book was the ex-FBI character. Did he really fucking grab a female character's butt (to say nothing of calling women "sweetheart" and "honey", etc...)? Did Dani's husband, a law professor at Columbia, REALLY hire actors to come into his classroom and appear to hold him at GUNPOINT just to make a point about the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Both of these almost made me insane and absolutely interfered with my enjoyment of this book. I grew weary reading about Dani's son and marriage.
Still, despite that, I listened to it in two days, and didn't lose interest.
September 3, 2019
In just over 250 pages, Marti Green gives you the most perfect murder mystery/thriller book.
I don't even remember if I breathed during it, there really isn't time, it's so fast paced and I adored that it was set in a sort of real time setting with each chapter ticking down the clock until a potentially innocent man on death row would be killed. The characters were great, the plot line was INSANELY good, an absolute page turner.
I'll be reading the rest of the series ASAP. 5/5.
I don't even remember if I breathed during it, there really isn't time, it's so fast paced and I adored that it was set in a sort of real time setting with each chapter ticking down the clock until a potentially innocent man on death row would be killed. The characters were great, the plot line was INSANELY good, an absolute page turner.
I'll be reading the rest of the series ASAP. 5/5.
July 27, 2018
Great book
This book was interesting from beginning to end. I am very busy but found the time to read it in 3 days. I was never bored reading it .
This book was interesting from beginning to end. I am very busy but found the time to read it in 3 days. I was never bored reading it .
September 28, 2022
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
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