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Jaywalker #3
Depraved Indifference
An Audi sports car, speeding in the wrong lane, forces an oncoming van off the road. The van bursts into flames, killing all nine occupants…eight of them children.Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, known simply as Jaywalker, is trying to keep his nose clean while serving a three-year suspension. But when a woman seduces him into representing the "Audi Assassin," a man who also happens to be her husband, things get messy.Struggling with the moral issues surrounding this case, Jaywalker tries to stay focused on his goal—limiting the damage to his client by exposing the legal system's hypocrisy regarding drunk driving. But when he rounds a blind corner in the case, he collides with a truth that could turn his entire defense into disaster.
375 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Teller
7 books29 followersJoseph Teller is a pen name of Joseph Teller Klempner, and he is also published as
Joseph T. Klempner
Joseph Teller was born and raised in New York City. He graduated in 1961 from the College of Wooster in Ohio and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1964. He returned to New York City, where he was admitted to the bar in 1965, but spent three years as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (the precursor of the Drug Enforcement Administration), doing undercover work. For the next 35 years, he worked as a criminal defense attorney, representing murderers, drug dealers, thieves and at least one serial killer. When New York State restored the death penalty in the nineties, Teller was one of a select group of lawyers given special training to represent capital defendants, which he did on several occasions, including winning an acquittal for a man accused of committing a double murder.
Not too long ago, Teller decided to "run from the law," and began writing fiction. He lives and writes in rural upstate New York with his wife, Sandy, an antiques dealer.
Joseph Teller was born and raised in New York City. He graduated in 1961 from the College of Wooster in Ohio and from the University of Michigan Law School in 1964. He returned to New York City, where he was admitted to the bar in 1965, but spent three years as an agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (the precursor of the Drug Enforcement Administration), doing undercover work. For the next 35 years, he worked as a criminal defense attorney, representing murderers, drug dealers, thieves and at least one serial killer. When New York State restored the death penalty in the nineties, Teller was one of a select group of lawyers given special training to represent capital defendants, which he did on several occasions, including winning an acquittal for a man accused of committing a double murder.
Not too long ago, Teller decided to "run from the law," and began writing fiction. He lives and writes in rural upstate New York with his wife, Sandy, an antiques dealer.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 17, 2019
Briliant story, clever twist, unexpected ending. Depraved Indifferent is much better than the 2 previous books in the series.
December 6, 2010
Another winner from Joseph Teller who has a lock on fictional legal cynicism as far as I’m concerned.
Jaywalker is still on suspension when is is approached (a term here I use very loosely) by Amanda Drake whose estranged husband, Clarke, has been arrested on murder charges. It seems he got smashed and drove his speeding Audi into a van of Jewish children on their way to some event. The van rolled down the hill, burst into flames, and incinerated everyone inside.
Jaywalker, knowing he mustn't do anything to risk getting his legal license back, signs on as a private investigator to collect all the information he would need for the time when he is reinstated and then can take the case which promises a substantial fee. Suffice it to say that Teller gets his license back and proceeds with the case
Teller does a terrific job with courtroom dialogue and weaving the ins and outs of this case which, in the end, jolts with several surprises. Teller knows the law and through Jaywalker makes several telling comments and provides examples of the problems with the adversarial system.
Very enjoyable light page-turner. On to the next Teller....
Jaywalker is still on suspension when is is approached (a term here I use very loosely) by Amanda Drake whose estranged husband, Clarke, has been arrested on murder charges. It seems he got smashed and drove his speeding Audi into a van of Jewish children on their way to some event. The van rolled down the hill, burst into flames, and incinerated everyone inside.
Jaywalker, knowing he mustn't do anything to risk getting his legal license back, signs on as a private investigator to collect all the information he would need for the time when he is reinstated and then can take the case which promises a substantial fee. Suffice it to say that Teller gets his license back and proceeds with the case
Teller does a terrific job with courtroom dialogue and weaving the ins and outs of this case which, in the end, jolts with several surprises. Teller knows the law and through Jaywalker makes several telling comments and provides examples of the problems with the adversarial system.
Very enjoyable light page-turner. On to the next Teller....
January 2, 2011
I was really quite impressed with this mystery. This was only my second Jaywalker book, and so I was eager to pick up where The Tenth Case left off. I didn't guess the ending, but I was pleased with it. Teller's books earn the category of "courtroom drama" in a way that many of his peers don't. The strongest scenes happen when a witness in the box or an attorney is speaking to the jury. The most compelling moment to me in this book came when the third woman in the bar testified that she'd driven home. Although Teller is a bit heavy-handed in his explanations of the law, he chooses his "issues" with care. I was intrigued by the notion of depraved indifference and found myself rooting for Jaywalker from start to finish. I'm sure I will pick up more Joseph Teller books in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2011
My first Jaywalker book and didn't like, at first. It grew on me. Jaywalker is kinda skeevy in that he sleeps with the wife of his client. The client/husband was on trial for driving drunk and causing the horrible deaths of children in a school van. The author/Jaywalker brings up some interesting points about the law and drunk drivers. Ending is a surprise and I ended up liking the book and Jaywalker.
January 22, 2011
An engrossing and cerebral look at the double standard and sometimes malfunctioning theory of justice and how difficult it is find the genuine "truth and justice. I loved the thought provoking imagery and insights. Joseph Teller has become one of my new favorite storytellers.
May 13, 2010
The accident caused by a drunk driver takes the lives of 8 young children and their driver. A very smart lawyer defends him in court. Very well written. Lots of twists and turns.
February 25, 2015
Definitely gonna have to read more of his books.. this was great..
September 12, 2022
A law drama that dissapointed at the end.
Meet Jaywalker, a rather strange lawyer who is notorious for not taking instructions to the point that he gets himself suspended for a couple of months from practising law now and again. He happens to meet this woman called Amanda, and they have entanglement. That's not all. Amanda has a husband in jail, who is arrested because of serious crimes. A case of drunk driving has never been this more cruel. Carter Darke killed a lot of people because of his negligent decision, of driving while intoxicated. As most people accused of crime, he asserts that he is innocent. Jaywalker, because of his twisted ways, takes the case. That's when things go down.
Jaywalker as a character was lovely to be acquainted with, as a reader. He had personality that I simply couldn't get enough of. His ego was as big as his brains, and - uhm - his heart. But as much as he was a genius, he still was a man who fell for the same, ancient trap since the beginning of time. I enjoyed the scenes in the courtroom. They were entertaining and very much revealing, especially about that fateful night, when all things went sideways. Judge Hinkley stole my heart. I just wished there could have been more of her. Those few moments where she was sending Jaywalker to jail for contempt were bad-ass. But the author totally forgot about the spectators in the courtroom throughout these case that was well publicised and attended, as he had made it the point to be known in the very much beginning part of the book. Nowhere had I seen a scene where one member in the audience disrupt the proceedings when things seemed to have not gone their desirable way, especially when the verdict was given at the end. The author left too much to our imagination, and as much as we might appreciate that as readers, too much of it can ruin what could otherwise have been an amazing showdown. The ending was abrupt.
Meet Jaywalker, a rather strange lawyer who is notorious for not taking instructions to the point that he gets himself suspended for a couple of months from practising law now and again. He happens to meet this woman called Amanda, and they have entanglement. That's not all. Amanda has a husband in jail, who is arrested because of serious crimes. A case of drunk driving has never been this more cruel. Carter Darke killed a lot of people because of his negligent decision, of driving while intoxicated. As most people accused of crime, he asserts that he is innocent. Jaywalker, because of his twisted ways, takes the case. That's when things go down.
Jaywalker as a character was lovely to be acquainted with, as a reader. He had personality that I simply couldn't get enough of. His ego was as big as his brains, and - uhm - his heart. But as much as he was a genius, he still was a man who fell for the same, ancient trap since the beginning of time. I enjoyed the scenes in the courtroom. They were entertaining and very much revealing, especially about that fateful night, when all things went sideways. Judge Hinkley stole my heart. I just wished there could have been more of her. Those few moments where she was sending Jaywalker to jail for contempt were bad-ass. But the author totally forgot about the spectators in the courtroom throughout these case that was well publicised and attended, as he had made it the point to be known in the very much beginning part of the book. Nowhere had I seen a scene where one member in the audience disrupt the proceedings when things seemed to have not gone their desirable way, especially when the verdict was given at the end. The author left too much to our imagination, and as much as we might appreciate that as readers, too much of it can ruin what could otherwise have been an amazing showdown. The ending was abrupt.
March 12, 2022
Too Much Tequila!
Carter Drake III closed a business deal and celebrated with Buffalo wings and tequila. A lot of tequila. Too much tequila, according to the prosecutor. He then allegedly got into his Audi sports cars and drove home, mostly on the wrong side of the road! He forced a religious van loaded with children off the road and into the ditch. The van caught fire and the driver was killed, along with his eight small passengers. Drake, of course, did not stop to render assistance, or for any other reason. He continued on home and turned himself in to police the following day. The prosecutors have decided to throw the book at Drake, charging him with the crime of murder because of his depraved indifference.
Even though he is supposed to be suspended from practice, Jaywalker takes the case after intense and intimate lobbying by Drake's wife. A three-judge panel lifts his suspension so that Jaywalker can properly represent his client, and we are off to the races, so to speak.
Drake insists that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident, and that the reason he was across the centerline of the highway was that a wasp had gotten into his car, and he was attempting to swat it with a rolled-up newspaper because of his deathly allergy to insect venom. There is a rolled-up newspaper in the car. Is his story true? Can Jaywalker keep his client out of prison? Was this really just an unfortunate accident?
This is a well-written book. It is fast-paced and more interesting than the average legal fiction, in my opinion. The ending might surprise you. I certainly did not see it coming. I highly recommend this novel to those who like legal fiction.
Carter Drake III closed a business deal and celebrated with Buffalo wings and tequila. A lot of tequila. Too much tequila, according to the prosecutor. He then allegedly got into his Audi sports cars and drove home, mostly on the wrong side of the road! He forced a religious van loaded with children off the road and into the ditch. The van caught fire and the driver was killed, along with his eight small passengers. Drake, of course, did not stop to render assistance, or for any other reason. He continued on home and turned himself in to police the following day. The prosecutors have decided to throw the book at Drake, charging him with the crime of murder because of his depraved indifference.
Even though he is supposed to be suspended from practice, Jaywalker takes the case after intense and intimate lobbying by Drake's wife. A three-judge panel lifts his suspension so that Jaywalker can properly represent his client, and we are off to the races, so to speak.
Drake insists that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident, and that the reason he was across the centerline of the highway was that a wasp had gotten into his car, and he was attempting to swat it with a rolled-up newspaper because of his deathly allergy to insect venom. There is a rolled-up newspaper in the car. Is his story true? Can Jaywalker keep his client out of prison? Was this really just an unfortunate accident?
This is a well-written book. It is fast-paced and more interesting than the average legal fiction, in my opinion. The ending might surprise you. I certainly did not see it coming. I highly recommend this novel to those who like legal fiction.
February 12, 2022
I liked this story, and the character Jaywalker is interesting. I thought it was a little in the weeds at the beginning to establish legal terms and concepts, but it did help the story. Took awhile to get rolling but liked the ending!
February 28, 2024
Courtroom drama. Better than John Grisham at his worst, not as good as John Grisham at his best (in response to blurb).
June 15, 2019
Super good!
June 16, 2020
I picked up this book because I had a moment of confusion thinking it was Joseph Finder. Good mistake. A great read, twists, satisfactory ending.
April 28, 2023
Excellent
February 23, 2024
Very good read. Was the defendant guilty or not. Read and you shall find out.
January 31, 2010
DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE is my second excursion into the legal terrain created by Joseph Teller. INDIFFERENCE finds us once again exploring the ins and outs of the legal system as seen through the eyes of Tellers protagonist Harrison J. Walker (aka Jaywalker).
Jaywalker is a lawyer whose license has been temporarily suspended. He is as cynical as they come when it comes to life in general and the American justice system in particular, and it seems that for all his ranting and righteous indignation about the law he is not above bending the rules when the game is on and he requires a certain outcome to meet his own, or his clients, needs. It is obvious that neither Teller nor his creation utilizes a pair of rose colored glasses when expressing opinions, which range from clever to witty to acrimonious.
I will not rehash the plot of the novel for if I did there would be no reason for you to read it. Suffice to say that if you are a fan of legal thrillers and courtroom drama then DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE is a book you will thoroughly enjoy. I particularly like the courtroom scenes written in the question and answer style, much like a play. If I have one criticism of the book it lies in the continuous, and I believe excessive, use of the protagonists nickname “Jaywalker”. With multiple uses per page of Jaywalker said this, Jaywalker did that, Jaywalker thought this, etc. the narration begins to feel like fingernails on a blackboard. Mr. Teller has proven himself to be a more than adequate wordsmith. I would recommend that capitalize on his talent and insert an occasional personal (or possessive) pronoun. His readers know his characters name and it is not necessary to employ the redundant use of it when a simple “He”, “His”, or “Him” would suffice. Overall rating a strong 3 ½ stars.
Jaywalker is a lawyer whose license has been temporarily suspended. He is as cynical as they come when it comes to life in general and the American justice system in particular, and it seems that for all his ranting and righteous indignation about the law he is not above bending the rules when the game is on and he requires a certain outcome to meet his own, or his clients, needs. It is obvious that neither Teller nor his creation utilizes a pair of rose colored glasses when expressing opinions, which range from clever to witty to acrimonious.
I will not rehash the plot of the novel for if I did there would be no reason for you to read it. Suffice to say that if you are a fan of legal thrillers and courtroom drama then DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE is a book you will thoroughly enjoy. I particularly like the courtroom scenes written in the question and answer style, much like a play. If I have one criticism of the book it lies in the continuous, and I believe excessive, use of the protagonists nickname “Jaywalker”. With multiple uses per page of Jaywalker said this, Jaywalker did that, Jaywalker thought this, etc. the narration begins to feel like fingernails on a blackboard. Mr. Teller has proven himself to be a more than adequate wordsmith. I would recommend that capitalize on his talent and insert an occasional personal (or possessive) pronoun. His readers know his characters name and it is not necessary to employ the redundant use of it when a simple “He”, “His”, or “Him” would suffice. Overall rating a strong 3 ½ stars.
January 17, 2010
I really enjoyed Joseph Teller's third novel in the Jaywalker series. This can be read as a stand alone book to see if you like his writing style but it's so much better if you read them in order. Mr. Teller has created a very interesting character in Harrison J. Walker better known as Jaywalker. He's a lawyer that's not afraid to push and sometimes even cross boundaries. Joseph Teller takes what appears to be a cut and dry drunk driving murder charge and turn it into a fascinating study of some interesting legal discussion. This book is easy to read and the explanation on the legal issues are very easy to understand and follow. I don't agree with some other reviewers that Jaywalker is shallow and not well developed. I think he is but he is just about his work. I think sometimes as readers we want to get involved in all aspects of their life and well Jaywalker doesn't have much going on with other parts of his life. I found this book to be a quick and easy read. I enjoyed it enough to recommend it to most legal mystery readers. It has enough twists and turns to keep you interested.
February 6, 2016
Good entry into the Jaywalker series. Jaywalker defends a man who while driving drunk caused the deaths of 9 people, 8 of them little children. The author explains the rational for everything Jaywalker does in the courtroom, telling an excellent story. Full of twists and turns. Recommended.
June 9, 2017
Very detailed, criminal court room dialogue. I chose this Jaywalker novel as it got the best reviews, compared to first two in the series. As well, read it for the NY state location.~
December 6, 2012
A great read and good lessons about the legal system
July 30, 2016
A brilliant read.Holds you engrossed throughout.Loved it and so did Hubby
June 30, 2015
very good, actually 3 and a half stars, think the classic movie 'Witness for the Prosecution'
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews