Trial by Fire

by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg

A district attorney with an incredible 100% conviction rate is haunted by the one crime she's been unable to solve--the arson fire that killed her parents 15 years earlier. But when she finally persuades the authorities to reopen the case, the most unexpected suspect of all is indicted--herself!

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

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

With a BA in English and 5 years as a photographic model behind her, Nancy Taylor Rosenberg studied criminology. She served in the Dallas Police Department, New Mexico State Police, Ventura Police Department and as an Investigative Probation Officer in Court Services for the Country of Ventura where she handled major crimes. She lived in California.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really can’t give an honest rating to this book because I couldn’t bring myself to read past the 12th chapter. This “heroine”...and I use the term loosely...needed a lesson in manners...or perhaps a good hard wallop up the side her head. She flew into screaming, cursing tantrums about everything. Actually, all of the characters, up to chapter 12 were angry and spiteful, even in neutral situations. Needless to say, it got very, very annoying. I think of the thousands of books that I have read this one might have been the worse *If by some chance you are a glutton for punishment and feel that you simply must visit with this book.... please, please BORROW it from the library or fish it out the trash can where the last reader threw it...but don’t spend one red cent of your hard-earned money for it!!!!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In one of Nancy Taylor Rosenberg's standalone thrillers, Trial by Fire, she told us a scintillating tale of revenge and of arson. Stella Cataloni was a stellar Houston DA with a 100% conviction rate. She barred her hidden scars with her long hair from a fire that claimed her parents, when she was a teenage. That was the only crime she wanted to solve and persuaded the Houston PD to reopen the case, even if she had to reopen the wounds. When she did so, they believed she was the suspect of the arson--murder. In order to clear her name, she would use "forensic animation", a new kind of computer technology to point the spotlight in another direction, like her former beau, and further complicate things with the investigation. In the end, she found the love of her life and learned the truth about the fire.

[Legolas Devildog · Rating 5 out of 5]

know a lot of people who have read this one didn’t like the dialogue or the fact the main character pretty much was dead set on solving her parents arson and all of that but personally I loved this one. While yes, some of it had some points that would not fit into the real world as easily as you might like the overall context of the book is good. It has mystery, suspense and all of the things I like in a well written crime novel.

I can fully understand and respect some of the anger issues that crop up, I think some of the characters, especially our lead attorney have some PTSD but that is just my look at it. Overall a very good read and one that I have enjoyed both times I have read it.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book was ok, but not great. The characters had anger issues! too many temper tantrums!

[Magda Kasperczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nic odkrywczego.🙄 Jeśli oczekujecie czegoś nowatorskiego, to nie ten adres, ale zwroty akcji przeplatane przyziemnymi sprawami i  wykorzystanie modelowania komputerowego potrafią przytrzymać czytelnika na dłużej.

Przejmująca historia.
Wciąga. 
Nie ma zbyt wiele zbędnych przemyśleń bohaterów, które nic nie wnoszą do fabuły. 
Bohaterowie wydają się być realni, więc łatwiej można się z nimi związać, zaangażować i współprzeżywać sprawy. 

"Tak" tłumaczone jako "Aha" jest dosyć irytujące, ale idzie się przyzwyczaić. 🙈😄

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books I purchased in an antique/thrift store in NC. I seem to recall breading Nancy Taylor Rosenberg before. I did enjoy this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I like the people who got their just rewards (sic) got their just rewards. I am glad it turned out the way it did with Stella. And Mario. Sad the people who died, most of them, anyway.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont think the author likes or really respects professional and successful women. The story was a bit buggy but once it started moving was a good who done it. But i do have issues with her lead female characters. After three books it appears to me that she equates strong women with being strident, self absorbed and irritatingly stubborn. Even after being warned she is in danger as are people around her she continues to takes irresponsible actions. I actually like the female investigator much more smart. rational strong the true heroine and far more likeable.

[Shannon Wyss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a problem with mysteries in that i find things like the dialog completely unbelievable. No one actually talks like that! They're such scripted movie lines that it annoys me. And some of the stereotypical characters are similarly uncreative. That being said, i was engrossed in the plot and really wanted to find out what was going to happen.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stella Cataloni works in the Dallas District Attorney's office with an almost impossible (unbelievable maybe) 100% conviction rate. But she really wants the conviction of whoever killed her parents and left her permanently scarred in a house fire many years ago.

This is really the basis for the entire book... her investigation into the fire. We're given a few different characters that Stella suspects might be the killer... her ex-boyfriend, Tom Randall, her uncle Clem and some even suspect that Stella herself set the fire.

Enter Houston D.A. Holly Oppenheimer who is insanely jealous of her former friend Stella's successful career and finds a way--SCHEMES--she thinks, to put Stella behind bars by getting her convicted of setting the fire (OK so that stretched my imagination a bit) and then it becomes a battle of the women D.A.'s.

When Stella is arrested and jailed over zealous (maybe slightly insane) DA Holly believes this is her one big case that will make her a star. Unfortunately for Holly, Stella is just smarter than she is.

Stella doesn't take being accused of the crime very lightly and she realizes that she'll have to do the investigation that the police failed to do: find the actual killer.

We follow Stella, along with her friend Investigator Brenda, as she finds herself in the midst of crooked cops and construction corruption going back 15 years or so.

I read some reviews that claimed the characters had anger issues or temper tantrums (probably some confused readers) because who wouldn't be angry at being falsely accused of committing a crime? smh

There's some definite tension in a few scenes in the story but I found them pretty believable.

The characters are well developed for the most part without getting bogged down in too much unnecessary details.

While Stella is a DA and there are a few courtroom scenes I wouldn't categorize this as a legal thriller by any means. Maybe a murder mystery would be more apropos.

It was an exciting read although SOME scenes seemed a little over done for dramas sake, but not so much that it wasn't overall a good read

There are interesting twists and turns to the story that might be predictable but not all were. The author does tie up all loose ends for us by the end of the story though.

I believe this is a stand alone book by this author but I could see Stella becoming a protagonist in a series.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 1 out of 5]

A woman shouts that her skirt is on fire. You should tell her to drop and roll, and find a carpet or coat to wrap over the flames to starve them of oxygen. You don't throw a splash from a glass at her, stand there, or run around looking for water. Which is what the characters do.
This skirt was made of flammable material it seems. When I think of the nightclothes made of nylon children used to be given, it's a horrendous concept. Anyway, this is a story about unpleasant business people and lawyers talking about business and law. I didn't take to it and the reactions to the burning skirt (one of the people concerned being a police officer) were so poor I am not impressed with the writer.

[Valerie Perwas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finished it today and it was a struggle. The first murder mystery that I've even read that I could put down and not pick up for a couple of days because the book wasn't that engaging for me. I disliked the main character, a professional woman accused of murder. She is a district attorney, but sure seemed dumb while trying to clear herself. The book's author constantly described the character as "shouting" and I found that off-putting. The ending and revelation of who did it was very contrived.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello. I was read that book and its kinda nice. It's about fire in who grandfather die etc. The case have become big and was try to kill someone by sniper. There are a romance scene also but very comic. If you looking for something like that, that book is for you. My opinion 4/5 because it was not good book like other what I was read before.

David Mat
www.matodont.dx.am
Secular Humanism

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy cleanse-read. Not provoking and definitely outdated language, but the characters were likable enough. A hotshot lawyer with burn scars, Stella, is annoying because her scars don't seem to be really bad but her character seems to be more affected by the physical scars than emotional. She lacks depth.

[RUTH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I did figure out who did it, but not til near the end. Some interesting twists at the end of the book. A great read but since written in 1996 some of the tech parts are dated. Still worth the read though.

[Pamela Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read! (Every pun intended). The ending was a little predictable until the last two chapters. Didn’t see that coming and very happy about how the story ended for the main character. Highly recommend!!

[JoAnn Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Premise was good and there was enough action to keep me interested. The heroine was vindictive and not heroic, however, and that annoyed me.

[Jane J. Janas, Ph.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a plot that is very believeable. Fast moving and a woman protagonist ... but all in all ... NOT GOOD

[Mikkaella Aranas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's 3rd book I've read and it's very realistic. This makes me want to be a Detective as well as Prosecutor. It really is portrayed well in the novel. Just amazing.

[Tiffany Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are interesting twists and turns to the story that might be predictable but not all were. The author does tie up all loose ends for us by the end of the story though.

[Jenna Brownlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Far fetched...and not in a good way. Story was average, characters lacked depth and the so-called love story in the background was laughable.

[Paul Copcutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK mystery with a good twist at the end

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a book that keeps you guessing until the end and then the shock twist at the end surprises you.

[Greg Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

low quality airport literature

[Georgia Dentel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and very suspenseful!

[Rianonne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abbruch nach 60 Seiten

[Alex Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Trial by Fire" by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg is a great novel about an attorney,Stella Cataloni, tried for first degree murder. Stella was on the top of the world, convicting a wanted killer, but in an instant had all the weight of the world bearing on her.She battles trying to solve the old case of her parents death, but if she doesn't find the killer, the killer will find her.This book is highly recommended for an older audience.Rosenberg describes Stellas thoughts and her actions vividly in her choice of wording.

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A female attorney with a complex mystery to solve. I expected a new Perry O'Shaughnessy in terms of the writing style ~ and didn't quite find that.

Even so, I enjoyed the book. Several twists and turns in the story, as well as a nice variety of characters. Almost put it down when the plot seemed sidetracked with her love interest, but glad that I stayed with it.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot was nice but i thought that the author sort of put away some characters, too fast. I hoped for an epilogue at the end of the story to explain a bit about what happened to the characters afterward.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb dit boek gelezen met een andere titel: "Opgejaagd".

Een mooi boek met een heel meeslepend verhaal. Het liefst lees je het in één ruk uit, doordat je zó met de personages meeleeft. Als de plottwist niet zo ongeloofwaardig zou zijn, zou het vijf sterren krijgen.

[Cws]

M Ros