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Nina Reilly #5
Acts of Malice
The New York Times bestselling Nina Reilly novels have dazzled both readers and critics with their crackling blend of legal suspense and taut human drama. Now Perri O'Shaughnessy, hailed as "smart", "gripping", and "complex" by the San Francisco Chronicle, brings us her best--and most explosive--Nina Reilly novel yet.
Amid the sparkling snow-swept mountains of Lake Tahoe, Nina Reilly has made a home, juggling the demands of her one-woman law practice and raising a teenage son alone. Now Nina has taken on a case that will threaten everything she holds dear, drawing her into a tangled web of loyalties and alliances within one of Lake Tahoe's most prominent families. Her client: a man accused of murdering his own brother--on the ski slopes of Tahoe. The law says Nina must give Jim Strong the best possible defense. But Strong's family has turned violently against him, and suddenly Nina is at the center of the storm. As she works a flawed and troubling case and gets swept into an unexpected love affair, the two sides of Nina's life come crashing together...in the ultimate act of malice.
Amid the sparkling snow-swept mountains of Lake Tahoe, Nina Reilly has made a home, juggling the demands of her one-woman law practice and raising a teenage son alone. Now Nina has taken on a case that will threaten everything she holds dear, drawing her into a tangled web of loyalties and alliances within one of Lake Tahoe's most prominent families. Her client: a man accused of murdering his own brother--on the ski slopes of Tahoe. The law says Nina must give Jim Strong the best possible defense. But Strong's family has turned violently against him, and suddenly Nina is at the center of the storm. As she works a flawed and troubling case and gets swept into an unexpected love affair, the two sides of Nina's life come crashing together...in the ultimate act of malice.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 13, 1999
111 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Perri O'Shaughnessy
50 books277 followersPerri O’Shaughnessy is the pen-name for two people, Pamela and Mary O’Shaughnessy, sisters. The authors' pseudonym is an homage to Perry Mason, the man who never met a guilty client, and a melding of their two first names, Pamela and Mary. O’Shaughnessy is their paternal family name.
They are the authors of eleven bestselling Nina Reilly novels as well as a collection of short crime fiction, Sinister Shorts.
They are the authors of eleven bestselling Nina Reilly novels as well as a collection of short crime fiction, Sinister Shorts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 30, 2018
A stunner! There are many twists you won't see coming. Nina Reilly takes on a big case along with juggling her personal life. Legal suspense fans will love this one.
September 26, 2009
This was my first encounter w. Colo. lawyer Nina Reilly, protagonist whose law practice leads her into a murder mystery. She takes on defense of a criminal client, accused of his own brother's murder. Turns out the charming client (2nd generation ski resort owner) is actually a sicko, which Reilly doesn't learn till near the end of the book.
Unbelievable to me that Reilly, after she knows the client's guilty and how disturbed he really is, still goes w. teen son and her new husband (the prosecutor for the murder case against her client) out to frolic in new snow while the client -- who has already threatened Reilly -- has gone missing.
Her new husband ends up dead, as the psychopathic client -- who feels betrayed by Reilly's fresh marriage -- uses his ski resort know-how to set off an avalanche above the slope where Reilly, hubby and son are innocently frolicking.
Husband ends up dead. Lawyer Reilly ends up, without her knowledge, saved from the client's murder attempt by an unrequited "suitor in the wings." That is Paul, an investigator with whom Reilly has apparently had a past romance. Paul loves her so much that he permanently "removes w. prejudice" the dastardly client, but leaves the scene without disclosing his heroism to the newly widowed lawyer.
It's clearly a set-up so that in a future novel Reilly and Paul can get back together.
Interesting to see watch how tight and overlapping the legal community can be in a small town -- this one in ski country near Lake Tahoe. I'm a resident of LV, NV, so I enjoyed author's descriptions of gaming, northern Nevada, etc.
Unbelievable to me that Reilly, after she knows the client's guilty and how disturbed he really is, still goes w. teen son and her new husband (the prosecutor for the murder case against her client) out to frolic in new snow while the client -- who has already threatened Reilly -- has gone missing.
Her new husband ends up dead, as the psychopathic client -- who feels betrayed by Reilly's fresh marriage -- uses his ski resort know-how to set off an avalanche above the slope where Reilly, hubby and son are innocently frolicking.
Husband ends up dead. Lawyer Reilly ends up, without her knowledge, saved from the client's murder attempt by an unrequited "suitor in the wings." That is Paul, an investigator with whom Reilly has apparently had a past romance. Paul loves her so much that he permanently "removes w. prejudice" the dastardly client, but leaves the scene without disclosing his heroism to the newly widowed lawyer.
It's clearly a set-up so that in a future novel Reilly and Paul can get back together.
Interesting to see watch how tight and overlapping the legal community can be in a small town -- this one in ski country near Lake Tahoe. I'm a resident of LV, NV, so I enjoyed author's descriptions of gaming, northern Nevada, etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2008
I liked this author and this heroine in the past but did not like this book. She is an attorney for the defense and falls in love with the prosecuting attorney during a high profile case. They even get married. Just didn't work for me.
April 28, 2019
Best story ever by these 2 sisters, WOW what a page turner, clear to the last page... If this would have been a movie, I would have been flopping all over the place, EXCELLENT!!!!!!!
September 10, 2018
this book was nothing great actually.
it took me nearly 4 to 5 days to finish it.
it is actually about a lawyer called nina reilly who lives near a place called lake Tahoe.
this is actually a small time.
she has a teen age son called bob and it is her duty to take care of him.
she then takes on the case of a person called jim strong,
and the novel actually revolves around the person called jim strong.
his brother actually dies in a sking accident and it is not known that what actually happened to him.
his brother is alex strong.
jim strong is accused of murdering his brother alex strong.
the rest of the story is about jim strong being taken to court and asked about the murder.
this goes on and on.
his wife is called Heidi and she accuses him of killing his own brother but then she goes missing and is no where to be found.
nina reilly then gets married to collier and then every thing goes crazy.
jim strong is blamed for every thing.
it seems as if jim strong is responsible for all the crimes commited over here in this city.
in the end he is gone from this city and he is out of nina reillys life and she lives a peace full life and remembers the days when she was little and happy.
it took me nearly 4 to 5 days to finish it.
it is actually about a lawyer called nina reilly who lives near a place called lake Tahoe.
this is actually a small time.
she has a teen age son called bob and it is her duty to take care of him.
she then takes on the case of a person called jim strong,
and the novel actually revolves around the person called jim strong.
his brother actually dies in a sking accident and it is not known that what actually happened to him.
his brother is alex strong.
jim strong is accused of murdering his brother alex strong.
the rest of the story is about jim strong being taken to court and asked about the murder.
this goes on and on.
his wife is called Heidi and she accuses him of killing his own brother but then she goes missing and is no where to be found.
nina reilly then gets married to collier and then every thing goes crazy.
jim strong is blamed for every thing.
it seems as if jim strong is responsible for all the crimes commited over here in this city.
in the end he is gone from this city and he is out of nina reillys life and she lives a peace full life and remembers the days when she was little and happy.
January 13, 2021
Ah! I am really upset...this particular book of the series just wasn't for me.
I have already mentioned this before but I will say it again that I really dislike Nina Riley with every book i pick my dislike for her continues to grow. There are various reason behind it but i will only mentioned those which affected me the most; first, she lead Paul on noose... he proposed her so many times but she rejected him saying she does not want to marry but than comes collier and she agrees! (the whole time I was really feeling sorry for him). Second, it seems she was more worried about Collier than Bob. Third, she mixed her professional life with personal life (and I am not talking about her marrying Collier).
other than that everything happened so haphazardly especially their relationship moved so fast I was dumbfounded.
than the book was also lacking in courtroom scenes and the mystery involving it wasn't strong enough. i found the courtroom scene hilarious instead of opposite....there was strong force behind their words. it sounded more like child play than anything else
I have already mentioned this before but I will say it again that I really dislike Nina Riley with every book i pick my dislike for her continues to grow. There are various reason behind it but i will only mentioned those which affected me the most; first, she lead Paul on noose... he proposed her so many times but she rejected him saying she does not want to marry but than comes collier and she agrees! (the whole time I was really feeling sorry for him). Second, it seems she was more worried about Collier than Bob. Third, she mixed her professional life with personal life (and I am not talking about her marrying Collier).
other than that everything happened so haphazardly especially their relationship moved so fast I was dumbfounded.
than the book was also lacking in courtroom scenes and the mystery involving it wasn't strong enough. i found the courtroom scene hilarious instead of opposite....there was strong force behind their words. it sounded more like child play than anything else
January 22, 2010
Pedantic. Relationships that moved too fast to be believed. Ridiculous descriptions of things in an attempt to warm the reader to the characters. Kind of boring, but not so boring that I couldn't finish it. Boring enough that I won't be reading anything else by this author.
May 12, 2020
Perri O'Shaughnessy have improved much in their craft. But they can surely avoid and do without this compulsion to have, a life and death confrontation as a finishing touch, in their stories. Excluding such climaxes, they are a really good comfort reads.
August 7, 2021
This is the first book I've read by this author. Despite not having read the preceding 4 books in the series, it wasn't difficult to pick up on the characters and their relationships to each other.
Nina Reilly is an attorney in Lake Tahoe who lands a client charged with the murder of his brother. At first, the death looked like a ski accident, but was later upgraded to a homicide. The author does a nice job building suspense by leaving the reader unsure as to whether her client, Jim Strong, is a victim of overzealous prosecution or a sociopath, liar, and murderer. The Lake Tahoe setting was also well done, with a definite sense of place.
Acts of Malice was entertaining and was just enough to hold my attention despite occasional weak or unnatural-sounding dialogue and a few plot elements that seemed very farfetched. The rapid pace of Nina's courtship with the prosecutor, Collier, seemed artificially rushed. The fact that a prosecutor and defense attorney who are assigned to the same first degree murder case are romantically involved without raising any ethical flags as long as they don't talk about the case at home was not very believable. As the story build to the final climax, the main characters didn't seem too concerned that a murderer with a grudge against them was on the loose and set themselves up for trouble, not exactly how most people would behave in a similar situation. Still, I would pick up another of her titles to read.
This was an entertaining read as long as you're not expecting a hard hitting legal thriller, but more of an entertaining and light suspense story. I gave it 2.5 stars and rounded up to 3.
Nina Reilly is an attorney in Lake Tahoe who lands a client charged with the murder of his brother. At first, the death looked like a ski accident, but was later upgraded to a homicide. The author does a nice job building suspense by leaving the reader unsure as to whether her client, Jim Strong, is a victim of overzealous prosecution or a sociopath, liar, and murderer. The Lake Tahoe setting was also well done, with a definite sense of place.
Acts of Malice was entertaining and was just enough to hold my attention despite occasional weak or unnatural-sounding dialogue and a few plot elements that seemed very farfetched. The rapid pace of Nina's courtship with the prosecutor, Collier, seemed artificially rushed. The fact that a prosecutor and defense attorney who are assigned to the same first degree murder case are romantically involved without raising any ethical flags as long as they don't talk about the case at home was not very believable. As the story build to the final climax, the main characters didn't seem too concerned that a murderer with a grudge against them was on the loose and set themselves up for trouble, not exactly how most people would behave in a similar situation. Still, I would pick up another of her titles to read.
This was an entertaining read as long as you're not expecting a hard hitting legal thriller, but more of an entertaining and light suspense story. I gave it 2.5 stars and rounded up to 3.
December 20, 2021
The author's pseudonym stands for two sisters who do a pretty good job of team writing. I doubt I could do as well with either of my brothers.. (lol)..
These novels are always gripping.. but this time the authors stretch things a bit too far for me. I don't want to offer any real spoilers but this one turns into more romance than mystery/thriller... The lover she takes does not seem like a romantic white knight, but a desperate broken man. I was shocked that a strong woman like Nina would be swept up in this romance but it was more like both of them were so desperate.
The main story, about Nina defending a man accused of murdering his own brother is disappointing-- the dark secrets come out slowly, but the mystery here isn't as compelling as other volumes in this series. That doesn't mean it is a bad book-- just not as good as others in this series. I really think the romantic story detracted from the main story-- at least for me.
Another major problem was that nearly all of the characters (except maybe Nina's son, Bob and former lover, Paul) seem desperate. The defendant is desperate because he is trying to fight for his life. His wife, having gone into hiding, is desperate to remain hidden from him-- doesn't that say something about his guilt or innocence? The Father? He's pretty desperate as well-- trying to save his son-- while making major errors of his own. In the end, the father offers a confession of his own to Nina, demonstrating a desperation for her forgiveness. The D.A. is desperate to prosecute his case and prove that his past failure are in the past.
It is sad.
These novels are always gripping.. but this time the authors stretch things a bit too far for me. I don't want to offer any real spoilers but this one turns into more romance than mystery/thriller... The lover she takes does not seem like a romantic white knight, but a desperate broken man. I was shocked that a strong woman like Nina would be swept up in this romance but it was more like both of them were so desperate.
The main story, about Nina defending a man accused of murdering his own brother is disappointing-- the dark secrets come out slowly, but the mystery here isn't as compelling as other volumes in this series. That doesn't mean it is a bad book-- just not as good as others in this series. I really think the romantic story detracted from the main story-- at least for me.
Another major problem was that nearly all of the characters (except maybe Nina's son, Bob and former lover, Paul) seem desperate. The defendant is desperate because he is trying to fight for his life. His wife, having gone into hiding, is desperate to remain hidden from him-- doesn't that say something about his guilt or innocence? The Father? He's pretty desperate as well-- trying to save his son-- while making major errors of his own. In the end, the father offers a confession of his own to Nina, demonstrating a desperation for her forgiveness. The D.A. is desperate to prosecute his case and prove that his past failure are in the past.
It is sad.
July 15, 2020
Amid the sparkling snow-swept mountains of Lake Tahoe, Nina Reilly has made a home, juggling the demands of her one-woman law practice and raising a teenage son alone. Now Nina has taken on a case that will threaten everything she holds dear, drawing her into a tangled web of loyalties and alliances within one of Lake Tahoe's most prominent families. Her client: a man accused of murdering his own brother--on the ski slopes of Tahoe. The law says Nina must give Jim Strong the best possible defense. But Strong's family has turned violently against him, and suddenly Nina is at the center of the storm. As she works a flawed and troubling case and gets swept into an unexpected love affair, the two sides of Nina's life come crashing together...in the ultimate act of malice.
Again Perri has written an awesome page-turning suspenseful legal mystery.
Again Perri has written an awesome page-turning suspenseful legal mystery.
October 8, 2024
The cops are sure Jim Strong stomped his brother, Alex, to death. Strong’s family turns against him, believing the cops. But Nina Reilly stubbornly holds to his innocence, and she will defend him in his upcoming trial.
There’s little courtroom drama here, and the mystery element is almost nonexistent. This book fell rather flat. While I’ll continue to read the series, I must count this as a near loss.
Nina sleeps around—again—this time with a newly returned attorney to the prosecutor’s staff. After only a couple of nights of Blanket Blitz with the lawyer, she agrees readily to marry him. I think insta-love is largely artificial, and it gripes me when I see it in books.
I bumped this from two to three stars because the last seven percent of the book is worth reading for sure. It's a good, satisfactory ending. But this probably should have been a two-star read at most.
There’s little courtroom drama here, and the mystery element is almost nonexistent. This book fell rather flat. While I’ll continue to read the series, I must count this as a near loss.
Nina sleeps around—again—this time with a newly returned attorney to the prosecutor’s staff. After only a couple of nights of Blanket Blitz with the lawyer, she agrees readily to marry him. I think insta-love is largely artificial, and it gripes me when I see it in books.
I bumped this from two to three stars because the last seven percent of the book is worth reading for sure. It's a good, satisfactory ending. But this probably should have been a two-star read at most.
December 22, 2020
See Wendy's review.
"A judge can find probable cause in a can of beets." Nice. But why refer to it again and again and again??
Are the laws in Lake Tahoe any different than anywhere else in that the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney in an active murder trial cannot date or MARRY?? Maybe if the trial went on for three years, (as murder trials do) but, it was so rushed!
When Heidi got home "he threatened her and bullied her into staying with him." So many women stay with their abusers! She does leave, finally. And, as soon as she has physically recovered, Nina Reilly goes back to work when Collier, her new husband, was just killed in an avalanche. The descriptions of Tahoe were nice, but there were too many. Nah. Too many holes for my taste.
"A judge can find probable cause in a can of beets." Nice. But why refer to it again and again and again??
Are the laws in Lake Tahoe any different than anywhere else in that the prosecuting attorney and the defense attorney in an active murder trial cannot date or MARRY?? Maybe if the trial went on for three years, (as murder trials do) but, it was so rushed!
When Heidi got home "he threatened her and bullied her into staying with him." So many women stay with their abusers! She does leave, finally. And, as soon as she has physically recovered, Nina Reilly goes back to work when Collier, her new husband, was just killed in an avalanche. The descriptions of Tahoe were nice, but there were too many. Nah. Too many holes for my taste.
November 5, 2019
Not so much a legal thriller as a legal melodrama with Nina being a nitwit and a drama mama. If the series kept its focus on the legal aspect and the cases instead of Nina being a ninny and getting her personal life entangled with her professional one in just about the worst way, this series would be much, much better. I already lost whatever liking I had for Nina after the last book but in this one, I not only thought she was polar, she was in her married phase. No other reason for running off to Vegas and marrying Collier. He was the prosecuting attorney, for God's sake.
I hate that the relationship aspect overshadowed the murder/legal aspect.
I hate that the relationship aspect overshadowed the murder/legal aspect.
December 17, 2016
I loved this book. Acts of Malice is book #5 in the 13-book Nina Reilly series and it didn't disappoint. Great plot, excellent character and setting descriptions. The O'Shaughnessy sisters have produced a very exciting psychological thriller set again in Lake Tahoe. Lots of action and twists-and-turns. Couldn't put it down.
September 18, 2018
I enjoyed about half of this book, but it ended on a bad note so it gets two stars. I never liked Nina and Colliers relationship. I thought it was very unprofessional, but for him to die; what was the point. Total sensationalism by an author. The writing of the character, Jim, I thought was done very well. I thought he was creepy from the start. I hope the next one is better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2021
An enjoyable read, easy to follow even if you aren't well-versed in the previous books. The mystery surrounding Nina's client, Jim, is interesting though could've used a few more twists and turns. My favorite character is Sandy, so I was glad to see a bit more of her in this book. Good twist at the end made the book worth reading.
March 6, 2019
Enjoyed the story. The mountain. The skiing. The murder!
The O'SHAUGHNESSY sisters are wonderful!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel YOU CHOOSE and the supernatural thriller WOMAN IN THE WOODS
The O'SHAUGHNESSY sisters are wonderful!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel YOU CHOOSE and the supernatural thriller WOMAN IN THE WOODS
October 19, 2020
I hadn't read this particular Nina Reilly (Acts of Malice) and enjoyed it. Nina is always a strong woman and an excellent attorney and a Mom doing her best to raise her son Bob the best she can. She takes on a case that keeps her twisting in the end and heartbreak.
March 25, 2021
Good reading - Jim Strong is family member of the owner of Paradise Ski Resort in Nevada. His brother Alex dies skiing off a cliff accidentally. Jim is accused of his murder and hires Nina Reilly to defend him. Interesting turn of events as things start coming to light.
July 1, 2017
Entertaining book to read.
Enjoyed the descriptions of her relationship with her son.
Enjoyed the descriptions of her relationship with her son.
August 5, 2017
One of the best, I just wish I hadn't just finished the next one in the series first. Lots of suspense.
March 12, 2018
A great read.
November 4, 2019
This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read the next one!
October 26, 2020
Good read I am new to this author.
February 21, 2023
couldn't finish it
May 26, 2023
Excellent book!
August 23, 2023
The only reason I finished this book was to see who did it. The bulk of the story was predictable and pedestrian.
January 25, 2019
I read this years ago and just remember it keeping my interest until the end. It is a quick read so I recommend checking it out from the library.
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July 27, 2025Oct 2001 #5 of 13
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews