Have you ever come face-to-face with the person who hurt you most in your life? That's exactly what happens to Sandra Morgan, a young and beautiful assistant district attorney. She comes face-to-face with the man who abused her when she was a child when he is on trial in the New Orleans Criminal Court-and Morgan is the prosecutor. A shocking courtroom decision consumes her as she battles with her inner demons in an effort to seek the revenge to which she feels entitled. But after the trial of her life, is there really a winner?
A good first novel. Not my normal type of story to read these days, but it was a quick, mostly easy read. The story was familiar to crime stories, but had its own little twists and turns. I liked the ending and how it wasn't exactly what I'd hoped for or expected. I was sent this book by the author for an honest review, and I'll have a more detailed review on my blog tomorrow. I do also intend to share it with a family member who does read this type of story more often, and see how they would rate it, which may raise my rating.
The first thing I should mention, is that this genre is not a typical read for me. With that being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It was real easy to read and even though it was short, had a decent authentic story that played out fairly well and kept me engaged. I gave this book a four star rating mainly because there is always room for improvement! The only real downside for me is again that it's not my genre and was rather short. I think anyone who enjoys legal dramas, would be thoroughly satisfied by this book. Great job for a new author!
I've been stuck in YA/dystopian novels for quite awhile, and this was a refreshing change. I haven't read any legal mysteries in quite awhile and this book got me interested in them again. Thankfully this was a quick read, because it got my attention and I didn't want to put it down. I finished it in just 2 days, which is uncommon for me. There were a few typos (as if the author changed the writing because words were out of place) towards the end, which was a little distracting trying to determine what was really meant, but overall this is a great book, especially from a first time author. I will watch for more from Arita Bohannan!
I am a lover of a good crime/ court room novel. So I was excited to get this book. This is a book by a first time author and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns, what would I have done in this situation?. I was wanting a little more in some areas, but overall I will definitely recommend this book to all my friends. Would love to see what Arita's next book will be.
A great welcome to a new author. This is a compelling and, at times, heart wrenching story with a strong female protagonist. The setting provides a glimpse into some great historical New Orleans culture.
Lee Lawson is their first suspect. Why? He had been watching little five-year-old Dori Dauzat at his home while his close friends, her parents, were away. Sometime late in the night, he awoke and checked on her; she wasn’t there. He found her at the bottom of the stairs outside the house. She was bloodied, but alive. He called 911, but then seemed to resist handing her over. She was also clinging to him. Detective Curtis is taking the lead on this case. After speaking with Lawson and the girl’s parents, he begins to rule him out as a suspect. After some analysis, they found DNA of one Bruce Gurganus on the duct tape used to tie Dori’s wrists together.
New Orleans Assistant DA Sandra Morgan has been assigned to try Docket No. 76 – State of Louisiana vs. Bruce Garganus. It takes her a while to recognize him, but then she remembers it well. How can she forget? This is the same man – she’s sure of it – who had hurt her when she was only eight-years-old. If she can help it, he’ll never sexually assault another child.
This was an incredibly short read (175 pp), but that’s not to say anything is lacking. In fact, it’s well-packed with sufficient detail and substance. I did feel Sandra lost a bit of focus during the trial, but perhaps that was intentional on the author’s part since Sandra had also been abused by this same man. I just wished she’d been able to put her own feelings on hold so she could do her utmost best for little Dori. This appears to be the author’s debut novel, and as someone who loves Legal Thrillers, I couldn’t have asked for a better psychologically twisted ending. Rating: 4 out of 5.
Docket No. 76 is a legal thriller that is surprisingly packed with vivid details, suspense, action and drama, all in a package of less than 200 pages. Most stories don't reach this level of completeness even after twice and sometimes three times as many pages.
Little Dori has been brutally attacked in the home of her godfather, a well to do architect in New Orleans. He is quickly cleared as a suspect and the hunt goes on for the attacker. Once found, it's the job of ADA Sandy Morgan to bring him to justice.
Docket No. 76 is this case. It's just a number, just one file in the many that come across her desk every day. It's supposed to be an open and shut case. They have fingerprints, DNA and the eyewitness testimony of little 5 year old Dori. Little does Sandy know that her worst nightmare is going to walk into that courtroom. One way or another, she has vowed to get justice for Dori. But will it be justice or vengeance?
The details are striking and vivid, you get a clear picture of every character and the setting. The action is fast paced and while you already know who did it, it's the how will he be brought to justice that has you racing through the pages. The courtroom scenes are gut-wrenching and nearly brought tears to my eyes.
There were a few loose ends that never got tied up, but even that really didn't detract from the story. An engaging story and one that I'm definitely glad that I picked up. I typically don't go for shorter books, but in this case, I'm very happy that I did.
Courtroom drama, fluffy characters, laughable arrogance, mystery with a twist, and New Orleans charm are all covered in Docket No. 76. This novel is entertaining, easy to follow, holds interests to the end, and worth the read.
Simple and direct, Docket No. 76 is an easy read. Arita Bohannan, first-time novelist, leads the audience through a step-by-step courtroom process as the criminal case unfolds. Sandy Morgan, the ADA, unethically handles the case while facing her inner demons of fear, anxiety, and mindset. This novel follows a chronological order of courtroom protocol while exhibiting a slice of life and a little mystery during the read.
The setting takes place mainly in the lovely historical New Orleans. A scene of uptown, downtown, a ghost town shutdown, and even the fine weather had me there with all the familiarities. I appreciated the architectural sites that the novel took me to.
The author doesn’t skip a beat when describing the characters of Docket No. 76. She writes in great detail their fashion choices to reflect personality styles and mannerisms. The defense attorney was one not to forget. His laughable arrogance clouded the courtroom and yet he carried a certain New Orleans charm when he delivered his argument speeches and closing, and even when he made slick small talk with the judge, he was quite amusing.
A great read! This is a heartbreaking story that I just couldn't put down. Ms. Bohannan's writing was crystal clear and captivating, with some interesting twists along the way. I wish more people knew about this book!