The Lovers' Tango

by Mark Rubinstein

Everything in Bill Shaw's life changed the moment he met the beautiful actress Nora Reyes. But as a writer, he feared their love story would have a tragic ending.

Fifteen years after that fateful encounter, Bill is in the DA's crosshairs: his research for a novel has eerie parallels to the circumstances surrounding Nora's death. In a harrowing progression of events, a murder trial ensues. What exactly did happen between Bill and Nora the day she died? And what constitutes truth? Fiction and fact coalesce, as the lines between fantasy and reality, guilt and innocence are blurred. The Lovers' Tango, a story of deeply abiding love, culminates in a shattering conclusion addressing devotion, commitment, and the meanings of truth and justice.

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

Mark Rubinstein graduated from NYU with a degree in business. He then served in the army as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division. After discharge, he re-entered NYU as a premed student.

As a medical student at the State University of New York, he developed an interest in psychiatry, discovering in that specialty the same thing he realized in reading fiction: every patient has a compelling story to tell. He became a board-certified psychiatrist.

In addition to his private practice he became a forensic psychiatrist because of the drama and conflict in the courtroom. He also taught psychiatric residents, interns, psychologists, and social workers at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and became a clinical assistant professor at Cornell University’s medical school.

He is a contributor to Psychology Today and The Huffington Post.

Before turning to fiction, Rubinstein coauthored five medical self-help books: The First Encounter: The Beginnings in Psychotherapy (Jason Aronson); The Complete Book of Cosmetic Facial Surgery (Simon and Schuster); New Choices: the Latest Options in Treating Breast Cancer (Dodd Mead); Heartplan: A Complete Program for Total Fitness of Heart & Mind (McGraw-Hill), and The Growing Years: A Guide to Your Child’s Emotional Development from Birth to Adolescence (Atheneum).

Rubinstein's high-octane thriller Mad Dog House was a finalist for the 2012 ForeWord Book Of The Year Award for suspense/thrillers. His 2nd thriller, Love Gone Mad, was published in September 2013 and his novella, The Foot Soldier (November 2013) won the Silver award in the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Awards competition, in the Popular Fiction category. His novel Mad Dog Justice (September 2014), tagged as a "pulse-pounding tale of post-modern paranoia," is a finalist for the 2014 ForeWord Book of the Year Award. His novella, Return to Sandara, won the Gold Medal for suspense/thrillers in the 2015 IPPY Awards. The Lovers' Tango, is a medical and legal thriller about which Michael Connelly said, "The tension on these pages never lets you go. Rubinstein is a born storyteller." The Lovers' Tango has won the Gold Award in Popular Fiction for this year's 2016 IPPA Benjamin Franklin Award.

Bedlam's Door: True Tales of Madness and Hope, was published in September 2016. Beyond Bedlam's Door: True Tales from the Couch and Courtroom was published on May 15, 2017.

Rubinstein's book MAD DOG VENGEANCE, the 3rd in the Mad Dog Series, was published on October 15, 2017.

Rubinstein has since written Assassin's Lullaby and A Lethal Question.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another gem from the Rubinstein workshop.

Crime writer Bill Shaw met actress Nora Reyes when she performed the Tango. They both fell in love, got married, were happy and successful. Fifteen years later Nora's been afflicted by a debilitating disease and eventually dies. Now Bill is accused of murdering his beloved wife and he has to stand trial.

The major part of this novel is set in the courtroom. Although the protagonists mostly sit or stand this is a fast paced thriller nonetheless. The lawyers perform their own kind of dance, although this is not one of the loving kind. For me it was most interesting to see the US jury trial at work, from the selection of the jurors to the final verdict. Truth and justice is what they seek ... officially. What they actually uncover and by what means is another matter entirely. A further complication arises because the real circumstances of Nora's death are not entirely dissimilar to the fictional content of the current book, Bill Shaw is writing. There's much room for speculation, which is exploited heartily by the lawyers.

As a psychiatrist who has also appeared as an expert witness in court, Mark Rubinstein has a lot of experience. Notably in his book Love Gone Mad, and even more so in The Lovers' Tango.

Unconditional recommendation for readers of this genre!


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Mark Rubinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I not love this novel. I spent uncountable hours, blood, sweat and tears working on it. It was a labor of love.

[Carol Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOODNESS! This book kept me from getting my work done. It is amazing, captivating, full of surprises, and I can't wait to read another book by Mark Rubinstein!

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Thank you NetGalley for an early reader copy)

This is the story of writer Bill Shaw and lovely actress Nora Reyes, who meet at a party and immediately fall in love. Yes, Nora can tango, but the tango in the title refers to the dance between people in a relationship. For 15 years, Bill and Nora have the perfect (almost) relationship, their love deep and strong. And then Nora becomes ill with what is eventually MS, and as her body deteriorates, so does their life together. And finally, Nora dies. But did MS kill Nora, or was she murdered?

When Nora dies, Bill is charged with murdering her. We watch Bill's trial as his friend and attorney Ben Abrams, navigates through the traps and political maneuvering of young ADA Sean Olson, who sees the trial of a famous author as his stepping stone to success. Sean will stop at nothing to obtain a conviction.

There are many layers to the story; what does Bill's most current novel, the Assassin's Lullaby, have to do with Nora's death? What does he do at Starbucks each week? Who is the woman he meets there? As we participate in the trial, it's hard to know what's truth, and what's not. Was it a mercy killing, or the result of the many drugs Nora was on? You'll find it all out at the end!

[Malise POLIXENE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely can tell "never judge a book by its cover"...
Well I'm not a fan of love story books, so if it wasn't written by Mark Rubinstein which I already knew through
3 others Novels ( Mad Dog Justice, Love Gone Mad, and Mad Dog House) I would never have read this one...And it would have been a GREAT MISTAKE !!
Lovers' Tango backstory is love, but the story is about a man who is accused of murder.
Bill Shaw is facing justice because of his wife's death.
His best friend will be his defense lawyer and will have to undo all the prosecutor's arguments to save him from prison.
Did he do it ? I couldn't put the book down until I knew and even when the jury delivered its verdict, we get to be surprised by what happened next.

[Cathy Cuomo werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Rubinstein has done it again with his latest novel Lovers Tango. The story was original and totally engrossing. I couldn't put it down but had to pace myself to keep from finishing it too soon.
I love the way the characters come to life and are totally believable and relatable.
I have been a fan of Mark's work from the start and look forward to more stories.

[Nancy Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received this novel directly from the author through a Shelf Awareness (Book Buzz) giveaway, but that in no way affected this review.

A novel within a novel within a novel may sum up Mark Rubinstein's tale of love, suspense, and murder. Or is it murder?

Told through the perspective of the protagonist, author Bill Shaw, it is his story of his intense love for actress Nora Reyes (from the moment they met) until her death. Accused of murder, and fighting for his own life in court, Bill tells the tale of the courtroom drama playing out against his own memories of the life he led with his beloved wife.

Will he be convicted of his wife's murder? Will his manuscript of his 'Assassin's Lullaby' be evidence of his murderous intent...making him guilty?

Suspenseful action, mesmerizing dialogue, and a compelling love story makes for an intense (can't-put-it-down) read.

Quotes to remember:
"Every love story has a tragic ending: either the lovers grow apart or death takes them from each other." (p. 327)
"There are no happily ever afters--least of all, in life." (p.327)

Very few what-the-tuck trends seen...a pencil skirt was mentioned, but that may be it for WTT trends, which was refreshing.

[Nick Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with tenacity inspired by author Mark Rubinstein's real-life courtroom experience, "The Lovers' Tango" is an intense, passionate read that grips the reader from the very first page. Our main character here is famous crime writer Bill Shaw. Entranced by a random encounter with a woman dancing the tango, Bill finds Nora, said dancing woman, his wife. Their life is happy and joyful, until Nora dies.

Unravelling as soon as the funeral ends, Bill finds himself in a manic state. Detectives charge Bill with the second degree murder of his wife, forcing him to put his bereavement on hold while attempting to articulate his innocence in his wife's death. Finding himself like the many subjects that Bill had written about for many years, he is subject to merciless questions and accusations, not to mention witness testimonies, in a seemingly never-ending courtroom debacle.

It is only a matter of time before fact and fiction merge together as Bill's story unfolds. It comes to light that the research that Bill had been conducting at the time of Nora's death is eerily similar to the events that surrounded his wife's demise. What plays out is an intriguing thriller, as well as a love story, of what defines truth and innocence, of guilt and lies, and what truly constitutes a union between two people. The allegory of the Tango plays into Bill's predicament with its passion and sharpness.

Rubinstein shines in his depiction of courtroom jargon and forensic science, clearly representative of his true life experience. There is a sense of urgency and intensity in his words that ensnares the reader until the very last word is read. While the subject matter can get a bit gruesome at times, the themes of redemption and revelations prevail in The Lovers' Tango.

Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com

[Babus Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Bill Shaw is charged with the murder of his wife, Nora, his bestfriend offers to defend him. With an ADA out to make a name for himself, circumstantial and medical evidence against him, this looks like a long shot to convince a jury of his innocence.

An electrifying legal thriller, which takes place mostly in a courtroom. despite the fact I saw the twist coming the story presented multiple possibilities along the way and kept me turning the pages way into the early hours of the morning.

For fans of medical and legal thrillers this book would be a shame to miss.

[Stephen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well-done combination of love story and legal thriller. The story of Bill and Nora is one that will stick with you. Mr. Rubinstein is a talented author who continues to up his game with each new book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Bill and Nora's story is so gripping and binding. Such suspense until the very end. Tugs at your heart every step of the way. Loved it and highly recommend it.

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smooth-flowing and fluid as silk, The Lovers’ Tango: A Novel by Mark Rubinstein is a fast-paced read that one would dearly love to consume in a single sitting—the sensuality and suppleness of the text are ideally suited to the intimacy of the subject. In retrospect and through timely glimpses, the reader is invited to witness the attraction between the male lead, Bill Shaw, and his beguiling partner, in the dance of life that has now become one of death, in which Bill is ensnared as the most likely suspect.

Central to the core theme of the work is the image of the Argentinian tango, the nature of which is described in the Preface to the novel. The dramatic nature of the dance is a fitting symbol of the life and death struggle that occurs in the sick room, which is later painfully borne witness to in the courtroom. Elements of the dance have much in common with the unfolding drama of the novel. The fact that the tango was originally danced only by women foreshadows the close relationship between Bill Shaw and his lawyer, and longtime friend, Ben Abrams, who comes from a working-class background, as, too, does the dance. The thrust and parry of the courtroom brings to mind the head-snapping action that characterizes the South American dance. The exotic nature of the tango can be seen as being embodied in the sensuous Nora Reyes, with the riveting first encounter between the lovers, which is described early on in the novel, totally sweeping Bill off his feet.

The sensuality of the imagery (“Her skin appeared moist; I inhaled deeply, her essence filling my nostrils.”) draws the reader into the intensely lived moments between the lovers, but with the continuously present sense that they are living on borrowed time, as one is aware from the start that their love is doomed, with Nora ultimately succumbing to the depredations of MS (and perhaps to the willing hand of her ostensibly loving partner). Just as the romance of the tango liberated the poor from the squalor of the Buenos Aires slums, so, too, does the loving and erotic relationship between Bill and his wife lift them out of the mundane and banal to a transcendent state of ecstatic intimate union, albeit one that ultimately ends in her tragic demise.

The Lovers’ Tango: A Novel should intrigue a broad spectrum of readers across the genres of medical thriller, courtroom drama and romance. The characters are so well described and have such appeal that the novel should attract a wide range of adherents from young to old. Mark Rubinstein is a well-known author of both fiction and nonfiction, with an extensive background in medicine and psychotherapy, which enables him to give great depth to his writing. His work deserves to be prescribed for creative writing courses, as many a novice author could well benefit from acquiring his economy of style, coupled with his breadth of theme.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read, Good Characters **I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review**Ben Shaw is a 30ish crime fiction author. Several of his books have been turned into movies. He sees Nora do the tango in a cafe. A man named Lee approached him after noticing him watch her and offered to introduce them. Nora offers to teach him to do the tango. She's an actress in a soap opera. 15 years later, Nora is dead. Ben was in such pain, first from Nora's illness and then with her death. A couple of days later, police come to Ben's apartment. It had been five years since Ben had written a book. Nora had asked him to write a book for her. He named it The Assassin's Lullaby. Now he's being accused of murdering her.The story showed that Ben loved his wife with all he had. It turned out Ben is stronger than he ever thought as he makes it through her illness and survives her death. He is a good man and it shows as he tries to prove it to the cops. This was a good story. Sometimes it was a little slow, but something keeps you going. I recommend it.

[Dan Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step aside, Grisham!

Mark Rubinstein has produced a powerful courtroom drama; one to which no film could ever do justice, but which has the stuff to become a serious blockbuster when Hollywood starts making good movies again.

On June 24, 1935, precisely 80 years ago, a plane crash in Medellin, Colombia, took away the soul of the Argentinian Tango: Carlos Gardel. 80 years later Mark Rubinstein brought it back wrapped in the sensuous, sultry Nora. Rubinstein's artistry subjects the reader to intense pain and desperation; love and lust; ambivalence and certainty, the true soul of the Tango.

Those who read the novel must be prepared for the torture of unbearable suspense, the burn of literary bliss and the hope that, miraculously, there may be many more chapters; even though your app tells you you've reached the 99% point!

I wish there were a higher acclaim than the Five Stars it richly deserves.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill's beloved wife Nora has only just been buried, but then finds himself arrested and charged with killing her. This is a snappy, to the point book with no long winded descriptions which makes a nice change! The irony of a crime writer being accused of the very thing He makes a living from. I don't usually choose court case dramas but this was definitely well worth reading. It was engrossing, thrilling and I was totally captivated by it, racing through the pages, watching how the opposing lawyers "danced" with each other, pulling each other's points apart. Simply breathtaking! Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Ann Lineberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started Mark Rubinstein’s enthralling page-turner, The Lover’s Tango, I couldn’t put it down. Love story, legal thriller and medical mystery, this captivating story within a story masterfully blends romance, tragedy and suspense leading to the novel’s unexpected and poignant ending. Multifaceted and entertaining, The Lover's Tango’s deftly appeals to a wide audience.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking story

I bought this book based on a recommendation that I saw from author, Scott Pratt. I am very glad I did because it is a great book. It is a moving story and at times during the reading, it choked me up. I will seek out other books by Mr. Rubinstein.

[Marla Picklesimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG...I did NOT see THAT twist coming!! Just 5% in on this read & THAT happened...WOW, WHAT a twist!! Nora & Bill Shaw's story, captivating from Go. Emotions...suspense...AND more twist...WHAT a spectacular read!!

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns

The author slowly captures you as you turn the pages. Eventually you can't wait to see what happens next. Ultimately, you see the connections but not until the very end do you realize the truth. Fact and fiction so intertwined. Riveting!

[Lynn Whylly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Mark at a local library when he did a 'Meet the Author' event.

I found his book to be intriguing and full of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending will surprise you!

[Sally Corr · Rating 5 out of 5]

S shocking or maybe not s shocking read.

A true love story that shows how every woman wants to be as cherished as Nora was cherished. A thoughtful ending. A forgiving ending.

[Catherine Kasten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

This book is great. I could barely put it down. The situation that confronts the characters was a difficult read for someone with a life long disease. I thought I started this book but didn’t read to the ending. Now I’m very glad I did. Click the button right now. You need to read this book!

[Frederike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last chapter made this gripping courtroom drama a three-star rather than a four-star novel, because of its sadly predictable nature

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Thrills, Drama in the courtroom, suspense and a beautiful sensuality combine in The Lover's Tango.

Bill Shaw meets Nora Reyes and falls madly in love with her. The happily live the dream in New York City, their life as passionate as the Tango itself.
When Nora falls ill, then dies,
Before he can even absorb the gut-wrenching loss he has sustained, he is accused of murdering her.

Can he prove his innocence? Is he even innocent? The suspense was killing me!

The courtroom drama is as real as it gets and it was way past lights out when I finished this one!

Intriguing and highly recommended!