Oikeus ja kohtuusr

by Clifford Irving, Aarne T.K. Lahtinen (Translator)

Uhkaako sähkötuoli syytöntä miestä? Mitä murhan takaa paljastuu, kun entinen syyttäjä ryhtyy puolustamaan kuolemaan tuomittua?

Ted Jaffe on vanhempi asianajaja Florian länsirannikon kalleimmassa lakiasiaintoimistossa. Darryl Morgan odottaa vankilassa teloitusta. Kaksitoista vuotta sitten Jaffe toimi apulaispääsyyttäjänä, kun Morgan tuomittiin upporikkaan liikemiehen murhasta.
Mutta nyt menneisyys käy Jaffen kimppuun. Uudet todisteet osoittavat, että kaikki ei ollut sitä miltä näytti.
Omatunto ei anna Jaffelle rauhaa. Hän asettaa vaakalaudalle niin uransa juristina kuin perheensä hyvinvoinnin ryhtyessään kuolemaan tuomitun Morganin puolustusasianajajaksi. Todelliset tapahtumat ja niiden takana olevat ihmissuhdeverkostot yllättävät niin poliisin, uhrin omaiset kuin puolustuksenkin.
(takakansiteksti)

Genres: Fiction, Legal, Mystery, Crime, Legal Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Clifford Irving was the author of 20 published books & just released 12 of his works as Kindle/Nook eBooks; he was currently writing a memoir called Around the World in 80 Years.

Reviews

[Doug Meyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost didn't read it after looking at some of the reviews but glad I did. Interesting look at the world through the eyes of an honest but very imperfect lawyer with a "screw up and it will bite you in the ass" lesson spun in. Yes, somewhat predictable, maybe dated but darned entertaining. And I don't get hung up on legal technicalities; having spent way too much time in courtrooms I wouldn't be able to enjoy any work of legal fiction if i was bothered by a little creative license. I paid for entertainment, not legal advice, and this was a very entertaining spin.

[Eileen Goudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging courtroom thriller. Well-written, with just enough spice to add flavor to a bubbling stew of conflicts. No huge surprises in terms of plot twists, but it moved at a brisk pace. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good page-turner.

[Mrs. Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the sheerest fluke that Clifford Irving’s Final Argument came to my attention; I’d previously heard of him only in connection with the Hughes hoax and had forgotten even that. But somebody somewhere recommended his legal thrillers and now I can attest that the man knows how to write English - he doesn’t confuse “defuse” with “diffuse” (far more common than you’d think) and is the only writer ever I can remember using “livid” correctly. The book’s plot is good enough; its denouement is disappointingly blanc.* But for readers who share my preference for good writing over twisty plotting, the book is recommended.

Animal Suffering Alert: the poisoning of a dog is referred to (but not described) several times. On a more tragic note, Irving writes, “In my youth I had seen such dementia behind bars at the zoo, where brainsick creatures, torn from all that was natural and dear, stared, or paced, or lay in urine and torpor. I had smelled that same stench, and I had turned away. I had never taken my children to zoos.” He doesn’t say more. He doesn’t need to.

*c’mon folks, the opposite of noir

[Beverly Carrigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait for it !

I was casually reading this book just taking my time and then ..... Well lets just say it changed gears and revved up the engine and I had to buckle up and hang on . So yes read it and wait for it .

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this, I thought it was okay. Then it got too intense for me to read at bedtime. When I got to the end, I had to stay up way past my bedtime to finish it. I thought the ending was a little weak - everything tied up in just a sentence or two. But we weren't left wondering about this or that. I did enjoy it very much once I got into it. There was violence, but it wasn't gruesome and it did't go on and on. There was sex, but we didn't need to see (hear) every little detail. It was fairly obvious that rich people were pulling strings but just exactly who did what wasn't as clear till the end.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book just enough to keep going and was anxious to get done with it. I have to admit that one reason I kept reading was because I hadn't checked it out from the library. I bought it. Since I'm really cheap I know I didn't pay much for it. I guess I could compare myself in this instance to Weird Al's song about an obnoxious ringtone that was so bad his wife broke his iPhone. He admitted that he would have deleted it but it would be terrible to waste a buck 99.

That said, the last quarter of the book got pretty interesting and justified my continuing to read.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book about the death penalty in regards to an innocent of murder victim. The story is relative to today since a lot of states are trying to remove the death penalty in exchange for a life sentence without any parole. The story makes you think regarding the unfairness at times of the law. It paints a background of prison life in a realistic way, but goes much further with the story of the cruelty. This was my first book by this author and I do not think it will be my last. I recommend it, especially if you like law types.

[Gilda B. Flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you think John Grisham is the king of the courtroom, and he may well be, Clifford Irving gives Grisham a run for his money.
I never read Irving in his hay-day but glad I discovered him now. It is so interesting how in so many ways the issues of them and now really haven’t changed. You certainly don’t know you are reading a 20 year old book. I don’t review the stories in my reviews because reading the synopsis is better but I do strongly recommend if you like legal dramas.

[Sarah Toppins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-paced legal mystery about redemption. The prosecutor of a death penalty case 16 years ago is now a defense lawyer. He wants to get a man weeks away from execution out of jail because he learns from another client that he falsified his testimony against the inmate in the original case. So it's an exercise in redemption for the lawyer and the inmate. And there is a side story of redemption for the lawyer's son who is an addict.

[Diane C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

This is a really good legal "thriller". Ted Jaffe, the main character, successfully prosecuted a man for murder. Years later after learning that witnesses had given perjured testimony in the trial, Jaffe must do everything he can to save the prisoner on death row. The court room drama at the end is terrific. I stayed up late to read till the end. Excellent book.

[Marge Destler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I'd forgotten what a good writer Clifford Irving was. The story is pretty good, tho a bit of a stretch, its presentation keeps one going. Different. With, what I consider, good all around thinking and self examination, it's an upper to read.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Lawyer who's been at it for years and still believes in justice. Who would have thunk it? I would have preferred him to also believe in fidelity, but this was a good story and a lesson in perseverance.

[Brenda Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Local fun, great story telling!

I am a Jacksonville, Florida native that really enjoyed the local landmarks and restaurants mentioned in the book. The story of
a man railroaded to death row could easily have been based on a true story. Irving knows how to tell an gripping tale.

[Maggie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not stood up for 5 hours

Omg riveting frustrating emotional real life great characterization. 2nd book I have read of Clifford Irving! I am continuing on to book 3 then I may take a break from this guy. Read a romance novel lol.

[Mireille Boutry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just loved it,

Well written with wit and finesse, the best legal thriller i read since Grisham and Isle. I want to go on with all his books. Thanks for the fun and pleasure of reading you, Mr Clifford

[Jim Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story line,let of characters but frequently reintroduced so easy to keep up with

Good story, surprise but good ending. Great book,a must read. Main character full of typical human faults but dodged many bullets and came out as good guy.

[Sharon Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every book by this author!

This read didn’t disappoint. It had mystery, drama, great character development and a tight story. I love that the characters are flawed. They other best to live their story in spite of their challenges!

[Peter P. Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final

A good editor would have cut the book in half. It wasn't really a bad story but the end was crammed into the last two chapters and that could have taken less time if the story had been told earlier. It won't make a good movie.

[Prescottl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent legal thriller/courtroom drama about a prosecutor of a man given the death penalty and who later becomes the man's defense attorney.

[Nita Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!!

An interesting and exciting legal novel that spans 13+ years with an
awesome and somewhat surprise ending. Highly recommend to all
that enjoy legal stories!

[Charles Thibos · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but nowhere as great as the first book "Trial" by this author.

[Shirley Beaser · Rating 2 out of 5]

IMHO this book is not worth reading. Couldn’t tolerate the foul language, poor sentence structure or lack of a worthwhile plot.

[WALTER P. LESER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nonstop exciting Court infused dramas!

I admit to being a court story junkie, and this is one of the best that I can remember. It is well worth reading,

[Maria T. Weinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

I couldn't put down. What a story. Twists and turns. Intrigue and murder. Happiness and sadness. But it it is well worth it.

[David Highton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow up to The Trial, plenty of courtroom drama, as Ted Jaffe discovers a planted witness from his last public prosecutor trail 12 years earlier.

[David L Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tense and exciting

Will keep you from doing your other jobs and make you stay up past bedtime..well written and spellbinding. Thanks Clifford.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abridged Reader's Digest version. Very good story. Good plot and characters

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took awhile for me to get into the book but the ending did catch me. I had suspected some of what came out in the end.

[Vic]

rwr review

[B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars