In My Dark Dreams

by J.F. Freedman

A public defender must defend the rarest of clients--someone she believes to be innocent
Jessica Thompson is training for a marathon, running fifty miles a week not just to stay in shape, but to help her forget that she spends her days in service to some of California's worst criminals. As a public defender in Los Angeles, this is par for the course. But Roberto Salazar is an unusual client: a kind, mild-mannered man with a clean record who has been accused of trafficking stolen goods. Jessica is happy to get this churchgoing gardener acquitted, but she's shocked when he's accused of murder. Roberto is arrested in connection with three savage murders, each committed on the night of a full moon. Is he innocent? Or did Jessica let a madman go free?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

J.F. Freedman is the New York Times bestselling author of Against the Wind, The Disappearance, House of Smoke, and In My Dark Dreams, among other titles. He is also an award-winning film and television director, writer, and producer. He lives in California.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Criminal Defense

A public defender has no choice in who she defends but she does her best even though the probability of a win is low. Then you find yourself with a decent client who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and you win! But what happens when your client is again arrested for murder? You once again do the best job you can, even though this time the evidence is so strong you begin to wonder if he really is innocent.

[TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair warning, I gave this 5 stars because there is criminal courtroom trial lawyer stuff. I was a civil trial attorney for years so I like this stuff. Accurate description of how trials go; stuff changes every day and often unpredictably. Liked the characters and situations (all too human) they find themselves in.

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't read this author before and it was just meh...Didn't make me want to read more of his work and frankly, the cover flap wasn't true to the story. That was disappointing. He'll have to do better than that to make me want to pick up another.

[Gerald L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best effort

Not his best effort
I have read several of J. F. Freedmen's books and have been impressed with almost all of them, but this one is far from his best.

[Sharon Tamburello · Rating 5 out of 5]

good writer

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book synopsis is not representative of the story. Jessica is not wracked with doubt. She does not know if she put the killer back on the street. More importantly, the killer does not try to make her his next victim.

This is not a murder mystery. This is a courtroom drama, plain and simple. The book revolves around Jessica's life and the court proceedings of the two cases with Roberto Salazar as the defendant.

Now that the distinction has been made, I honestly enjoyed this book. The court proceedings are interesting, and the end of the book was quite a twist. I thought it was a great way to wrap up the drama. It may not have been what was advertised, but it was still a good piece of fiction.

If you have no interest in reading about what happens in the courtrooms of our justice system, do not pick up this book. If you enjoy law, I recommend this book to you. It is not action-packed. It has a methodical organization to it that I personally enjoyed.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library, just sitting there quietly on the new book shelf, and thought I had read some of his stuff in years past. Now I want to go back and read more of his stuff, because this one was GOOD.

Likable but not perfect protagonist, good plotting and even thought I got it a hundred pages before the end, it wasn't clear how it was going to go until it all played itself out.

There definitely could be a sequel for this...and I love the way he wrote about a woman's feelings about the personal betrayal and breakup she went through. Nicely done!

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of this book has nothing to do with the content. Jessica Thompson has lead an interesting life and is now an attorney with a seemingly innocent client, Roberto Salazar, who does lawn maintenance. He first gets out of a charge of robbery, but then is accused of murdering several young women. Jessica trains for a marathon, and does well, but her musician boy friend dumps her just as she has determined that she is pregnant. Luckily, a wealthy woman, a good friend to Roberto, takes her under her wing, so to speak. The ending is interesting.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read this author nor had I heard anything about this book, but I really liked it! It was a serial murder/court drama. The main character is a woman lawyer for the LA Public Defenders office who gets someone who appears to be innocent off of a robbery charge. He then gets arrested with damning evidence for a string of murders that appear to be the work of a serial killer. Good book that I couldn't put down.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This legal mystery kept me wondering if he did or didn't commit the crime. I won't ruin the book for you by giving exact details but there were a few hints within the book that kept me wondering about different character connections. I did enjoy this book although I found this book not to be as "gritty" as some of his other books that I have previously read.

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced, legal thriller and mystery. I've read a number of books by this author and really like his style. His characters are well developed but not exaggerated. This story kept me guessing until the very last page - which is usually the case (no pun intended) with this author's stories.

[Sheri Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but it fell flat at the end. I am always so disappointed when I invest myself in a story and then feel like the author just ct the story short and wrapped it up quickly without a satisfying ending.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for lite reading on a plane. I finished the book in a single sitting. The detail of research is also apparent. I really enjoyed this book.

[Danalee]

This was a good book. Easy and quick reading.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Freedman. This one had me guessing to the very end as to whether the defendant was guilty or not. It was a 'don't want to put down' book!

[Evelin:) Dominguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok book but i don't much recomended.....

[Rob Rausch · Rating 2 out of 5]

His books are becoming a little too formulaic - good courtroom drama, ambiguous and abrupt ending, characters all have questionable morals.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous suspense book!

[Lola Willis]

Not captivated by the synopsis or the characters, but the writing's fairly good and interesting enough to pick it up again later.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story but the courtroom scenes drug on too much for me. I like the mystery but keep the court action short !!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I have read by this author. Really enjoyed, good plot, characters and especially enjoyed all the facts and nuances about the criminal justice system

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Freedman and he does not disappoint. Strong characters, good personality and an intriguing storyline.

[Judy Green]

great