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By Reason of Insanity
After a series of kidnappings and murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime. In an effort to aid the investigation, she shares them with her confidential source—a detective working on the case. Catherine's intimate knowledge of the crimes immediately makes her a prime suspect. When scientific evidence corroborates her guilt, she's arrested and charged with murder. As she begins to doubt her own innocence, Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defense. Quinn believes in justice, Vegas-style. But he doesn't believe in the supernatural, or that Catherine's dreams are anything other than the result of a fractured personality disorder. "Who can understand the human mind?" Quinn knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, but nothing had prepared him for "this!" To win, or even survive, Quinn will need more than his famed legal maneuvering and biting skepticism. On this case, he needs a miracle.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2008
191 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
Randy Singer
24 books457 followersRandy Singer is a critically acclaimed author and veteran trial attorney. He has penned nine legal thrillers, including his award-winning debut novel Directed Verdict. In addition to his law practice and writing, Randy serves as a teaching pastor for Trinity Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He calls it his "Jekyll and Hyde thing"—part lawyer, part pastor. He also teaches classes in advocacy and ethics at Regent Law School and serves on the school's Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Rhonda, live in Virginia Beach. They have two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
July 4, 2024
A crazy story, with plenty of twists and turns...but, I loved it! Some readers may find this a bit edgy for Christian fiction, but, we need more media in that genre that doesn't shy away from serious issues...because the Bible definitely doesn't do that.
April 18, 2024
3.5 Stars
August 18, 2023
4.25⭐️
I really enjoyed this complex legal drama/mystery! You’ve got a high ranking lawyer defending his sister who’s charged with murdering her abusive husband….then on the flip side, you have the reporter who is covering the case who gets into some major trouble with an informant.
Things get intense!
Another element to the story is that of divine visions (which was the least appealing part for me)
As far as content…there is murder, details of crime scenes and wounds on dead bodies, attempted and thoughts of suicide, depression, psychosis, investigation of sexual assault on both an adult & a minor, guns, gambling, kidnapping, black market adoptions, prison time being harassed and assaulted by other inmates….
If you’ve read Ted Dekker, I’d say kind of along those lines but much less gory/icky…..and more courthouse
I really enjoyed this complex legal drama/mystery! You’ve got a high ranking lawyer defending his sister who’s charged with murdering her abusive husband….then on the flip side, you have the reporter who is covering the case who gets into some major trouble with an informant.
Things get intense!
Another element to the story is that of divine visions (which was the least appealing part for me)
As far as content…there is murder, details of crime scenes and wounds on dead bodies, attempted and thoughts of suicide, depression, psychosis, investigation of sexual assault on both an adult & a minor, guns, gambling, kidnapping, black market adoptions, prison time being harassed and assaulted by other inmates….
If you’ve read Ted Dekker, I’d say kind of along those lines but much less gory/icky…..and more courthouse
January 31, 2023
Oh the twists. This was my second time reading this one and there were so many good twists of the twists. This author is plain masterful.
December 25, 2009
I REALLY liked this book. Would probably give it 8.5 on a 10 star scale. I am very stingy with the last stars, since they mean that I want to re- and re-read the book.
What was great about this book??? Its a courtroom drama / thriller with psychological undertones, which I expected by the title. The style is similar to the Patterson, Grisham, etc novels, but the thing that lets me recommend it unreservedly to my friends is the absolute lack of objectionable language. There are some PG13 situations, as this is a legal-based drama. But, I don't believe that they are sensationalized, just mentioned in the course of the plot.
Other reviews I read (after reading the book and deciding that I REALLY like it, lol) disparage the 'preachy' tone. I didn't catch that at all, and did not know that the author was a pastor until reading the authors' notes at the end of the book. There was certainly some religious content, and the subject of God was present. Until the final chapter, I never found it to even present an 'agenda', though, and felt that it was more like the PG13 material...simply part of the plot. Face it, in the 'Bible Belt', people integrate religion into their lives, so it's natural for their faith to be part of the plot.
I will recommend this book to any who like legal dramas and thrillers. I will also seek out other work by this author.
What was great about this book??? Its a courtroom drama / thriller with psychological undertones, which I expected by the title. The style is similar to the Patterson, Grisham, etc novels, but the thing that lets me recommend it unreservedly to my friends is the absolute lack of objectionable language. There are some PG13 situations, as this is a legal-based drama. But, I don't believe that they are sensationalized, just mentioned in the course of the plot.
Other reviews I read (after reading the book and deciding that I REALLY like it, lol) disparage the 'preachy' tone. I didn't catch that at all, and did not know that the author was a pastor until reading the authors' notes at the end of the book. There was certainly some religious content, and the subject of God was present. Until the final chapter, I never found it to even present an 'agenda', though, and felt that it was more like the PG13 material...simply part of the plot. Face it, in the 'Bible Belt', people integrate religion into their lives, so it's natural for their faith to be part of the plot.
I will recommend this book to any who like legal dramas and thrillers. I will also seek out other work by this author.
January 18, 2012
Didn't finish reading this book. Too much vulgar language and disturbing story content. Would not recommend.
August 9, 2015
I had expected a bit more thriller-ish ending there. But I like how we got a few surprises along the way... :)
A good read.
A good read.
September 25, 2015
I cannot say I read this book.
Read the beginning - too hard to sleep.
Read the end.
That was it.
Read the beginning - too hard to sleep.
Read the end.
That was it.
August 8, 2021
An exceptional psychological thriller/courtroom drama exploring some weighty themes, though the twist ending was a bit of a stretch for me.
July 20, 2022
A thrilling read that I couldn't put down.
October 17, 2020
What a gripping read! I really could not put this book down—literally, once I got into the second half of the book. I sequestered myself away so I wouldn’t get interrupted by family members! I wasn’t sure what to believe about Catherine O’Rourke (which was the whole point, I suppose), and even though my suspicions about alternative culprits kept shifting, my jaw still dropped in the end. There was plenty of courtroom drama in the second half, too, which I love.
That being said, there were a few things that prevented this from being a five-star read for me. The writing is more of a telling style than I generally enjoy, and although it was very easy to sympathise with Catherine’s plight, I never really felt as though I got close to any of these characters. The romantic element felt forced to me, and I really wasn’t feeling the love between the two parties—perhaps partly because I didn’t feel close enough to the characters, but there wasn’t much chemistry between them either. And there was the issue of Catherine’s visions. They were an essential part of the story, obviously, but towards the end, they became a little too Deus ex machina. Literally. I mean, possible? Yes. Good idea in a story? Hmmm...not so sure.
I’m also still trying to work out how I feel about the overall ending. I can see what the author was trying to illustrate, but I’m not sure how I feel about it under the circumstances. But I guess that’s valuable in itself—an ending that makes you ask questions and wonder whether you would have made the same choice and why. At any rate, I’m not sorry for the hours I spent engrossed in this story.
That being said, there were a few things that prevented this from being a five-star read for me. The writing is more of a telling style than I generally enjoy, and although it was very easy to sympathise with Catherine’s plight, I never really felt as though I got close to any of these characters. The romantic element felt forced to me, and I really wasn’t feeling the love between the two parties—perhaps partly because I didn’t feel close enough to the characters, but there wasn’t much chemistry between them either. And there was the issue of Catherine’s visions. They were an essential part of the story, obviously, but towards the end, they became a little too Deus ex machina. Literally. I mean, possible? Yes. Good idea in a story? Hmmm...not so sure.
I’m also still trying to work out how I feel about the overall ending. I can see what the author was trying to illustrate, but I’m not sure how I feel about it under the circumstances. But I guess that’s valuable in itself—an ending that makes you ask questions and wonder whether you would have made the same choice and why. At any rate, I’m not sorry for the hours I spent engrossed in this story.
February 14, 2015
Review written in 2008. Randy Singer is fast making a name for himself in the world of Christian books. Over the last five years he's written six novels (the first of which, Directed Verdict, won a Christy award) and authored or co-authored three nonfiction titles. As if that's not enough, he's also a member of a successful law firm and a pastor at his church. And then there's that teaching gig at Regent University Law school and a guest host spot on Sirius Radio Channel 161. Randy Singer is indeed a man of many talents.
Many of the hats he wears come to play in his latest legal thriller, By Reason of Insanity. Catherine "Cat" O'Rourke is a rising star of an investigative reporter in Virginia Beach. She digs deep and isn't afraid to tell the truth, even if it hurts. When a serial kidnapper/murderer preys on the innocent, Catherine finds herself investigating the killer, who the community calls the "Avenger of Blood". She'll do anything she can to help put the killer behind bars. But when she publishes a key piece of information given to her by a reliable source, Cat finds herself in serious hot water. Refusing to reveal who clued her in for moral reasons, a judge quickly decrees she's hindering the investigation, and Cat finds herself behind bars.
Her "trials" are just beginning. While in jail Cat has more than one vivid dream of the Avenger which contains information only someone very familiar with the murders would know. When she's released she finally shares her visions with the authorities, and things really begin to unravel now. Accused of the murders, she's thrown in prison again. How can the police possibly think she's a killer? But then again, how could she otherwise know what she knows? And what about the forensic evidence linking her to the murders? Could she be insane?
By Reason of Insanity is a rich novel that not only takes you deep into the crevices of the legal profession, but it also gives realistic glimpses into prison life. We are Cat. We feel her pain. We root for her all the way. Hers isn't the only story Singer chronicles. Attorney Quinn Newburg, an expert in the insanity defense, is facing his own demons. He's given almost equal page time with Cat, and he also becomes a full, three-dimensional character, the true sign of great writing.
There's a lot going on in this novel, but Singer handles the twists and turns with skill. A sub-plot involving a greedy casino owner gets a little complicated, but it is needed to bring the story full circle. Spiritually, Singer has taken the light-handed route. Scriptural truths are woven throughout. A psychiatrist witness is clearly but not blatantly a Christian. Story takes center stage.
Singer has crafted a masterful piece of fiction in By Reason of Insanity, and we're wondering until the very end whether Cat truly is sane. There's no skimping on the ending either. Everything is brought together in ways you'll never guess.
The verdict is in---Randy Singer is guilty of writing some of the best legal fiction on the market.
Many of the hats he wears come to play in his latest legal thriller, By Reason of Insanity. Catherine "Cat" O'Rourke is a rising star of an investigative reporter in Virginia Beach. She digs deep and isn't afraid to tell the truth, even if it hurts. When a serial kidnapper/murderer preys on the innocent, Catherine finds herself investigating the killer, who the community calls the "Avenger of Blood". She'll do anything she can to help put the killer behind bars. But when she publishes a key piece of information given to her by a reliable source, Cat finds herself in serious hot water. Refusing to reveal who clued her in for moral reasons, a judge quickly decrees she's hindering the investigation, and Cat finds herself behind bars.
Her "trials" are just beginning. While in jail Cat has more than one vivid dream of the Avenger which contains information only someone very familiar with the murders would know. When she's released she finally shares her visions with the authorities, and things really begin to unravel now. Accused of the murders, she's thrown in prison again. How can the police possibly think she's a killer? But then again, how could she otherwise know what she knows? And what about the forensic evidence linking her to the murders? Could she be insane?
By Reason of Insanity is a rich novel that not only takes you deep into the crevices of the legal profession, but it also gives realistic glimpses into prison life. We are Cat. We feel her pain. We root for her all the way. Hers isn't the only story Singer chronicles. Attorney Quinn Newburg, an expert in the insanity defense, is facing his own demons. He's given almost equal page time with Cat, and he also becomes a full, three-dimensional character, the true sign of great writing.
There's a lot going on in this novel, but Singer handles the twists and turns with skill. A sub-plot involving a greedy casino owner gets a little complicated, but it is needed to bring the story full circle. Spiritually, Singer has taken the light-handed route. Scriptural truths are woven throughout. A psychiatrist witness is clearly but not blatantly a Christian. Story takes center stage.
Singer has crafted a masterful piece of fiction in By Reason of Insanity, and we're wondering until the very end whether Cat truly is sane. There's no skimping on the ending either. Everything is brought together in ways you'll never guess.
The verdict is in---Randy Singer is guilty of writing some of the best legal fiction on the market.
February 12, 2009
By Reason of Insanity
by Randy Singer
Catherine O’Rourke appears to have it all together. A successful career in newspaper journalism. A beautiful face, plenty of confidence, lots of friends, and a family who loves her.
But then she covers the murder trial of Annie Newberg, who confesses to taking the life of her abusive husband. Annie’s case is unique in that her powerful attorney is also her brother. Quinn Newberg fights to get Annie off on an insanity plea. When that case is unexpectedly declared a mistrial, Cat moves on to the next one, unaware that she is irrevocably bound to the Newbergs.
Babies are kidnapped and assumed dead. High-profile attorneys are murdered. Strange biblical messages are left at each scene. Catherine is deeply involved in the investigation, with the help of a police detective who keeps her supplied with inside information. She starts having disturbing visions about the crimes, but when she makes the mistake of sharing them with her detective friend, she suddenly becomes the prime suspect.
Cat turns to Quinn Newberg for representation. He likes Catherine, and believes in her integrity. But he also believes her visions stem from a split personality – dissociative identity disorder – caused by a traumatic experience eight years earlier. He’s certain he’ll once more be fighting an unpredictable insanity battle in court.
When the two begin to feel an undeniable attraction, Cat’s case becomes personal – and deadly. Someone wants Cat to go down for these crimes. When Quinn gets too close to the killer, someone wants him out of the way.
It’s a whole new battlefield as two successful, independent personalities learn that some situations can’t be tackled alone.
Sometimes you need a higher power.
Randy Singer knows how to hook a reader. He drags them in from the opening scene and never lets go. By Reason of Insanity is packed with heart-pounding suspense, raw emotion, subtle touches of romance and a healthy helping of mystery. Impressive writing and a great storyline. Singer keeps pages turning and readers reading – and when they reach the end, he makes them want one more paragraph … one more page … one more chapter.
This is fiction the way it’s meant to be written.
by Randy Singer
Catherine O’Rourke appears to have it all together. A successful career in newspaper journalism. A beautiful face, plenty of confidence, lots of friends, and a family who loves her.
But then she covers the murder trial of Annie Newberg, who confesses to taking the life of her abusive husband. Annie’s case is unique in that her powerful attorney is also her brother. Quinn Newberg fights to get Annie off on an insanity plea. When that case is unexpectedly declared a mistrial, Cat moves on to the next one, unaware that she is irrevocably bound to the Newbergs.
Babies are kidnapped and assumed dead. High-profile attorneys are murdered. Strange biblical messages are left at each scene. Catherine is deeply involved in the investigation, with the help of a police detective who keeps her supplied with inside information. She starts having disturbing visions about the crimes, but when she makes the mistake of sharing them with her detective friend, she suddenly becomes the prime suspect.
Cat turns to Quinn Newberg for representation. He likes Catherine, and believes in her integrity. But he also believes her visions stem from a split personality – dissociative identity disorder – caused by a traumatic experience eight years earlier. He’s certain he’ll once more be fighting an unpredictable insanity battle in court.
When the two begin to feel an undeniable attraction, Cat’s case becomes personal – and deadly. Someone wants Cat to go down for these crimes. When Quinn gets too close to the killer, someone wants him out of the way.
It’s a whole new battlefield as two successful, independent personalities learn that some situations can’t be tackled alone.
Sometimes you need a higher power.
Randy Singer knows how to hook a reader. He drags them in from the opening scene and never lets go. By Reason of Insanity is packed with heart-pounding suspense, raw emotion, subtle touches of romance and a healthy helping of mystery. Impressive writing and a great storyline. Singer keeps pages turning and readers reading – and when they reach the end, he makes them want one more paragraph … one more page … one more chapter.
This is fiction the way it’s meant to be written.
December 17, 2020
Loved this one! Intricate plot, great characters, lots of intrigue, well-written. I'm really enjoying going through Singer's bibliography.
Edit: I just read some of the reviews and was surprised at some of them. I realize that everyone's taste in story and books is different so I understand that some people will like a book more than others will and therefore ratings will differ. However some of these reviews are diametrically opposed to each other, saying completely opposite things. One called the book "g rated" and "sanitized" while another criticized its "vulgar language". Huh?! So I figured I would clear things up.
There is no vulgarity in this book. There is little more than an instance of the word "crap". Yes, there are some gruesome descriptions of some of the crimes which didn't bother me personally, though I could see how some people might find them to be a little much. And to the person who gave a low rating because there wasn't enough swearing in the dialogue to satisfy them, I say that you don't have to have profanity to tell a good story and it's refreshing to read a book that isn't riddled with it. If that's what you want, there are plenty of other authors out there for you.
As for the folks saying that it's not Christian enough for a Christian author, I suppose you could make that argument since there was only one secondary character that claimed to be a Christian. But personally, I don't think every story needs to have an overt religious message. I just want a good, clean story. This book does that. And it tackles some really interesting themes along the way, such as, vengeance, mental disorders, and justice. It also asks interesting questions like "does God communicate through dreams?" and "how far would you go to protect your loved ones"? You can disagree with the conclusions the author offers but regardless, they are thought-provoking topics to consider.
I just thought that some of the 1-star ratings were not being fair here and wanted to clarify a few things. The book was being attacked from both ends of the spectrum and I found that quite odd. Hopefully this has been helpful.
Edit: I just read some of the reviews and was surprised at some of them. I realize that everyone's taste in story and books is different so I understand that some people will like a book more than others will and therefore ratings will differ. However some of these reviews are diametrically opposed to each other, saying completely opposite things. One called the book "g rated" and "sanitized" while another criticized its "vulgar language". Huh?! So I figured I would clear things up.
There is no vulgarity in this book. There is little more than an instance of the word "crap". Yes, there are some gruesome descriptions of some of the crimes which didn't bother me personally, though I could see how some people might find them to be a little much. And to the person who gave a low rating because there wasn't enough swearing in the dialogue to satisfy them, I say that you don't have to have profanity to tell a good story and it's refreshing to read a book that isn't riddled with it. If that's what you want, there are plenty of other authors out there for you.
As for the folks saying that it's not Christian enough for a Christian author, I suppose you could make that argument since there was only one secondary character that claimed to be a Christian. But personally, I don't think every story needs to have an overt religious message. I just want a good, clean story. This book does that. And it tackles some really interesting themes along the way, such as, vengeance, mental disorders, and justice. It also asks interesting questions like "does God communicate through dreams?" and "how far would you go to protect your loved ones"? You can disagree with the conclusions the author offers but regardless, they are thought-provoking topics to consider.
I just thought that some of the 1-star ratings were not being fair here and wanted to clarify a few things. The book was being attacked from both ends of the spectrum and I found that quite odd. Hopefully this has been helpful.
April 30, 2013
This isn't my usual book but it was a free Kindle download so I read it.
It is terrible. Just awful. Let me tell you why:
There are two story lines in the first half of the book. These story lines have NOTHING to do with each other. At all. There is a minor overlap and then the two story lines go off on their own. Well, I say go off but at least one of those story lines doesn't actually go anywhere. It is like a really, really, really extended character intro for lawyer Quinn. It should have been cut.
The second story line, the one with Catherine, can't decide if it is a murder mystery, a supernatural vision thing, a multiple personality disorder story, or what. In fact, I had NO idea what it was going to be. The handling of what was going on was so clumsy that I, the reader, didn't know what to expect. Let me clarify - having a twist is good but not knowing what I am reading is a problem. And the ending is on the topic that was the least discussed in the whole book.
More amateur errors - zero clues to the actual murderer, no in depth discussion of the religious angle (which you would need if you didn't go with the serial killer murder mystery), great discussion of dissociative identity disorder without any good characterization of said disorder, AND a completely useless love story tacked on to the tail end of the story (also totally unnecessary).
This story can't figure out what it is supposed to be, tries to be everything, and succeeds at being confusing and annoying. I understand that this is written by a lawyer and I very much appreciate the accurate courtroom proceedings but it doesn't make up for a poor story.
It is terrible. Just awful. Let me tell you why:
There are two story lines in the first half of the book. These story lines have NOTHING to do with each other. At all. There is a minor overlap and then the two story lines go off on their own. Well, I say go off but at least one of those story lines doesn't actually go anywhere. It is like a really, really, really extended character intro for lawyer Quinn. It should have been cut.
The second story line, the one with Catherine, can't decide if it is a murder mystery, a supernatural vision thing, a multiple personality disorder story, or what. In fact, I had NO idea what it was going to be. The handling of what was going on was so clumsy that I, the reader, didn't know what to expect. Let me clarify - having a twist is good but not knowing what I am reading is a problem. And the ending is on the topic that was the least discussed in the whole book.
More amateur errors - zero clues to the actual murderer, no in depth discussion of the religious angle (which you would need if you didn't go with the serial killer murder mystery), great discussion of dissociative identity disorder without any good characterization of said disorder, AND a completely useless love story tacked on to the tail end of the story (also totally unnecessary).
This story can't figure out what it is supposed to be, tries to be everything, and succeeds at being confusing and annoying. I understand that this is written by a lawyer and I very much appreciate the accurate courtroom proceedings but it doesn't make up for a poor story.
July 28, 2011
Another sensational Singer book!
This one tackles the always interesting 'insanity' defense as it relates to guilt of a crime. I am always amazed at how he is able to come at such gripping legal tenets and add a little religion to them. I could not stop listening to the [audio]book and polished it off in only a few days.
Singer looks to address this issue in two simultaneous cases, one in which the main character's sister is on trial for the murder of her abusing husband, and the other of a journalist who has 'visions' of horrific crimes, only to have them come true days later.
Singer touches on many of the sensitive aspects of the cases, leaving the reader to wonder, 'is this a cop out defense or does it have some merit?' I was left asking myself the same thing and have yet to come off the fence.
As with his other books, Singer does a great job of keeping the reader's interest and making sure that the legal point comes across with ease. GREAT WORK!
This one tackles the always interesting 'insanity' defense as it relates to guilt of a crime. I am always amazed at how he is able to come at such gripping legal tenets and add a little religion to them. I could not stop listening to the [audio]book and polished it off in only a few days.
Singer looks to address this issue in two simultaneous cases, one in which the main character's sister is on trial for the murder of her abusing husband, and the other of a journalist who has 'visions' of horrific crimes, only to have them come true days later.
Singer touches on many of the sensitive aspects of the cases, leaving the reader to wonder, 'is this a cop out defense or does it have some merit?' I was left asking myself the same thing and have yet to come off the fence.
As with his other books, Singer does a great job of keeping the reader's interest and making sure that the legal point comes across with ease. GREAT WORK!
December 23, 2009
The concept of an insanity defense for me is always intriguing. That's partly why I chose this book, and I wasn't misled in doing so. The legal arguments presented in the story are sound. The problem I had was the religious undertone, which, had I known was part of the theme, would have stopped me from even picking it up. Maybe the book was intended for some kind of Christian marketing; don't know and don't care.
Still, if it's possible to put that aside, then I suspect readers would find the story engaging and the writing quite competent and engaging. It involves a journalist who may or may not be suffering from a split-personality disorder, the basis for the story of kidnap and murder. If you can get past the not-so-subtle pitch for a religious explanation, well, then I suspect you may well rate it higher than a three. Me? I'm not keen on novels that proselytize. This one strayed just a bit too much into that territory for my taste.
Still, if it's possible to put that aside, then I suspect readers would find the story engaging and the writing quite competent and engaging. It involves a journalist who may or may not be suffering from a split-personality disorder, the basis for the story of kidnap and murder. If you can get past the not-so-subtle pitch for a religious explanation, well, then I suspect you may well rate it higher than a three. Me? I'm not keen on novels that proselytize. This one strayed just a bit too much into that territory for my taste.
May 25, 2009
Wow---BETTER than self-incrimination. Great mystery novel. Not a literary masterpiece, but there are no language issues---a little bit graphic at the very start as Mr. Singer develops the setting, but nothing I felt was inappropriate---and moves to show you what Annie's on trial for. I really had no OBJECTIONS with this book (get it? legal thriller, objections...) Page turner for sure! And he has short chapters (I like that). I think I will definitely read more from him. The book jacket said not only is he a lawyer himself, but he is also a pastor, so that explains why we don't have to deal w/language or anything inappropriate..etc. I really liked it.
June 1, 2010
Fast plot, great characterization and terrific page-turner. It is a legal thriller/mystery. Singer is a Christian author but this book should appeal to those that don't usually read Christian authors.
September 18, 2017
Got whiplash from all the twists and turns in this one! An incredible ride! And typical great writing from Singer! But like some of the other reviewers here, the level of violence and some other plot elements made this less enjoyable for me than some of Singer's books.
November 17, 2009
I am a huge John Grisham fan and this book reminder me a lot of his books. I really enjoyed the writing style and the story line. Would highly recommend
June 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, but keep in mind I don't reach in the legal thriller department but I thought this was really well put together, especially from the physiological perspective.
April 29, 2022
I loved this. Every second of it. The plot twists at the end really threw me off my guessing game. I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2019
In my opinion, Singer is better than Grisham. Grisham has become an author with an agenda to get his point of view and beliefs across to the reader that he has sacrificed plot and character development.
Singer wrote a fast reading, entertaining book that mirror reality. After years of abuse, Annie killed her husband. She doesn't deny it. Her lawyer, who happens to be her brother, doesn't deny it. But the question is, did she understand what she was doing when she shot him. As a reporter, Catherine has covered numerous trials, but Annie's is different. It brings up hurts and a past she's tried hard to bury. After eight years of suppressing her emotions following a college rape, who is she and what has she become? There are really two stories that are connected by one lawyer. The reader gets drawn in to both of these story lines and cares for the characters.
Singer tackles some tough issues such as—abuse and revenge in this book. By Reason of Insanity offers something for most readers. It's an intense thriller, with lots of plot twists and turns. The ending took me by surprise and this doesn’t happen very often.
Singer wrote a fast reading, entertaining book that mirror reality. After years of abuse, Annie killed her husband. She doesn't deny it. Her lawyer, who happens to be her brother, doesn't deny it. But the question is, did she understand what she was doing when she shot him. As a reporter, Catherine has covered numerous trials, but Annie's is different. It brings up hurts and a past she's tried hard to bury. After eight years of suppressing her emotions following a college rape, who is she and what has she become? There are really two stories that are connected by one lawyer. The reader gets drawn in to both of these story lines and cares for the characters.
Singer tackles some tough issues such as—abuse and revenge in this book. By Reason of Insanity offers something for most readers. It's an intense thriller, with lots of plot twists and turns. The ending took me by surprise and this doesn’t happen very often.
April 26, 2019
4.5 stars.
This was an entertaining read. A good solid mystery (actually several mysteries) with lots of twists and a couple of really good surprises.
I was going to comment about the preachiness that happened occasionally, but I realized toward the end of reading that the book is published by Tyndale House, a publisher of Christian fiction; considering their usual intended audience, the religious undertones are actually pretty subdued.
There is a bit of romance going on, between a lawyer and his client. I found it annoying in that, with the woman being on trial for murder, they both should have had more important things on their minds. But I did like the way it was handled at the end of the book.
Lastly, there were a few inconsistencies with how the author handled prison life. But overall I really enjoyed reading this. I'm interested in reading more of Singer's work.
This was an entertaining read. A good solid mystery (actually several mysteries) with lots of twists and a couple of really good surprises.
I was going to comment about the preachiness that happened occasionally, but I realized toward the end of reading that the book is published by Tyndale House, a publisher of Christian fiction; considering their usual intended audience, the religious undertones are actually pretty subdued.
There is a bit of romance going on, between a lawyer and his client. I found it annoying in that, with the woman being on trial for murder, they both should have had more important things on their minds. But I did like the way it was handled at the end of the book.
Lastly, there were a few inconsistencies with how the author handled prison life. But overall I really enjoyed reading this. I'm interested in reading more of Singer's work.
July 17, 2019
Kind of a slower read. While the book is interesting and I did learn a lot about the legal system and DID, I think the author tries too hard to throw in surprises and twists. While my assumptions were wrong a lot of the book which I typically like, I wasn't satisfied with the ending. Maybe I just wasn't expecting this to be a religious book where it was an acceptable answer by law and the courts that God was sending people messages about gruesome murders through"visions". If I had known this from the start, I wouldn't have been searching so hard for a realistic answer the whole book. Seemed like an easy way out to me. For people who don't believe in this sort of stuff, it can make the book seem like quite a reach with no real answers. Overall, wouldn't recommend.
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October 17, 2021Publisher's Description: After a series of murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime. To aid the investigation, she shares them with a detective working the case. But her plan backfires when she's arrested as the main suspect. Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defense who believes Catherine may be suffering from dissociative personality disorder. Quinn knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, but nothing could have prepared him for this. To win, or even survive, Quinn needs more than his famed legal maneuvering--he'll need a miracle.
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October 17, 2021Publisher's Description: After a series of murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime. To aid the investigation, she shares them with a detective working the case. But her plan backfires when she's arrested as the main suspect. Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defense who believes Catherine may be suffering from dissociative personality disorder. Quinn knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, but nothing could have prepared him for this. To win, or even survive, Quinn needs more than his famed legal maneuvering--he'll need a miracle.
June 16, 2019
I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t like everything about this book though. It definitely had some disturbing elements, including somewhat graphic descriptions of murders and the visions the main character has. And I got bored with the chapters describing Quinn gambling. But the story was interesting and to be honest I had no clue how it would all turn out in the end. I yelled, “No way!” when the truth was revealed about who did it and why etc.. I’m glad I didn’t read ahead, although it was tempting!Overall, it was a good front porch read for a June afternoon.
April 17, 2020
Maybe the best twist of an ending in any of the Singer books I've read to date. That alone made the book worth the journey. Even if every loose strand wasn't tied up, it was pretty deftly done.
That said, while it might have the best ending of the Singer books I've read, it isn't the strongest book overall. The pacing isn't as strong as some of his other books and the characters don't draw you in quite as much. That said, I'm a big Singer fan and this book didn't change that.
For more reviews see www.thebeehive.live.
That said, while it might have the best ending of the Singer books I've read, it isn't the strongest book overall. The pacing isn't as strong as some of his other books and the characters don't draw you in quite as much. That said, I'm a big Singer fan and this book didn't change that.
For more reviews see www.thebeehive.live.
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