The Bad Witness

Sally Harrington #4

by Laura Van Wormer

Sally Harrington is a bad witness . . .

Called to testify in the sensational "Mafia Boss Murder" trial unfolding in sunny California, journalist Sally Harrington is a key witness for the defense. Unfortunately, Sally knows more than she'd like to about the accused. After all, the East Coast mobster once tried to have her killed.

But it isn't until Sally’s life is threatened once again that things really get interesting. That's when the defense counsel accuses Sally -- his own witness -- of being more interested in the attractive police officer who's now protecting her than in being a witness.

This is Sally's world -- where Sally is making more news than she is reporting. And whether the danger and intrigue involve Hollywood stars or celebrated Mafia dons, Sally Harrington is determined to get to the truth and see that justice is done. Of course, she may just take a few hair-raising and romantic detours along the way . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Laura Van Wormer grew up in Darien, Connecticut, graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and has spent most of her adult life working in publishing. She is the author of eleven previous novels. The Kill Fee is the fifth in the Sally Harrington series, although some of the characters - most notably the group at DBS News - are in her earlier novels Riverside Drive, West End, Any Given Moment and Talk.

Laura divides her time between Manhattan and Meriden, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light legal/romantic thriller. An easy read. Plot wasn't all that deep, secondary characters personal lives being examined slowed the pace down a little. But over all entertaining, and at times funny and maybe a little silly. But, I'm not hard to please.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this romantic suspense from 2002, Sally Harrington is a producer for New York's DBS news. She's in Los Angeles due to being a witness at a murder trial. Much of the story takes place in the courtroom but Sally has lots of drama outside it also.

Sally was witty and spunky. Her love interest, police officer Paul, seemed cute and sweet but wimpy. Definitely not impressive. The story was told in Sally's POV. There is a lot of drama in the newsroom. If you like mobster plots and back and forth testimony on the witness stand, you might try this book. There really wasn't too much romance but I didn't feel the suspense either.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was all over the board, didn’t really entice my interest.

[Julia Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like fiction - but this was too far-fetched, and I found the title character to be a little ditzy and not particularly likeable. It was an okay read - but I was eagerly looking forward to my next book.

[Robin Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny but couldn't put it down

[Diane Niksa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average fictional tale. Some rather far fetched. Skimmed through sections just to finish it up.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this 3 1/2 stars. This is the first of these books I have read, but I think the testimony in the trial in this book covered the events of the previous books. I'm not sure about that, but I certainly didn't feel lost or like I was missing anything. The book I read was an uncorrected proof, and it was REALLY uncorrected. I tried not to let it drive me too crazy, but it did. A lot of it was straight dialogue, almost a transcript from the courtroom testimony. I think those scenes could have been a little smoother. I liked Sally though, I thought she was a good character. Even the romance didn't bother me, though her constant waffling started to get irritating. I wouldn't mind seeing what Sally's up to next.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't been reading much at the time when i read this book and it got me into doing some more reading. It's sort of a "TV show" of books; pretty easy to read and entertaining. Just the right fit for an intellectual lightweight such as myself.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Sally is a very intersting character who is always getting into some kind of trouble.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 11/02

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. It is the first one I have read by Laura Van Wormer. Sally Harrington is a good character. The plot was good with great twists. But it lacked something that I can't put my finger on.

[Remma Kinyua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome and strong willed character.The Sally-type are rare