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Dutch Francis #2
About Power: A Dutch Francis Novel
After leaving his ex-wife and a lucrative corporate practice in Boston, Dutch Francis moved to Manchester, New Hampshire to practice a "more humane kind of law." His ex-partner and ex-father-in-law Rodger Dobbs, a Brahmin whose roots go back to the Mayflower, refers him a sexual harassment case involving his niece Julia Howard. Howard is a former associate at Manchester's Thibodeau & Franklin law firm. Julia claims that senior partner Vincent Thibodeau made unwelcome sexual advances toward her and she had to quit her job to get away from him. Thibodeau is a prominent player in New Hampshire Republican politics and a nominee for a high visibility position on the First Circuit Court of Appeals.As the sexual harassment case spirals out of control, Dutch finds himself drawn into charges of attempted murder, date rape, and sexual molestation. HIs relationship with beautiful television newscaster Ginnie Turner reaches a crisis point as Dutch must confront his own conceptions of power and sex.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2015
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Stephen M. Murphy
10 books20 followersAmerican retired civil trial lawyer and author of legal fiction.
Murphy resides in San Francisco.
Murphy resides in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 1, 2022
I have read all three books and I have a love-and-hate relationship with Dutch. I want to love it but I cannot because certain things bother me too much.
Pros:
The book is easy to read, provides some good twists and maybe because it is the freshest in my mind, I enjoyed it the most. I really want to like Dutch and sometimes I do but then it surprises me and I don't anymore. I do like the court drama so I liked those scenes especially about the mediation.
Cons:
But why are these gorgeous women running after Dutch? (nothing in the book warrants it). Why a couple of women are described to be so hateful? And if they are wrong, Dutch will notice how fat and ugly they are first, how distorted their faces are, and then he will give them his on-a-high-horse speech to put them into their place.
The bad guy will come to his senses and will apologize.
I was also confused why Ginnie at first was introduced as she was not a "looker" as not as good looking as Yvette while she is a star news announcer / journalist and later on, described as very beautiful with a lot of fan base. Overall, the obsession of describing women's attributes is a bit too much and I am not even a feminist.
At one scene, we are told how stupid a receptionist is. In the previous book, we are told that Ginnie is quite smart based on one question.
I didn't care for the extensive sport scenes and those added nothing to the story. Was it rugby or baseball? It seemed like a filler.
There are no flashbacks or no development of existing characters because it is in the previous book. So if you try to read it on a stand alone, it might be difficult to connect with them.
The emotions often came across a bit flat and it was very hard to sympathize with the victim.
We know that Dutch loves Ginne because we are told so. To be truly honest, as a character I found Sherry more refreshing and entertaining and Ginne quite flat.
Some political views will be frown in the mix as usual.
The PI is into very young women, half his age. I wouldn't say this usually but all together, it just really makes me wonder about the author...
Lastly, how often did the victims take pills to sleep or calm down? Too much drug promotion or not enough creative work by the author.
To conclude, maybe I am just being too picky so read the book at your own risk.
Pros:
The book is easy to read, provides some good twists and maybe because it is the freshest in my mind, I enjoyed it the most. I really want to like Dutch and sometimes I do but then it surprises me and I don't anymore. I do like the court drama so I liked those scenes especially about the mediation.
Cons:
But why are these gorgeous women running after Dutch? (nothing in the book warrants it). Why a couple of women are described to be so hateful? And if they are wrong, Dutch will notice how fat and ugly they are first, how distorted their faces are, and then he will give them his on-a-high-horse speech to put them into their place.
The bad guy will come to his senses and will apologize.
I was also confused why Ginnie at first was introduced as she was not a "looker" as not as good looking as Yvette while she is a star news announcer / journalist and later on, described as very beautiful with a lot of fan base. Overall, the obsession of describing women's attributes is a bit too much and I am not even a feminist.
At one scene, we are told how stupid a receptionist is. In the previous book, we are told that Ginnie is quite smart based on one question.
I didn't care for the extensive sport scenes and those added nothing to the story. Was it rugby or baseball? It seemed like a filler.
There are no flashbacks or no development of existing characters because it is in the previous book. So if you try to read it on a stand alone, it might be difficult to connect with them.
The emotions often came across a bit flat and it was very hard to sympathize with the victim.
We know that Dutch loves Ginne because we are told so. To be truly honest, as a character I found Sherry more refreshing and entertaining and Ginne quite flat.
Some political views will be frown in the mix as usual.
The PI is into very young women, half his age. I wouldn't say this usually but all together, it just really makes me wonder about the author...
Lastly, how often did the victims take pills to sleep or calm down? Too much drug promotion or not enough creative work by the author.
To conclude, maybe I am just being too picky so read the book at your own risk.
April 12, 2017
What an exceptional legal suspense!!!!! I wish the author would hurry and write some more, especially if the main character is attorney Dutch Francis. These are wonderful, great reads. I highly recommend.
September 28, 2025
Second book in the Dutch Francis trilogy. Much better than the first book. Getting ready to start on the third book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews