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Dutch Francis #3
Abiding Conviction
Lawyer Dutch Francis faces an impossible situation—search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client
Dutch Francis is a defense attorney in the case of a judge accused of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, Ginnie Turner, Dutch’s wife and TV news broadcaster, goes missing.
Under extreme duress, Dutch tries to extricate himself as the judge’s attorney—or at least postpone the trial. The judge insists that the trial proceed without delay and that Dutch remain his attorney.
Exhausted by the murder trial, Dutch confronts an ineffectual police department, suspicious that he is involved in his wife’s disappearance. He takes matters into his own hands as he struggles to balance both responsibilities—the trial and finding his wife—pushing him to the brink of losing everything he holds dear.
At first Dutch suspects that Ginnie was kidnapped in retaliation for her recent stories about sex scandals. But after receiving bits of her in the mail—fingernails, hair—he realizes the kidnapper’s intent may be to punish him.
Could his defense of the judge be the reason?
Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will love the courtroom drama
Dutch Francis is a defense attorney in the case of a judge accused of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, Ginnie Turner, Dutch’s wife and TV news broadcaster, goes missing.
Under extreme duress, Dutch tries to extricate himself as the judge’s attorney—or at least postpone the trial. The judge insists that the trial proceed without delay and that Dutch remain his attorney.
Exhausted by the murder trial, Dutch confronts an ineffectual police department, suspicious that he is involved in his wife’s disappearance. He takes matters into his own hands as he struggles to balance both responsibilities—the trial and finding his wife—pushing him to the brink of losing everything he holds dear.
At first Dutch suspects that Ginnie was kidnapped in retaliation for her recent stories about sex scandals. But after receiving bits of her in the mail—fingernails, hair—he realizes the kidnapper’s intent may be to punish him.
Could his defense of the judge be the reason?
Fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow will love the courtroom drama
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2022
4 people are currently reading
912 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 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 4, 2022
Able to be read as a standalone legal thriller, Abiding Conviction by Stephen M Murphy is the third in the Dutch Francis series. Defence attorney Dutch Francis is representing a judge accused of poisoning his wife when his own wife disappears. Struggling with the turmoil, his client will not delay the trial and he has to juggle both these demanding tasks. One of the detectives also believes he is responsible for his wife’s kidnapping and so Dutch has no choice but to find her, with only the assistance of his private investigator. The gripping narrative moves between these two competing perils, as tensions build and all apparent leads are seemingly redundant. A most enjoyable legal crime story with a climactic finale, plenty of action and twists, making a four and a half star rating. With thanks to Oceanview Publishing and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
August 23, 2022
Abiding Conviction by Stephen M. Murphy is the third legal thriller in the Dutch Francis series but it also reads well as a stand-alone. Francis is an attorney whose services have been retained by an important judge accused of murdering his wife. Just as the trial is due to begin, the attorney’s wife is kidnapped. Why was she taken? She is a news broadcaster and may have upset a viewer to the point of doing her harm. Or could this be retaliation for one of Francis’ cases gone wrong. This is where the story begins to depart from the believable. Although I understand that this is a work of fiction, there should still be a modicum of reality. The accused judge will not release the attorney from defending his case. Francis then finds himself balancing an important case while investigating the disappearance of his wife. The story becomes difficult to follow and the action is hyper-active. Either of these storylines would have been interesting but both together is confusing at best. The characters are strong and well-drawn and there is a lot of potential here. I would like to read other Stephen M. Murphy novels because this could be strictly my own opinion. Thank you to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2022
After reading the book’s description, I was excited to start reading this novel. And naturally I had some high expectations. Too bad that the novel fell short of my lofty hopes.
Abiding Conviction is the third installment of the Dutch Francis Legal Thriller series. Although it is the third novel, it still can be read as a standalone.
While the novel started out well — laying the groundwork for the courtroom drama, it slowly devolved into a slow and unbelievable narrative. Maybe I’ve watched too many Law and Order and Blue Bloods episodes. So I probably have some strong opinions on the novel’s realism.
The characters are pretty shallow in most aspects. Perhaps they were developed in the earlier novels. But I don’t think that’s the case. What bothered me is that I couldn’t appreciate the “busybody” attitude of the main protagonist, Dutch Francis. Primarily because he kept inserting himself in police matters — taking matters into his own hand. Maybe even hindering the investigations.
The plot does not contain any unexpected twists or turns, and the finale was blasé at best. Abiding Conviction is still a decent read, but I probably won’t be delving further into the series. Two okay stars.
Abiding Conviction is the third installment of the Dutch Francis Legal Thriller series. Although it is the third novel, it still can be read as a standalone.
While the novel started out well — laying the groundwork for the courtroom drama, it slowly devolved into a slow and unbelievable narrative. Maybe I’ve watched too many Law and Order and Blue Bloods episodes. So I probably have some strong opinions on the novel’s realism.
The characters are pretty shallow in most aspects. Perhaps they were developed in the earlier novels. But I don’t think that’s the case. What bothered me is that I couldn’t appreciate the “busybody” attitude of the main protagonist, Dutch Francis. Primarily because he kept inserting himself in police matters — taking matters into his own hand. Maybe even hindering the investigations.
The plot does not contain any unexpected twists or turns, and the finale was blasé at best. Abiding Conviction is still a decent read, but I probably won’t be delving further into the series. Two okay stars.
July 11, 2022
A legal case and a personal domestic drama face attorney Dutch Francis when two situations combine to put him near his breaking point.
If it isn't pressure enough defending a former judge against a first degree murder charge, Dutch Francis has another horrible problem -- his wife, TV news broadcaster, Ginnie Turner, has gone missing. Torn between his contractual responsibilities to his client and his mad concern for his wife, Francis is pushed to take matters into his own hands and engages his own investigator to help him look into what might have happened to Ginnie. Is this about her news stories or is it about his work as a lawyer? And how can he concentrate on the courtroom when he can't find his wife and the police are a bit suspicious of him.
This was fast paced and I read it in a single sitting. When I started, I did not realize that this was the third book in a series and I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the others since I would have had more of the backstory that makes a character seem more believable. I did enjoy the two-pronged story, though found a bit of Dutch's actions somewhat unrealistic. I do like a good legal thriller and lots of courtroom action, so that part was more interesting to me than the missing wife aspect. I'll have to keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
If it isn't pressure enough defending a former judge against a first degree murder charge, Dutch Francis has another horrible problem -- his wife, TV news broadcaster, Ginnie Turner, has gone missing. Torn between his contractual responsibilities to his client and his mad concern for his wife, Francis is pushed to take matters into his own hands and engages his own investigator to help him look into what might have happened to Ginnie. Is this about her news stories or is it about his work as a lawyer? And how can he concentrate on the courtroom when he can't find his wife and the police are a bit suspicious of him.
This was fast paced and I read it in a single sitting. When I started, I did not realize that this was the third book in a series and I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the others since I would have had more of the backstory that makes a character seem more believable. I did enjoy the two-pronged story, though found a bit of Dutch's actions somewhat unrealistic. I do like a good legal thriller and lots of courtroom action, so that part was more interesting to me than the missing wife aspect. I'll have to keep an eye out for future books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for this e-book ARC to read and review.
March 21, 2022
“Roses are red, violets are blue. I’d rather be dead than live without you.”
✮✮✮✮
Dutch Francis, lawyer, is hired to defend a judge who has been accused of murdering his wife Mo. The day that the preliminary hearing starts, Dutch’s wife is late home from her job presenting the six o’clock news. After ringing the station and hearing that her car is still there, he rushes down to look for her. Upon finding her phone on the floor next to her car, he rings the police and reports her missing, assuming she must have been kidnapped. Between trying to find his wife and running a murder trial, Dutch starts to lose all hope. Will one situation effect the other?
This was a great book! The characters felt completely real, and I had complete sympathy for Dutch. I don’t think I could ever continue my job in that situation, he really showed his strength, his love for his wife, as well as his loyalty to his clients. The kidnapping and the investigation that followed was really well thought out, and the Manilla envelopes kept it page-turning. I loved the trial too, I have high interest in stuff like that as someone wanting to go into Forensic or Criminal Psychology in the future, and I felt it was really well-written, and I learned so much!
The only thing that really bothered me was the second police officer, Leary, and her view from the start. I feel like we live in times where biased views should be weeded out. There are plenty of cases in the past century, where individuals have been wrongfully convicted, and it stresses to me that Leary should have been been suspended or otherwise for pursuing Dutch after there was no evidence.
Highly recommend if you love courtroom dramas and thrillers!
✮✮✮✮
Dutch Francis, lawyer, is hired to defend a judge who has been accused of murdering his wife Mo. The day that the preliminary hearing starts, Dutch’s wife is late home from her job presenting the six o’clock news. After ringing the station and hearing that her car is still there, he rushes down to look for her. Upon finding her phone on the floor next to her car, he rings the police and reports her missing, assuming she must have been kidnapped. Between trying to find his wife and running a murder trial, Dutch starts to lose all hope. Will one situation effect the other?
This was a great book! The characters felt completely real, and I had complete sympathy for Dutch. I don’t think I could ever continue my job in that situation, he really showed his strength, his love for his wife, as well as his loyalty to his clients. The kidnapping and the investigation that followed was really well thought out, and the Manilla envelopes kept it page-turning. I loved the trial too, I have high interest in stuff like that as someone wanting to go into Forensic or Criminal Psychology in the future, and I felt it was really well-written, and I learned so much!
The only thing that really bothered me was the second police officer, Leary, and her view from the start. I feel like we live in times where biased views should be weeded out. There are plenty of cases in the past century, where individuals have been wrongfully convicted, and it stresses to me that Leary should have been been suspended or otherwise for pursuing Dutch after there was no evidence.
Highly recommend if you love courtroom dramas and thrillers!
July 9, 2022
3.5 stars, actually.
I'm a huge fan of this kind of book - courtroom drama, intricacies of legal strategy and investigations and, of course, a bang-up ending. But while I rather enjoyed the star of the show, attorney Dutch Francis, I was a little underwhelmed by the story and ending. Make that especially the ending.
Reluctantly, Dutch has agreed to represent a New Hampshire judge who's been charged with murdering his wife. As his apprehension grows over taking over responsibility he's not sure he wants, his wife Ginny - a popular TV news anchor - suddenly goes missing. Given a secret they share, her disappearance is even more disturbing, if that's possible; so of course he's distraught and unable to fully focus on the trial he doesn't want to be part of in the first place. The judge assigned to the case, however, is totally unsympathetic and denies his requests for both recusal and continuance of the trial.
The story, then, veers off in two directions: Dutch's investigation and defense of the judge in court and his attempt to save his wife from an unknown fate at the hands of an unknown kidnapper. Before long, he begins to get manila envelopes that convince him she's in real danger - but the police investigation isn't going much of anywhere. Finally, they all start to think it may not be Ginny the kidnapper really wants - it's Dutch. And maybe, just maybe, it's related to his defense of the judge.
All good, yes? Well, mostly. There are not nearly enough courtroom scenes to suit me - someone who, as I said at the beginning, loves learning about strategy and courtroom techniques. Dutch spends far more time arguing with the police, who he thinks are not fully committed to finding his wife, than he does with prosecution witnesses when they take the stand. I'd like to have learned more about what Ginny went through during her kidnapping (the contents of the manila envelopes sent to Dutch offer paltry clues, but otherwise that information is virtually nonexistent). The ending seems abrupt, coming with a decision that almost seems to gloss over everything that both Ginny and Dutch experienced; it's hard for me to believe that any couple would come to terms in such short order with all that happened to them both. Admittedly, I tried really hard not to see a titch of a hot-button political issue peeking through here as well, but I'm willing to accept that's just my imagination going a bit wild.
All that said, for the most part I really enjoyed this book - and for sure, I didn't feel at a disadvantage because I had not read the first two books in this series. It's a solid legal thriller (just without any in-your-face thrills) that kept me entertained and I'm sure will do the same for other readers. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
I'm a huge fan of this kind of book - courtroom drama, intricacies of legal strategy and investigations and, of course, a bang-up ending. But while I rather enjoyed the star of the show, attorney Dutch Francis, I was a little underwhelmed by the story and ending. Make that especially the ending.
Reluctantly, Dutch has agreed to represent a New Hampshire judge who's been charged with murdering his wife. As his apprehension grows over taking over responsibility he's not sure he wants, his wife Ginny - a popular TV news anchor - suddenly goes missing. Given a secret they share, her disappearance is even more disturbing, if that's possible; so of course he's distraught and unable to fully focus on the trial he doesn't want to be part of in the first place. The judge assigned to the case, however, is totally unsympathetic and denies his requests for both recusal and continuance of the trial.
The story, then, veers off in two directions: Dutch's investigation and defense of the judge in court and his attempt to save his wife from an unknown fate at the hands of an unknown kidnapper. Before long, he begins to get manila envelopes that convince him she's in real danger - but the police investigation isn't going much of anywhere. Finally, they all start to think it may not be Ginny the kidnapper really wants - it's Dutch. And maybe, just maybe, it's related to his defense of the judge.
All good, yes? Well, mostly. There are not nearly enough courtroom scenes to suit me - someone who, as I said at the beginning, loves learning about strategy and courtroom techniques. Dutch spends far more time arguing with the police, who he thinks are not fully committed to finding his wife, than he does with prosecution witnesses when they take the stand. I'd like to have learned more about what Ginny went through during her kidnapping (the contents of the manila envelopes sent to Dutch offer paltry clues, but otherwise that information is virtually nonexistent). The ending seems abrupt, coming with a decision that almost seems to gloss over everything that both Ginny and Dutch experienced; it's hard for me to believe that any couple would come to terms in such short order with all that happened to them both. Admittedly, I tried really hard not to see a titch of a hot-button political issue peeking through here as well, but I'm willing to accept that's just my imagination going a bit wild.
All that said, for the most part I really enjoyed this book - and for sure, I didn't feel at a disadvantage because I had not read the first two books in this series. It's a solid legal thriller (just without any in-your-face thrills) that kept me entertained and I'm sure will do the same for other readers. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.
April 10, 2022
I received this book through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Dutch getting out of bed and trying to get ready for court. His wife has told him something and there is disagreement on it. Dutch goes to court for a preliminary hearing and Ginnie his wife goes to the WMUR studio. They both agreed later to discuss their disagreement. After Dutch gets home from court, Ginnie hasn't got home. After awhile, Dutch tries reacging her at the TV station, but she had already left. Dutch is worried and asks Ginnie's boss to see if her car was still there. He is told that it's there so Dutch drives to the ststion to find out where Ginnie is. Dutch discovers her cell phone by the car and is worried. He contacts the police and when they arrive, he provides them with the information.
The next day, Ginnie is still missing, and when he is in court, he asks for a coninuance. The prosecution side is willing, but because Dutch'e client wants a speedy trial, Dutch is not able to get it. Dutch asks to be taken off, but the Judge doesn't grant his request. Dutch has to continue serving his client. Dutch has avised his, a judge charged with murder, that he would be working on finding his wife at the sme time. Dutch eventually called his investigator to help him look. As time went by, Dutch received some mail that held items of Ginnie. The investigation started to center on people that Ginnie because of her stoories wound up being threatened. Several leads in this vein were pursued, but they all seem to come up empty. It was later thought that it wasn't Ginnie they were after, but Dutch. Dutch went through his earlier cases along with the client that he was representing. Several names came up.
One of the individuals in the police department thoght Dutch was responsible. To convince them, he took a polygraph test. Eventually, Dutch received a ransome request. Dutch began trying to get the money together with help by several parties. It turned out that the individual asking for the ransome wasn't involved.
To discover who took Ginnie, what was the item they discussed that they disagreed on, how did the trial go for Dutch's client and who ll were concider and eliminated as suspects, then you need to read this book.
The story begins with Dutch getting out of bed and trying to get ready for court. His wife has told him something and there is disagreement on it. Dutch goes to court for a preliminary hearing and Ginnie his wife goes to the WMUR studio. They both agreed later to discuss their disagreement. After Dutch gets home from court, Ginnie hasn't got home. After awhile, Dutch tries reacging her at the TV station, but she had already left. Dutch is worried and asks Ginnie's boss to see if her car was still there. He is told that it's there so Dutch drives to the ststion to find out where Ginnie is. Dutch discovers her cell phone by the car and is worried. He contacts the police and when they arrive, he provides them with the information.
The next day, Ginnie is still missing, and when he is in court, he asks for a coninuance. The prosecution side is willing, but because Dutch'e client wants a speedy trial, Dutch is not able to get it. Dutch asks to be taken off, but the Judge doesn't grant his request. Dutch has to continue serving his client. Dutch has avised his, a judge charged with murder, that he would be working on finding his wife at the sme time. Dutch eventually called his investigator to help him look. As time went by, Dutch received some mail that held items of Ginnie. The investigation started to center on people that Ginnie because of her stoories wound up being threatened. Several leads in this vein were pursued, but they all seem to come up empty. It was later thought that it wasn't Ginnie they were after, but Dutch. Dutch went through his earlier cases along with the client that he was representing. Several names came up.
One of the individuals in the police department thoght Dutch was responsible. To convince them, he took a polygraph test. Eventually, Dutch received a ransome request. Dutch began trying to get the money together with help by several parties. It turned out that the individual asking for the ransome wasn't involved.
To discover who took Ginnie, what was the item they discussed that they disagreed on, how did the trial go for Dutch's client and who ll were concider and eliminated as suspects, then you need to read this book.
June 27, 2022
In the same genre of a John Grisham novel, Abiding Conviction is a legal,thriller. Dutch is trying a major case when his wife goes missing. Most of,the book is him trying to handle the case but also find his wife.
My reaction is meh. There’s nothing really that stands out but it’s a decent mystery until, the case is cracked.
I didn’t realize it was book #3 in a series.
Thanks to Oceanview Press and NetGalley for the early copy.
My reaction is meh. There’s nothing really that stands out but it’s a decent mystery until, the case is cracked.
I didn’t realize it was book #3 in a series.
Thanks to Oceanview Press and NetGalley for the early copy.
May 26, 2022
A lawyer working on a high profile murder case, and his wife gets kidnapped, the book follows both the case and the search for his wife. It started out good, dragged a bit and then came to a resolution of both. a short fast read
June 3, 2022
Book # 3 in the Dutch Francis legal thriller
In a few words:
Lawyer Dutch Francis faces and impossible situation: search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client. Dutch is defending a Judge accusing of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, his wife Ginnie Turner, a TV broadcaster goes missing...
My thoughts:
What would you do if you were in his shoes?
Courtroom drama and thrillers I absolutely love them. So dialogue oriented and I enjoy reading the banter that usually comes with them. Although this one has some it felt a little short and missed sharpness. Defending your client while worrying about your wife can’t be easy. So the legal scenes went fast and the preliminary hearing happened the next day. Can that be possible in real life? Experts say it doesn’t. Ok. I will give a break considering this is minor.
The story has fillers and the courtroom scenes were short but what gave this book thrills is Ginnie got kidnapped. I would say “Abiding Conviction” has two stories within a story and Dutch Francis happens to be the main character. Ginnie story is well said and exciting as for the Judge, his defense was a bit disappointing.
It may seem that I didn’t like book, far from it, although not perfect this thriller packs one hell of a story in its 293 pages or so. In all, the experience wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed most parts and stayed with it till the very last page.
Although this book is part of a series it stands well on its own. Will I read more books from this series, indeed I will.
I received a copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts.
In a few words:
Lawyer Dutch Francis faces and impossible situation: search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client. Dutch is defending a Judge accusing of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, his wife Ginnie Turner, a TV broadcaster goes missing...
My thoughts:
What would you do if you were in his shoes?
Courtroom drama and thrillers I absolutely love them. So dialogue oriented and I enjoy reading the banter that usually comes with them. Although this one has some it felt a little short and missed sharpness. Defending your client while worrying about your wife can’t be easy. So the legal scenes went fast and the preliminary hearing happened the next day. Can that be possible in real life? Experts say it doesn’t. Ok. I will give a break considering this is minor.
The story has fillers and the courtroom scenes were short but what gave this book thrills is Ginnie got kidnapped. I would say “Abiding Conviction” has two stories within a story and Dutch Francis happens to be the main character. Ginnie story is well said and exciting as for the Judge, his defense was a bit disappointing.
It may seem that I didn’t like book, far from it, although not perfect this thriller packs one hell of a story in its 293 pages or so. In all, the experience wasn’t bad at all. I enjoyed most parts and stayed with it till the very last page.
Although this book is part of a series it stands well on its own. Will I read more books from this series, indeed I will.
I received a copy of this book from Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley for my thoughts.
April 14, 2022
Manchester, NH judge Carlos Garcia is in an unexpected and uncomfortable spot: the defendant’s seat, accused of murdering his wife by adding an overdose of Vicodin to her dinner. In every way, he’s one of lawyer Dutch Francis’s least-favorite clients. The judge is not open to any advice, thinks he still has the upper hand in the courtroom, and is clearly withholding information about his wife’s death.
Francis is already thinking he shouldn’t have taken this case when he gets two sharp shocks: his famous newscaster wife, Ginnie—they’ve been married a good five minutes—tells him she’s pregnant and not sure she wants to keep the baby, and, later that day, she goes missing. Francis believes she’s been kidnapped, a suspicion that’s borne out as he begins to receive oddities, such as her fingernail clippings, in the mail. The suspense is in high gear throughout this thriller as we follow the twists and turns of the courtroom drama and the chase when Francis hounds the cops to find his wife, but also joins his legal investigator on their own sometimes-scary bid to rescue Ginnie.
A startling ending is in store, and getting there is an enjoyable trip through memorable characters, love-fueled desperation, and the exasperations of the justice system.—Henrietta Verma
For more reviews of forthcoming Crime Fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
Francis is already thinking he shouldn’t have taken this case when he gets two sharp shocks: his famous newscaster wife, Ginnie—they’ve been married a good five minutes—tells him she’s pregnant and not sure she wants to keep the baby, and, later that day, she goes missing. Francis believes she’s been kidnapped, a suspicion that’s borne out as he begins to receive oddities, such as her fingernail clippings, in the mail. The suspense is in high gear throughout this thriller as we follow the twists and turns of the courtroom drama and the chase when Francis hounds the cops to find his wife, but also joins his legal investigator on their own sometimes-scary bid to rescue Ginnie.
A startling ending is in store, and getting there is an enjoyable trip through memorable characters, love-fueled desperation, and the exasperations of the justice system.—Henrietta Verma
For more reviews of forthcoming Crime Fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
April 26, 2022
The Honorable Carolos Garcia is on trial for murdering this wife. He insists that Dutch Francis be his lawyer even though his area of expertise is not criminal law. Ginnie is his wife and is a news anchor at Channel 9. During the pre-trial, Ginnie is kidnapped. Garcia won't let Francis excuse himself from the case. Now he has a missing wife and a murder trial to try to work through. He gets tormenting items in the mail from the kidnapper. Can he focus on the trial and find his wife? I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
May 1, 2022
Dutch Francis, an attorney, trying a court case of Honorable Carlos Garcia who killed his wife. Ginnie Turner is Dutch Francis's wife who was kidnapped on the day the trial. Will the court case be solved while Ginnie is missing? This is a mind-blowing situation as Dutch carries on being an attorney while trying to find Ginnie. If you like court cases mixed with kidnapping then you will love this book. I'm now looking forward to the next book by Stephen M. Murphy. I would like to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for a copy for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
I was given this book by Goodreads for an honest review - - A courtroom drama -
Dutch is defending a judge accused of poisoning his wife.
And then Dutch's wife is kidnapped...of course the husband is the first suspect.
Between looking for his wife and defending the judge he is struggling, loosing weight and not sleeping.
Was his wife kidnaped for her stories on sex scandals? Was she kidnapped because of one of his cases? And can he save the judge from prison?
Dutch is defending a judge accused of poisoning his wife.
And then Dutch's wife is kidnapped...of course the husband is the first suspect.
Between looking for his wife and defending the judge he is struggling, loosing weight and not sleeping.
Was his wife kidnaped for her stories on sex scandals? Was she kidnapped because of one of his cases? And can he save the judge from prison?
August 5, 2022
This is a legal thriller with gripping courtroom drama and a attorney that goes the extra mile. Attorney Dutch Francis is defending a judge on trial for murdering his wife concurrent with Francis’s own wife’s abduction. All the while, the author provides meticulous realism and authenticity and yes, lots of twists. An amazing read!
August 1, 2022
I do love legal thrillers so I enjoyed coming across the book about court dramas. The court case of the judge being accused of murdering his wife was quite fun to read and his defending lawyer Dutch is an interesting character. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. The writing style is easy to follow and can pull one in.
But there were too many things that bothered me about this book:
- There is a lot of tell instead of show so many scenes fall flat.
- There is no development of the main character's wife, Ginnie, so when she disappears within 5 minutes of the book, it is difficult to feel sorry for her. There is no reflections and the feelings by Dutch do not come across sincere. I almost thought that Ginnie did a runner on him or will not appear.
- A lot of focus on the superficial appearances so it doesn't paint either Dutch nor the author in a good light. To be honest, I do not know why anyone finds Dutch attractive in his personality or appearances as the book does not warrant it.
- The author brings politics into his book and his political views become very quickly obvious. As a non American, I found this very distasteful especially how extreme these views were.
- The end lacks some twist. The best character and the case remain with the judge and his dead wife. Ginne's kidnapping case is quite weak and the ending is not satisfying
Having said that I did go back and read the book #1 and book #2 as this one is #3 and learned the background about Ginne and other characters. Although court cases were not bad, the same comments apply to the previous books and Dutch is such a superficial person, often mixing the outward appearances or physical fitness with the inner character. A lot of women are supposed to be obsessed with Dutch but I just don't see it. so overall, it is a weak series. I would only recommend it if there is nothing else to read and a reader sets low expectations.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of "Abiding Conviction" in exchange of the honest review. I paid for reading the previous books in the series, so the author achieved what he hoped for.
But there were too many things that bothered me about this book:
- There is a lot of tell instead of show so many scenes fall flat.
- There is no development of the main character's wife, Ginnie, so when she disappears within 5 minutes of the book, it is difficult to feel sorry for her. There is no reflections and the feelings by Dutch do not come across sincere. I almost thought that Ginnie did a runner on him or will not appear.
- A lot of focus on the superficial appearances so it doesn't paint either Dutch nor the author in a good light. To be honest, I do not know why anyone finds Dutch attractive in his personality or appearances as the book does not warrant it.
- The author brings politics into his book and his political views become very quickly obvious. As a non American, I found this very distasteful especially how extreme these views were.
- The end lacks some twist. The best character and the case remain with the judge and his dead wife. Ginne's kidnapping case is quite weak and the ending is not satisfying
Having said that I did go back and read the book #1 and book #2 as this one is #3 and learned the background about Ginne and other characters. Although court cases were not bad, the same comments apply to the previous books and Dutch is such a superficial person, often mixing the outward appearances or physical fitness with the inner character. A lot of women are supposed to be obsessed with Dutch but I just don't see it. so overall, it is a weak series. I would only recommend it if there is nothing else to read and a reader sets low expectations.
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy of "Abiding Conviction" in exchange of the honest review. I paid for reading the previous books in the series, so the author achieved what he hoped for.
October 2, 2022
A scintillating legal thriller. Protagonist Dutch has just become the defense attorney in a high profile murder case, when his wife is kidnapped. Can he successfully defend his client while also using all his resources to locate his wife? I was intrigued from the start, and on the edge of my seat, trying to guess who had taken Ginnie. This novel was quite thrilling, and not at all dry, like some courtroom dramas. Very enjoyable.
July 3, 2022
Abiding Conviction
By: Stephen M. Murphy
Oceanview Publishing
Publish Date 5 July 2022
Mystery & Thriller
#AbidingConviction#NetGalley
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
Lawyer Dutch Francis faces an impossible situation—search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client
Dutch Francis is a defense attorney in the case of a judge accused of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, Ginnie Turner, Dutch’s wife and TV news broadcaster, goes missing.
Under extreme duress, Dutch tries to extricate himself as the judge’s attorney—or at least postpone the trial. The judge insists that the trial proceed without delay and that Dutch remain his attorney.
Exhausted by the murder trial, Dutch confronts an ineffectual police department, suspicious that he is involved in his wife’s disappearance. He takes matters into his own hands as he struggles to balance both responsibilities—the trial and finding his wife—pushing him to the brink of losing everything he holds dear.
At first Dutch suspects that Ginnie was kidnapped in retaliation for her recent stories about sex scandals. But after receiving bits of her in the mail—fingernails, hair—he realizes the kidnapper’s intent may be to punish him.
Could his defense of the judge be the reason?
Book Review:
I loved this book. I gave it 5 stars. I couldn’t put it down. I just love reading about court trials and this book did a great job with the trial and all that goes with it.
This is the third book in a series, but you don’t have to read the first two to know what is going on. The author did a great job in giving enough information to help you understand the people in the story without having to read the first two books.
This book is about Dutch and what he is going through. He has been married only 6 months when his wife tells him she is pregnant and is thinking of ending the pregnancy because she isn’t ready to be mom and wants more time for her Career. They get into a small argument before he has to go court.
A local judge has hired him to represent him in court since he is charged with the murder of his wife. Dutch did not want to take this case and ask for a huge amount of money hoping the Judge wouldn’t hire, but that didn’t happen.
As the day goes on Dutch and wife agree to talk about the baby and both apologize. Dutch gets home and waits for his wife to come home which never happens. He knows something is wrong because she mentioned to him some threatening phone calls and emails, she has recently received but never thought anything of it. He goes to her work and discovers her car still in the parking lot and she isn’t inside and soon seeing her cell phone on the ground. The police are called, and things go from there.
His wife has been kidnapped and he has a big trial and wants to be able to focus on getting his wife, but his client won’t let him loose and the judge who is trying the case agrees with the client.
Dutch has to divide his time between both and feels conflicted and angry with client. He warns his client he won’t being doing as well as he should because his mind is elsewhere.
The book continues on with the trial and the steps he takes to find his wife. You would have to read the book to found out if the Judge killed his wife and if Dutch finds his wife.
It is a page turner and there are a lot of suspects, and you are trying to figure out who kidnapped his wife. I was surprised and I figured it out just before he did.
I highly recommend you read this book. I will be picking up his other two books.
By: Stephen M. Murphy
Oceanview Publishing
Publish Date 5 July 2022
Mystery & Thriller
#AbidingConviction#NetGalley
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
Lawyer Dutch Francis faces an impossible situation—search for your missing wife or defend your high-profile client
Dutch Francis is a defense attorney in the case of a judge accused of killing his wife. Just as the trial is about to begin, Ginnie Turner, Dutch’s wife and TV news broadcaster, goes missing.
Under extreme duress, Dutch tries to extricate himself as the judge’s attorney—or at least postpone the trial. The judge insists that the trial proceed without delay and that Dutch remain his attorney.
Exhausted by the murder trial, Dutch confronts an ineffectual police department, suspicious that he is involved in his wife’s disappearance. He takes matters into his own hands as he struggles to balance both responsibilities—the trial and finding his wife—pushing him to the brink of losing everything he holds dear.
At first Dutch suspects that Ginnie was kidnapped in retaliation for her recent stories about sex scandals. But after receiving bits of her in the mail—fingernails, hair—he realizes the kidnapper’s intent may be to punish him.
Could his defense of the judge be the reason?
Book Review:
I loved this book. I gave it 5 stars. I couldn’t put it down. I just love reading about court trials and this book did a great job with the trial and all that goes with it.
This is the third book in a series, but you don’t have to read the first two to know what is going on. The author did a great job in giving enough information to help you understand the people in the story without having to read the first two books.
This book is about Dutch and what he is going through. He has been married only 6 months when his wife tells him she is pregnant and is thinking of ending the pregnancy because she isn’t ready to be mom and wants more time for her Career. They get into a small argument before he has to go court.
A local judge has hired him to represent him in court since he is charged with the murder of his wife. Dutch did not want to take this case and ask for a huge amount of money hoping the Judge wouldn’t hire, but that didn’t happen.
As the day goes on Dutch and wife agree to talk about the baby and both apologize. Dutch gets home and waits for his wife to come home which never happens. He knows something is wrong because she mentioned to him some threatening phone calls and emails, she has recently received but never thought anything of it. He goes to her work and discovers her car still in the parking lot and she isn’t inside and soon seeing her cell phone on the ground. The police are called, and things go from there.
His wife has been kidnapped and he has a big trial and wants to be able to focus on getting his wife, but his client won’t let him loose and the judge who is trying the case agrees with the client.
Dutch has to divide his time between both and feels conflicted and angry with client. He warns his client he won’t being doing as well as he should because his mind is elsewhere.
The book continues on with the trial and the steps he takes to find his wife. You would have to read the book to found out if the Judge killed his wife and if Dutch finds his wife.
It is a page turner and there are a lot of suspects, and you are trying to figure out who kidnapped his wife. I was surprised and I figured it out just before he did.
I highly recommend you read this book. I will be picking up his other two books.
August 2, 2022
We meet lawyer Dutch Francis as he prepares for a new trial, defending a former Judge accused of killing his wife. An already difficult case becomes much harder when Dutch’s own wife gets kidnapped, leaving him torn between defending his client to the best of his abilities and trying to work out what happened to his wife, and why.
I hadn’t read the earlier titles in this series, but this didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story. Written by a lawyer, the courtroom scenes are the strongest element of the book, and filled with interesting details. While the plot and dialogue aren’t completely convincing, it licks along at a good pace and has some entertaining twists and turns along the way.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
I hadn’t read the earlier titles in this series, but this didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story. Written by a lawyer, the courtroom scenes are the strongest element of the book, and filled with interesting details. While the plot and dialogue aren’t completely convincing, it licks along at a good pace and has some entertaining twists and turns along the way.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
August 6, 2022
Going in I did not realize this was the 3rd book in the series, but do not feel I missed anything by jumping in. Still, the story was slow moving and didn't draw me in. Unrealistic from my perspective, I'm not sure many detectives share that much information about an ongoing case with the suspect or come to his/her beck and call. Another book that my rating is not in line with other readers.
July 25, 2022
Okay, we will start with what I liked, I like the premise of the story, I could see some vile person kidnapping an on air personality who is young and pretty. I could kinda understand a lawyer having to follow through on a trial in progress, but not really, I have a lawyer in the family, and a Judge, believe me, that is where credulity could not be expeneded any further. No police force on earth would put a Judge in jail without overwhelming evidence, and the Judge would not be sitting in jail until every t was crossed, and every i dotted! Also the FBI would have been called in as soon as the first envelope came in the mail. I consider this to be the editors problem, these particular problems should have been caught. The other problem is the amount of profanity used by the lawyer, Dutch Francis, really? Where was he brought up? No man I know speaks like that, not my husband, an Engineer, certainly not my sisters husbands, nor my brother-in-law, or any of my friends husbands. The last biggest problem is the money, if I understand this correctly, the lawyer is forty at least, and he cannot come up with three hundred thousand dollars? Please! I also knew exactly who did it, I was not fooled by the numerous red herrings, as Agatha Christie said in an interview, "It is always the last person that you would suspect."
However, I do think this author will progress, and get better, and I look forward to that. I tried to give it a 3 1/2 ☆☆☆
carolintallahassee.blogspot.com
However, I do think this author will progress, and get better, and I look forward to that. I tried to give it a 3 1/2 ☆☆☆
carolintallahassee.blogspot.com
August 5, 2022
This is book 3 of the Dutch Francis Series. Dutch Francis is defending a Judge accused of killing his wife. Just as the trail begins, his own wife goes missing. As the trial continues and his wife is till missing, he is pushed to the edge of everything he knows as he tries to find his wife and continue with the trial.
July 23, 2022
This book is two stories into one, and I loved that. There is a legal part, in which the main character is defending his client in a murder case trial, and there is a part when the lawyer is running against time to find his kidnapped wife. That was very suspenseful. Everything makes sense in the end and it was very satisfying.
Although I really wish I'd read the previous books because it would've given me backstory on the characters, I very much liked reading this, and I might read the other books of the series in the future.
This one can be read as a standalone.
Although I really wish I'd read the previous books because it would've given me backstory on the characters, I very much liked reading this, and I might read the other books of the series in the future.
This one can be read as a standalone.
January 14, 2024
"Abiding Conviction" by Stephen M. Murphy is a gripping legal thriller that skillfully weaves together the complexities of a high-profile murder trial and the personal anguish of a defense attorney, Dutch Francis, whose wife goes missing under mysterious circumstances. The author brilliantly captures the intense pressure faced by Dutch as he confronts an impossible choice—searching for his missing wife or defending his high-profile client, a judge accused of killing his own spouse.
The novel excels in portraying Dutch's struggle to balance the demands of the murder trial with the desperate search for his wife, Ginnie Turner, a TV news broadcaster. Murphy adeptly explores the emotional toll on Dutch as he faces an uncooperative police department and suspicions that he may be involved in his wife's disappearance. The tension escalates as Dutch receives disturbing reminders of Ginnie's captivity, adding a layer of psychological torment to the narrative.
The plot is masterfully crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. The author skillfully navigates through the intricacies of legal proceedings, making the courtroom scenes both realistic and riveting. The suspenseful atmosphere is heightened by the constant threat to Dutch's personal life, raising questions about the true motives behind Ginnie's abduction.
Murphy's character development is commendable, particularly in portraying Dutch Francis as a multidimensional protagonist facing moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices. The internal conflict within Dutch adds depth to the narrative, making him a relatable and compelling character.
The theme of justice, both in the courtroom and in personal relationships, is expertly explored throughout the book. The exploration of corruption, scandal, and the lengths one would go to protect their convictions adds layers of complexity to the overarching storyline.
While "Abiding Conviction" delivers a riveting and suspenseful narrative, it also prompts readers to reflect on the ethical and moral challenges faced by those in the legal profession. Overall, Stephen M. Murphy's novel is a well-crafted legal thriller that earns its four-star rating through its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes.
The novel excels in portraying Dutch's struggle to balance the demands of the murder trial with the desperate search for his wife, Ginnie Turner, a TV news broadcaster. Murphy adeptly explores the emotional toll on Dutch as he faces an uncooperative police department and suspicions that he may be involved in his wife's disappearance. The tension escalates as Dutch receives disturbing reminders of Ginnie's captivity, adding a layer of psychological torment to the narrative.
The plot is masterfully crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. The author skillfully navigates through the intricacies of legal proceedings, making the courtroom scenes both realistic and riveting. The suspenseful atmosphere is heightened by the constant threat to Dutch's personal life, raising questions about the true motives behind Ginnie's abduction.
Murphy's character development is commendable, particularly in portraying Dutch Francis as a multidimensional protagonist facing moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices. The internal conflict within Dutch adds depth to the narrative, making him a relatable and compelling character.
The theme of justice, both in the courtroom and in personal relationships, is expertly explored throughout the book. The exploration of corruption, scandal, and the lengths one would go to protect their convictions adds layers of complexity to the overarching storyline.
While "Abiding Conviction" delivers a riveting and suspenseful narrative, it also prompts readers to reflect on the ethical and moral challenges faced by those in the legal profession. Overall, Stephen M. Murphy's novel is a well-crafted legal thriller that earns its four-star rating through its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes.
July 21, 2022
I blazed through Abiding Conviction, unable to wait to find out either the outcome of the trial in which Dutch Francis represented a former Judge for murder, or who kidnapped Dutch’s wife and whether she’d survive it. I had a sense of gliding through the read, because the writing was both smooth and flowing. Perhaps because I am an attorney, I greatly enjoyed the trial procedure that the author peppered in the courtroom scenes— it added dimension and depth.
Stoked for the next Dutch Francis story!
Stoked for the next Dutch Francis story!
June 27, 2022
Good Court Scenes in Average Whodunit
The marketing and promotion for this book led me to believe that this courtroom mystery would be clever with a twist at the end. Unfortunately, it was not clever and there was no surprise at the end.
Dutch Francis a hard-working defense lawyer is famous for winning cases. The book opens when his lovely, talented TV wife Ginnie, surprises her husband when she tells him that she is pregnant; however, she is not sure she wants this baby. No time for discussion, he had to be in court to defend Judge Garcia who is on trial for killing his wife.
On that very day, Ginnie is kidnapped, and our main character is defending a famous client and desperately trying to find his beloved. The police department allows Dutch to lead his own investigation to uncover the kidnappers and find his wife. He really was better than the police. In fact, a female policewoman, Leary, unprofessionally suspects Dutch of kidnapping and/or killing his wife. She is never reprimanded for her unprofessionalism; she even tells Ginnie’s mother that her son-in-law is probably the perpetrator of the crime.
Defense Attorney Francis shows up every day for the trial and follows any dumb lead on his wife’s kidnapping. There are clues scattered throughout the plot and it was easy to solve both murders early in the book.
Judge Garcia was the most interesting character. The reader was not sure of the circumstances of his wife’s murder and Garcia’s fall from grace as a Judge could have been more impactful.
The court scenes were the usual Prosecutor vs the Defense Attorney. I did find the descriptions of the potential jurors were interesting, but this was not what I expected in terms of excitement or a shocking ending.
My gratitude to Net Galley and Oceanview Publishing for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The marketing and promotion for this book led me to believe that this courtroom mystery would be clever with a twist at the end. Unfortunately, it was not clever and there was no surprise at the end.
Dutch Francis a hard-working defense lawyer is famous for winning cases. The book opens when his lovely, talented TV wife Ginnie, surprises her husband when she tells him that she is pregnant; however, she is not sure she wants this baby. No time for discussion, he had to be in court to defend Judge Garcia who is on trial for killing his wife.
On that very day, Ginnie is kidnapped, and our main character is defending a famous client and desperately trying to find his beloved. The police department allows Dutch to lead his own investigation to uncover the kidnappers and find his wife. He really was better than the police. In fact, a female policewoman, Leary, unprofessionally suspects Dutch of kidnapping and/or killing his wife. She is never reprimanded for her unprofessionalism; she even tells Ginnie’s mother that her son-in-law is probably the perpetrator of the crime.
Defense Attorney Francis shows up every day for the trial and follows any dumb lead on his wife’s kidnapping. There are clues scattered throughout the plot and it was easy to solve both murders early in the book.
Judge Garcia was the most interesting character. The reader was not sure of the circumstances of his wife’s murder and Garcia’s fall from grace as a Judge could have been more impactful.
The court scenes were the usual Prosecutor vs the Defense Attorney. I did find the descriptions of the potential jurors were interesting, but this was not what I expected in terms of excitement or a shocking ending.
My gratitude to Net Galley and Oceanview Publishing for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 18, 2022
Attorney Francis has two cases to cope with: a judge who is undergoing trail,for the death of his wife and the disappearance of his own wife.
This was a quick read on how the attorney copes with the prosecutor, his own client and police looking for his wife.
At the end, it was “hmmmm, makes sense.”
This was a quick read on how the attorney copes with the prosecutor, his own client and police looking for his wife.
At the end, it was “hmmmm, makes sense.”
July 12, 2022
The description of this book says that an attorney's wife is kidnapped just as he starts a high-profile trial, and that when he is unable to get himself excused, he proceeds under extreme duress. What I thought I would read is the
story of a man behind tormented by his personal life in secret, behind the scenes of a trial; a man desperately trying to find his wife's kidnapper without losing face in court. However, what I very quickly realized is that the situation is instead an extremely unbelievable one where the attorney is up front about his wife being kidnapped and the judge/prosecutor/ect insist he stay on the case while his wife is missing. I cannot imagine a world where one would be allowed to continue acting as a defense attorney while in that kind of personal situation. It's laughable.
That being said, if you can get past that, the story is otherwise well written and interesting. It moves quickly and it's easy to listen to. I would definitely try more from this author I would just hope for a more grounded story.
story of a man behind tormented by his personal life in secret, behind the scenes of a trial; a man desperately trying to find his wife's kidnapper without losing face in court. However, what I very quickly realized is that the situation is instead an extremely unbelievable one where the attorney is up front about his wife being kidnapped and the judge/prosecutor/ect insist he stay on the case while his wife is missing. I cannot imagine a world where one would be allowed to continue acting as a defense attorney while in that kind of personal situation. It's laughable.
That being said, if you can get past that, the story is otherwise well written and interesting. It moves quickly and it's easy to listen to. I would definitely try more from this author I would just hope for a more grounded story.
May 25, 2022
Abiding Conviction
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Legal Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 7/5/22
Author: Stephen M. Murphy
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.89
Series: Yes, No. 3 in the Dutch Francis series
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Lawyer Dutch Francis is hired to defend a judge who is accused of murdering his wife. As the trial commences, Dutch’s wife, a local TV personality, disappears and the kidnapper is sending bits of physical evidence as proof that she is alive—all in the middle of a high-profile trial. His heart says, “find your wife”; his profession says, “defend your client.” Can he do both?
My Thoughts: I absolutely love Legal Thrillers and unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me. It was a slow burn mostly throughout the book. The court scenes really have nothing to do with the plot of Ginnie being kidnapped and feel like a filler since Dutch’s profession is a lawyer. The court scenes were not realistic, which is okay for a work of fiction. The characters did not have much depth and that could be due to this being the third book in the series, they may have been more depth in the first two books. I still as able to read as a standalone and understood. The writing style did flow well and I did enjoy the book overall.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Legal Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 7/5/22
Author: Stephen M. Murphy
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Pages: 320
Goodreads Rating: 3.89
Series: Yes, No. 3 in the Dutch Francis series
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: Lawyer Dutch Francis is hired to defend a judge who is accused of murdering his wife. As the trial commences, Dutch’s wife, a local TV personality, disappears and the kidnapper is sending bits of physical evidence as proof that she is alive—all in the middle of a high-profile trial. His heart says, “find your wife”; his profession says, “defend your client.” Can he do both?
My Thoughts: I absolutely love Legal Thrillers and unfortunately, this one fell a little short for me. It was a slow burn mostly throughout the book. The court scenes really have nothing to do with the plot of Ginnie being kidnapped and feel like a filler since Dutch’s profession is a lawyer. The court scenes were not realistic, which is okay for a work of fiction. The characters did not have much depth and that could be due to this being the third book in the series, they may have been more depth in the first two books. I still as able to read as a standalone and understood. The writing style did flow well and I did enjoy the book overall.
February 21, 2022
I give Stephen M. Murphy's Abiding Conviction 4 out of 5 stars. The pros are a good plot that keeps raising the stakes and a satisfying ending that successfully addresses all the plot points. The cons are the lack of character arcs and the somewhat boring (and ineffective) courtroom scenes to the plot.
My issue, though, is that the courtroom scenes have very little to do with the book. I call this pointless filler. In other words, Dutch could have been writing in his diary, or a grocery list, or even going to the movies. The solution to the issue (Ginnie got kidnapped) had only a tangential intersection to the legal case at hand (Judge Garcia accused of murdering Maureen).
The pointless filler, in combination with the lack of a character arc, is why I deducted a star. In the end, Ginnie realizes that she wants to have a family. But she is not a main character. It was Dutch who needed to have the change of heart ... that Ginnie gave up her career to be with him, so he will support her in any decision that she makes.
Read my full review: https://www.blawggers.com/abiding-conviction-by-stephen-m-murphy-review/
My issue, though, is that the courtroom scenes have very little to do with the book. I call this pointless filler. In other words, Dutch could have been writing in his diary, or a grocery list, or even going to the movies. The solution to the issue (Ginnie got kidnapped) had only a tangential intersection to the legal case at hand (Judge Garcia accused of murdering Maureen).
The pointless filler, in combination with the lack of a character arc, is why I deducted a star. In the end, Ginnie realizes that she wants to have a family. But she is not a main character. It was Dutch who needed to have the change of heart ... that Ginnie gave up her career to be with him, so he will support her in any decision that she makes.
Read my full review: https://www.blawggers.com/abiding-conviction-by-stephen-m-murphy-review/
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