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The Victim
Anton Mackey is a man with everything. At least, he seems to be on the surface. He has a rising career as a private attorney, a lovely wife, a beautiful daughter; he and his family live in an idyllic neighborhood that most people dream about. Sure, there are troubles that plague this family, the same as any other, but all in all things are looking up. Life is good, and the future is better. Except Anton has a past, too, and something has been looming, bearing down on him from that history, just waiting for the chance to strike. Soon, everything will change, and the life he's struggled so hard to build will come crashing down around him. And the worst part of it Anton Mackey has no one to blame but himself.
484 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Eric Matheny
3 books24 followersEric Matheny was born in Los Angeles, California, where he lived until he went away to college at Arizona State University. At ASU he was president of Theta Chi Fraternity. He graduated with a degree in political science and moved to Miami, Florida, to attend law school at St. Thomas University. During his third year of law school, he interned for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, where he worked as a prosecutor upon graduation. In 2009, he went into private practice as a criminal defense attorney. He is a solo practitioner representing clients in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Broward County, Florida. He has handled everything from DUI to murder.
In his free time, Eric enjoys writing crime fiction, drawing from his experience working in the legal system. He published his debut novel Home in 2004, which centers around a successful drug dealer catering to the rich in Orange County. His second novel Lockdown, published in 2005, follows a law student trying to prove that an inmate serving a life sentence in one of California’s toughest prisons might actually be innocent. Eric will be releasing his latest novel The Victim, a fast-paced legal thriller, in August 2015.
Eric lives outside of Fort Lauderdale with his wife and two young sons.
In his free time, Eric enjoys writing crime fiction, drawing from his experience working in the legal system. He published his debut novel Home in 2004, which centers around a successful drug dealer catering to the rich in Orange County. His second novel Lockdown, published in 2005, follows a law student trying to prove that an inmate serving a life sentence in one of California’s toughest prisons might actually be innocent. Eric will be releasing his latest novel The Victim, a fast-paced legal thriller, in August 2015.
Eric lives outside of Fort Lauderdale with his wife and two young sons.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 22, 2015
When I say, "Oh my God," it is not a quote from the excerpt above. Stuff happens when you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after drinking too much alcohol. The RV the MC Anton was driving happened all over the sedan being driven in front of him. He did not even see the vehicle before the 'accident'.
I am used to having empathy for the MC, but Anton is not a character with whom I could feel a connection. This is not a criticism of the book, but a comment about Mr. Matheny's writing skill. I got the book in the mail yesterday afternoon (maybe between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm) and I finished it around 11:30 pm last night. Except for cooking supper for my family (during which I held the book in one hand and a spatula in the other), eating supper (book in one hand, burrito in the other) and *ahem* personal hygiene breaks, I read.
Life isn't all hearts and flowers. Sometimes it's like those films they show in driver's ed classes meant to scare young people into driving in a safe manner. Sometimes the choices we make are good, and sometimes they're not.
If Anton had stopped at drinking and driving and plowing into a vehicle, it would have been bad enough. It would have definitely (and rightly so) affected the trajectory of his life. Then he got the idea to destroy the evidence, so he could go on his merry way. Gas was leaking all over the place. He pulled a red lighter out of his pocket. You can guess the rest.
Well, someone connected with one of the car's passengers did enough digging to find out Anton's secret and spent the next eleven years making plans to avenge the deaths of her friends. Her whole life from that point is built around getting close to Anton and taking him down. She waits until he is established in his career and has a wife and baby. She wants it to hurt. Of course, her life up to that point hasn't been all beer and skittles either. But this is one dangerous woman. Part of me would like to judge Daniella because if it had been about her friends, she would have turned over her evidence to the authorities. Waiting so long made it seem more about her loss than her friends. But, after what they had all been through in those 'wilderness rehabilitation' programs for out-of-control teens, it's dang hard to do.
About the most sympathetic character in the book was Jack, Anton's lawyer friend, who is older than him. Everybody else is flawed. (Ok, except the baby, but she's teething and has enough to deal with.) Gina, Anton's wife, is suffering from post-partum psychosis, going through the motions of life but not really living. She leaves the baby in a closed-door vehicle in the heat. Mandy, Anton's PI and 'friend', sleeps with the enemy (literally) and helps her further her revenge. His excuse? He thought Daniella was 'just messing with' Anton. The prosecutor actively sought to take cases opposite Anton because he had embarrassed her in court during a case.
So, why did I like this book, then, when everyone is so screwed up? Because the characters are so well written! They grow, they change, they alter their courses in the middle of the action.
This book reminds me of the movie "Se7en" directed by David Fincher. The mood was heavy, like a weight put on someone's head. The more the story went on, the more weights got added to the pile. By the end of The Victim, you will be just as dazed and stunned as you were when you walked out of the movie theatre after seeing "Se7en".
The Victim is enthralling. There is not just one victim. There are legion.
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)
I am used to having empathy for the MC, but Anton is not a character with whom I could feel a connection. This is not a criticism of the book, but a comment about Mr. Matheny's writing skill. I got the book in the mail yesterday afternoon (maybe between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm) and I finished it around 11:30 pm last night. Except for cooking supper for my family (during which I held the book in one hand and a spatula in the other), eating supper (book in one hand, burrito in the other) and *ahem* personal hygiene breaks, I read.
Life isn't all hearts and flowers. Sometimes it's like those films they show in driver's ed classes meant to scare young people into driving in a safe manner. Sometimes the choices we make are good, and sometimes they're not.
If Anton had stopped at drinking and driving and plowing into a vehicle, it would have been bad enough. It would have definitely (and rightly so) affected the trajectory of his life. Then he got the idea to destroy the evidence, so he could go on his merry way. Gas was leaking all over the place. He pulled a red lighter out of his pocket. You can guess the rest.
Well, someone connected with one of the car's passengers did enough digging to find out Anton's secret and spent the next eleven years making plans to avenge the deaths of her friends. Her whole life from that point is built around getting close to Anton and taking him down. She waits until he is established in his career and has a wife and baby. She wants it to hurt. Of course, her life up to that point hasn't been all beer and skittles either. But this is one dangerous woman. Part of me would like to judge Daniella because if it had been about her friends, she would have turned over her evidence to the authorities. Waiting so long made it seem more about her loss than her friends. But, after what they had all been through in those 'wilderness rehabilitation' programs for out-of-control teens, it's dang hard to do.
About the most sympathetic character in the book was Jack, Anton's lawyer friend, who is older than him. Everybody else is flawed. (Ok, except the baby, but she's teething and has enough to deal with.) Gina, Anton's wife, is suffering from post-partum psychosis, going through the motions of life but not really living. She leaves the baby in a closed-door vehicle in the heat. Mandy, Anton's PI and 'friend', sleeps with the enemy (literally) and helps her further her revenge. His excuse? He thought Daniella was 'just messing with' Anton. The prosecutor actively sought to take cases opposite Anton because he had embarrassed her in court during a case.
So, why did I like this book, then, when everyone is so screwed up? Because the characters are so well written! They grow, they change, they alter their courses in the middle of the action.
This book reminds me of the movie "Se7en" directed by David Fincher. The mood was heavy, like a weight put on someone's head. The more the story went on, the more weights got added to the pile. By the end of The Victim, you will be just as dazed and stunned as you were when you walked out of the movie theatre after seeing "Se7en".
The Victim is enthralling. There is not just one victim. There are legion.
(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)
July 22, 2015
4.5 stars!! Boy, this one had a lot of things going on in it. At first it was confusing talking about these other trials, but it didn't take away from the reading, and then you start to see how the pieces come together. I was dumbfounded. I could not believe this was a debut. It was written so well. It had great character development and had me plowing through it just to see what exactly would come out of the mind of Eric Matheny. I was definitely impressed.
There is absolutely no way that you could guess the ending of this book. You might have some inclinations, but that's all you'll get. I just can't say good enough things about this book. It was very entertaining and one that I just could not put down. I kept wondering "who is this woman? And what's her deal?".
She's been "abused" and she goes to this lawyer, Anton - main character, and wants him to represent her abuser. I thought about that several times while reading this book. I just knew there was something fishy going on down there in Miami. I highly recommend this book, including it's jaw dropping telling of the facts.
Huge thanks to Zharmae Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege and pleasure of reading and reviewing this book.
There is absolutely no way that you could guess the ending of this book. You might have some inclinations, but that's all you'll get. I just can't say good enough things about this book. It was very entertaining and one that I just could not put down. I kept wondering "who is this woman? And what's her deal?".
She's been "abused" and she goes to this lawyer, Anton - main character, and wants him to represent her abuser. I thought about that several times while reading this book. I just knew there was something fishy going on down there in Miami. I highly recommend this book, including it's jaw dropping telling of the facts.
Huge thanks to Zharmae Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege and pleasure of reading and reviewing this book.
July 27, 2015
While on a road trip with his frat brothers Anton Mackey makes a decision that will change his life forever. He then tries to cover up the results of that bad decision and that decision costs the lives of 2 young people. Ten years later he takes a case that turns out to be tied into that tragedy from his past. He now has a growing private practice with a loving wife and young child. But this case threatens to destroy all that he has worked for if the details of his past come out. Will he reveal the truth to those that are close to him or try to continue to cover it up. I would like to see more of Anton Mackey.
September 19, 2015
Anton Mackey is a man on a path to success. He has a lovely wife and child and he has a promising career in the legal industry. But something occurred in his past and a person is attempting to bring his past into light in a manner that will change his life forever.
The author, Eric Matheny ensnares his readers in an intricate web of mystery that will have the reader turning the pages anxiously to see if Anton is innocent.
Matheny does a diligent job in defending other people accused of crimes and it is difficult to imagine that he did what a woman is accusing him of doing.
Mackey is a character who could be taken from one of John Girsham's excellent novels. He stands out in the world of those attempting to bring justice into a world packed with people who have been wronged.
Overall, the book is a fast paced read and recommended. It's a thrill to find a new author who stands out and Eric Matheny is an author with a bright future.
The author, Eric Matheny ensnares his readers in an intricate web of mystery that will have the reader turning the pages anxiously to see if Anton is innocent.
Matheny does a diligent job in defending other people accused of crimes and it is difficult to imagine that he did what a woman is accusing him of doing.
Mackey is a character who could be taken from one of John Girsham's excellent novels. He stands out in the world of those attempting to bring justice into a world packed with people who have been wronged.
Overall, the book is a fast paced read and recommended. It's a thrill to find a new author who stands out and Eric Matheny is an author with a bright future.
October 8, 2015
I'll start off by saying this is not my normal read, but I'm so glad I read this book. It begins at a fast pace and kept me enthralled till the end. It's full of action and the story was written so well it was hard to put down.
It follows a man with a promising career as a lawyer, who has a big secret in his past. He comes into contact with a victim in one of his current cases that ends up blackmailing him. She wants revenge for his past sins, but things are not as they seem. The story unfolds into a very compelling story of love, revenge, and justice.
This book was really intriguing and had a lot of great twists. I really enjoyed this book. I'll be honest and say it is a bit long, but its definitely worth the read. :) Stormi
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It follows a man with a promising career as a lawyer, who has a big secret in his past. He comes into contact with a victim in one of his current cases that ends up blackmailing him. She wants revenge for his past sins, but things are not as they seem. The story unfolds into a very compelling story of love, revenge, and justice.
This book was really intriguing and had a lot of great twists. I really enjoyed this book. I'll be honest and say it is a bit long, but its definitely worth the read. :) Stormi
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
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July 25, 2015Reckless driving doesn't just affect the driver but also innocent victims...... And one's past sins will always catch up to you ....... Anton's selfish actions comes to haunt him more than a decade later, just when he feels the world forgot about it ..... Anton has a new client. A client he becomes involved in and the he realizes that she is part of the past. The mystery of Anton's past actions kept me glued to the book and I couldn' t put it down. !,, Thanks for an awesome read netgalley.
October 30, 2015
The Victim is a legal drama set in America mainly in Florida but with a second setting in Payson Arizona. This is a huge read full of detailed legal suits and jargon. The author is himself a criminal defence attorney and has a vast knowledge of the American legal systems which he has demonstrated in this book.
The story begins with a car accident in 2003. The drunk driver sets the scene ablaze to hide any evidence, or so he thinks.
The story then jumps forward eleven years. Anton Mackey lives in Florida and works as a lawyer. He juggles home life with a busy work schedule. He's approached by a new client, Daniella Avery with a domestic violence case. This case becomes complicated as Anton and Mandy, the security cop who works for the business, are both sloppy and unprofessional in their relationship with Daniella. A past experience comes back to haunt Anton and a women's revenge goes to extremes.
Along side Daniella's case is one also from 2003 and involves a missing girl's body and kids exposed to a correctional idea known as "Wilderness Therapy". Investigations by Anton and Mandy open up this case again.
Meanwhile other clients of Anton's feel he's not giving their cases enough time and Anton finds himself jumping from lawyer to all action hero more than once. I felt that the author made Anton's character more than was necessary to the story in these action moments.
There was room to slim this book to make is a smother read by trusting that the reader could imagine for themselves places like "judges chambers and court rooms". We didn't need to know how Anton could tell a judge's height when she sat behind her desk or that she wore a skirt which he probably wouldn't have seen. The magic of TV and years of popular crime dramas have given authors the opportunity to be confident that less descriptive details can be more and to choose carefully which descriptions add to scenes and tension and which add very little.
In summary this book would be ideal for readers who want to read deeply into the American legal system alongside their enjoyment of this courtroom drama.
The story begins with a car accident in 2003. The drunk driver sets the scene ablaze to hide any evidence, or so he thinks.
The story then jumps forward eleven years. Anton Mackey lives in Florida and works as a lawyer. He juggles home life with a busy work schedule. He's approached by a new client, Daniella Avery with a domestic violence case. This case becomes complicated as Anton and Mandy, the security cop who works for the business, are both sloppy and unprofessional in their relationship with Daniella. A past experience comes back to haunt Anton and a women's revenge goes to extremes.
Along side Daniella's case is one also from 2003 and involves a missing girl's body and kids exposed to a correctional idea known as "Wilderness Therapy". Investigations by Anton and Mandy open up this case again.
Meanwhile other clients of Anton's feel he's not giving their cases enough time and Anton finds himself jumping from lawyer to all action hero more than once. I felt that the author made Anton's character more than was necessary to the story in these action moments.
There was room to slim this book to make is a smother read by trusting that the reader could imagine for themselves places like "judges chambers and court rooms". We didn't need to know how Anton could tell a judge's height when she sat behind her desk or that she wore a skirt which he probably wouldn't have seen. The magic of TV and years of popular crime dramas have given authors the opportunity to be confident that less descriptive details can be more and to choose carefully which descriptions add to scenes and tension and which add very little.
In summary this book would be ideal for readers who want to read deeply into the American legal system alongside their enjoyment of this courtroom drama.
July 15, 2016
When life is looking good, really good … watch out. Your past may be getting ready to bite you in the butt. Anton Mackey made a serious error in judgement a decade ago while he was still in Florida International University (FIU). RV’s had been rented for a fraternity camping trip. He was drunk, took the RV out on his own. In the very early Sunday morning hours, he collides with a car. It’s bad. By the looks of it, the driver and passenger seem to be already dead. In the distance, he sees a semi approaching. Not much time left. What does he do? He notices fuel has been spilling out of one or both vehicles. He places his lighter down to the gasoline.
In present day, Anton is an attorney. He has a wife and a beautiful baby daughter. A new client, Danielle Avery, contacts him. She had called 911 on her husband, Bryan Avery. They’d separated, but she said he broke into her apartment. He got rough with her; left a gash on her neck. She hires Anton to represent him. The police had taken him in custody and she’s concerned that since Florida is a ‘no drop’ state, the prosecutors could pursue domestic violence charges whether the victim pursues it or not. But, little by little, we are given some insight into her real motive. She holds some secrets about Anton’s past. She can ruin him.
You really may not like Anton, but you may squirm for him a bit as retribution comes to call. This is a debut Legal Thriller from author Eric Matheny, who writes with passion and presents the reader with twists like he’s been perfecting them all his life. The courtroom scenes and the dialogue between the lawyers and judge were authentic. This pulls the reader in quickly. As you may have speculated, there are no good guys here, but there are several victims. Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
In present day, Anton is an attorney. He has a wife and a beautiful baby daughter. A new client, Danielle Avery, contacts him. She had called 911 on her husband, Bryan Avery. They’d separated, but she said he broke into her apartment. He got rough with her; left a gash on her neck. She hires Anton to represent him. The police had taken him in custody and she’s concerned that since Florida is a ‘no drop’ state, the prosecutors could pursue domestic violence charges whether the victim pursues it or not. But, little by little, we are given some insight into her real motive. She holds some secrets about Anton’s past. She can ruin him.
You really may not like Anton, but you may squirm for him a bit as retribution comes to call. This is a debut Legal Thriller from author Eric Matheny, who writes with passion and presents the reader with twists like he’s been perfecting them all his life. The courtroom scenes and the dialogue between the lawyers and judge were authentic. This pulls the reader in quickly. As you may have speculated, there are no good guys here, but there are several victims. Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
February 11, 2016
Usual disclaimer: Given a print copy of The Victim by Eric Matheny in exchange for an honest review. Fortunately, I have not been asked for a dishonest review yet.
First, let me say I am not generally a legal, or for that matter a mystery, reader. That said, I found The Victim to be a completely entertaining read. The story is very complex. The main character is not a good guy, but then, neither are most of the rest of the characters who populate this book. It is interesting that a book filled with so many unlikable, or at least, unsympathetic characters in the legal profession was written by a lawyer.
Eric Matheny weaves a twisted story of murder, revenge, murder (yes I meant to say that),conspiracy, duplicity, sex, treachery and legal maneuvering. Not being a lawyer myself, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the depiction of the legal profession, but I didn't find them particularly complimentary.
The Victim is somewhat slow to develop but builds in intensity and complexity throughout. There were plenty of twists and turns. When I read, I don't try to guess what is going to happen next, I just go along for the ride. Good thing here because I doubt I could have guessed much if any of the way the story unfolded. I finished the second half of the book in one sitting. The pace was fast and the action riveting, I just couldn't put it down.
All the plot lines are concluded satisfactorily, not a true happy ending, but, an appropriate ending. My reaction at the conclusion was: Whew! The Victim is not a "feel good" book in my estimation. It is dramatic, very dramatic, and at times even heartbreaking. Definitely entertaining and definitely worth reading. Enjoy!
Mike
First, let me say I am not generally a legal, or for that matter a mystery, reader. That said, I found The Victim to be a completely entertaining read. The story is very complex. The main character is not a good guy, but then, neither are most of the rest of the characters who populate this book. It is interesting that a book filled with so many unlikable, or at least, unsympathetic characters in the legal profession was written by a lawyer.
Eric Matheny weaves a twisted story of murder, revenge, murder (yes I meant to say that),conspiracy, duplicity, sex, treachery and legal maneuvering. Not being a lawyer myself, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the depiction of the legal profession, but I didn't find them particularly complimentary.
The Victim is somewhat slow to develop but builds in intensity and complexity throughout. There were plenty of twists and turns. When I read, I don't try to guess what is going to happen next, I just go along for the ride. Good thing here because I doubt I could have guessed much if any of the way the story unfolded. I finished the second half of the book in one sitting. The pace was fast and the action riveting, I just couldn't put it down.
All the plot lines are concluded satisfactorily, not a true happy ending, but, an appropriate ending. My reaction at the conclusion was: Whew! The Victim is not a "feel good" book in my estimation. It is dramatic, very dramatic, and at times even heartbreaking. Definitely entertaining and definitely worth reading. Enjoy!
Mike
March 10, 2016
A lot of intrigue in this legal thriller where young defence attorney Anton Mackey is retained by a young woman, Daniella Avery, to represent her husband who was arrested for assaulting her. However, this case is not about domestic violence as it soon becomes clear that Daniella has a hidden agenda and it relates back to an accident that took place eleven years earlier when a drunk driver walked away from a crash that caused two fatalities.
The bare bones plot of this novel is compelling without doubt and even though Anton is not a protagonist I could particularly like or root for, I was desperate to find out how the characters fitted into Anton's past and present. He has a lot to lose as he has just become a father and his private practice is just getting off the ground.
The legal intrigues of how he was going to handle the situation in court was also gripping and highly readable. However, I found that the author wanted to tell us a lot of detail about the characters and their pasts which lengthened the book tremendously and I found myself wishing a good editor had got their hands on the narrative to sharpen it up.
Despite this, it would be a crime to miss this legal thriller as it really is exemplary of the genre and one I could not stop reading until the very end.
The bare bones plot of this novel is compelling without doubt and even though Anton is not a protagonist I could particularly like or root for, I was desperate to find out how the characters fitted into Anton's past and present. He has a lot to lose as he has just become a father and his private practice is just getting off the ground.
The legal intrigues of how he was going to handle the situation in court was also gripping and highly readable. However, I found that the author wanted to tell us a lot of detail about the characters and their pasts which lengthened the book tremendously and I found myself wishing a good editor had got their hands on the narrative to sharpen it up.
Despite this, it would be a crime to miss this legal thriller as it really is exemplary of the genre and one I could not stop reading until the very end.
December 23, 2015
Review by Zach on our blog Live Laugh & Love Books
I really enjoyed The Victim by Eric Matheny and I was given this book for an honest review. This book had a lot of details and put you in the courtroom and kept your mind wondering all the time and I really liked that. At first I thought this book was a bit too busy and the way it starts out I was like man this is Dark. But as I kept reading I just fell in love with the characters and the way the words lifted off the page. I would recommend and have recommend this book to several of my friends for a great murder and a great thriller mystery novel.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
July 30, 2015
This legal thriller is a page turner. It starts with a young man who makes a life changing error that impacts his life ten years later. Our lead character, Anton, is a successful attorney with a great family and gifted life. A twist of fate makes Anton deal with his past and could possibly take away everything he has worked so hard for.
The Victim has a lot of characters/trials and can be a bit confusing at first, but they weave into the storyline naturally as the book progresses.
This is a very good read and Eric Matheny does a great job with developing the characters.
Fans of the legal thriller genre will really enjoy this book.
The Victim has a lot of characters/trials and can be a bit confusing at first, but they weave into the storyline naturally as the book progresses.
This is a very good read and Eric Matheny does a great job with developing the characters.
Fans of the legal thriller genre will really enjoy this book.
December 5, 2015
If you like courtroom drama, intricate and suspenseful plot lines and tasty wordsmithing, my verdict on The Victim is: Highly Recommended!! FULL REVIEW: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
December 6, 2015
This was a great mystery. This book had me at the beginning and kept my interest all the way through. I loved the characters and the book was hard to put done. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
February 24, 2016
This suspenseful book deserves attention...Check out my review at Book Readers Heaven later today...
December 7, 2018
The first half of this book was riveting but the secoond half was not as strong. Overall a good psychological thriller I must say. Based on a tragic event that occurred when he was a college student Attorney Anton Mackey made a fateful decision. This decision will come to haunt him later in his life when he is a husband and father. A good read.
December 22, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Anton had it all. The white picket fence, beautiful wife, daughter, money, great career as a lawyer, and then his past caught up with him. Life as he knew it was never going to be the same. His choice years ago to leave the scene of a accident, hide the evidence relating to him being the driver, and flee, catches up to him. That choice is intermingled with many others and the impact it had is the basis for revenge now.
The book was rather slow moving in the beginning which made it difficult for me to keep my focused. I'd say around the 100 page mark it began to pick up and I then I couldn't wait to get home to read some more. The author was very descriptive throughout the book, even with the little things, which bogged it down.
Overall, the plot was good. It was detailed and realistic. There's a lot of different things happening, which at times, was a bit confusing. The portrayal of court hearings was realistic. There was depth to the characters but sometimes they were a little flat as there wasn't a lot of true emotion depicted.
I'd recommend this book to those that like legal shows or hearty legal thrillers.
Anton had it all. The white picket fence, beautiful wife, daughter, money, great career as a lawyer, and then his past caught up with him. Life as he knew it was never going to be the same. His choice years ago to leave the scene of a accident, hide the evidence relating to him being the driver, and flee, catches up to him. That choice is intermingled with many others and the impact it had is the basis for revenge now.
The book was rather slow moving in the beginning which made it difficult for me to keep my focused. I'd say around the 100 page mark it began to pick up and I then I couldn't wait to get home to read some more. The author was very descriptive throughout the book, even with the little things, which bogged it down.
Overall, the plot was good. It was detailed and realistic. There's a lot of different things happening, which at times, was a bit confusing. The portrayal of court hearings was realistic. There was depth to the characters but sometimes they were a little flat as there wasn't a lot of true emotion depicted.
I'd recommend this book to those that like legal shows or hearty legal thrillers.
March 24, 2016
“Matheny has the unique ability to walk the reader through the rigorous steps of a criminal case from the initial arrest through to the trial process in his tense psychological legal thriller, The Victim.” https://walkerputsche.wordpress.com/
The story opens eleven years earlier as a young and reckless Anton Mackey makes a life changing decision to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming a large amount of whiskey. Instead of doing the right thing and reporting his horrifying crime to the authorities, he decides to destroy the evidence and walk away, unaware that his mistake will come back to haunt ten years later when he takes on a complex case that is tied up to his past.
The Victim is a gritty standalone legal thriller featuring well-developed characters, intricate and melodramatic plot lines that I found absolutely riveting from start to finish.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Ranking: 4.5 Stars
The story opens eleven years earlier as a young and reckless Anton Mackey makes a life changing decision to get behind the wheel of a car after consuming a large amount of whiskey. Instead of doing the right thing and reporting his horrifying crime to the authorities, he decides to destroy the evidence and walk away, unaware that his mistake will come back to haunt ten years later when he takes on a complex case that is tied up to his past.
The Victim is a gritty standalone legal thriller featuring well-developed characters, intricate and melodramatic plot lines that I found absolutely riveting from start to finish.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Ranking: 4.5 Stars
October 23, 2015
I suppose the ideal pairing of this book would be a legal junkie, a decent collection of wine, and a snowed-in ski lodge—because this is a looooong one.
The Kindle specs show it at 424 pages, but the PDF I was reading came in at nearly 500. For a legal thriller that's some serious bulk, and the weight is explained by Mr Matheny's desire to toss in just about everything. There are elements of two or three books in this one volume, which adds up to good value if you're only spending $5. But it's a long trek through what is really more of a study of legal procedure than a suspense novel.
In the end, the story of assumed identity and revenge doesn't generate much of an emotional payoff, but it is a week's worth of reading at a very reasonable price.
[Please note that a copy of this book was received at no charge in exchange for a fair and honest review — Nate Briggs for the Kindle Book Review].
The Kindle specs show it at 424 pages, but the PDF I was reading came in at nearly 500. For a legal thriller that's some serious bulk, and the weight is explained by Mr Matheny's desire to toss in just about everything. There are elements of two or three books in this one volume, which adds up to good value if you're only spending $5. But it's a long trek through what is really more of a study of legal procedure than a suspense novel.
In the end, the story of assumed identity and revenge doesn't generate much of an emotional payoff, but it is a week's worth of reading at a very reasonable price.
[Please note that a copy of this book was received at no charge in exchange for a fair and honest review — Nate Briggs for the Kindle Book Review].
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March 24, 2016Anton Mackey has built a wonderful life for himself as an attorney, father, and husband. However, Anton has been living with a terrible and dangerous secret. Unfortunately, his past is about to catch up to him in a surprisingly spectacular way. In THE VICTIM, no one is as they seem. The characters are complex and not very likable overall, but the detail and slick craftiness make the story much more interesting. THE VICTIM also teaches a lesson – to make amends and accept your past in order to have a good future.
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February 3, 2016The book starts out with lots and lots of detail. I could not remember all of it, but it eventually became clear that the Author was setting the stage for later events that would take place in the story.
Once the format became clear, the store was a good one.
I enjoyed the read.
I wish the Author well .
Joe Zaabadick
Once the format became clear, the store was a good one.
I enjoyed the read.
I wish the Author well .
Joe Zaabadick
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April 17, 2016Marking this as a DNF for now. I don't hate it, I'm just not in the mood right now. Nothing I'm reading is holding my attention so I'm putting this off until I'm ready for it.
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