Rating: 
Summary: Convoluted beyond words
Review: I respectfuly disagree with other customer reviews of this book. While Horn is a good writer, he has written in a plot that is absolutely unbelievable. Without giving away the plot, the convoluted con- clusion of the book, the coincidences, the ease with which the hero dispatches his associates all over the Washington area to follow leads that a normal person would never follow for more than an hour or two are ridiculous. And his father in law, with his "lads" and "boyo" comments is over the top, frankly, really cornball. The best character in the book, by far, is his former wife, with his chief investigator a close second. The plot kills the book.
Rating: 
Summary: The Best First Novel of the Year!
Review: Stephen Horn has created a unique blend of characters so real that you can see them vividly in your mind's eye. He is most certainly the next John Grisham, if you like Grisham, you will love Stephen Horn.This is a great mystery, court room drama with a unique twist of romance and comedy. Don't cheat yourself and wait for the paperback, order this book today!
Rating:
Summary: Horn's debut effort is superb!
Review: What do books by Stuart Woods, John Sandford, Dennis Lehane and a few others have in common? I pre-order all their titles because of their quality of writing. Stephen Horn joins those ranks with In Her Defense. The characters are real, the plot has sufficient twists and turns to make you think you're reading John Le Carre. Given Horn's c.v., you know that he plowed some of his real life experiences into this story. All of it comes together to create a throughly enjoyable read --- save it for a weekend, or the beach. You won't want any interruptions. If any of the previous authors ring a bell with you, I'd liken this effort to Wood's Sante Fe Rules. Now if I could only figure out why Hollywood doesn't make this calibre story into grand theatre!
Rating:
Summary: Strong Recommendation
Review: Stephen Horn's In Her Defense is as good as the best of Turow, Patterson, Grisham or other established authors of legal thrillers. The characters are fresh and funny and appealing, and the well researched plot has interesting twists and is more plausible than most. It's a fun read. I bought it expecting to take it on a trip but read late to finish it in one sitting. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone who likes this genre or is interested in trying it out. And I'll by the next Stephen Horn book without even reading the blurb.
Rating:
Summary: In Her Defense
Review: A wonderful first book from an author with obvious promise. I loved the book and found the story to be original and creative and the characters well developed. I especially like Moira. She epitomizes how all x-wives should be and proved how important a good relationship is not only for her son but for everyone! There was great depth and intrigue to this story and I wanted more after I had finished the book. I am looking forward to his next book!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding debut for Horn
Review: In Washington DC, no one in the legal profession or the judicial system quite understands why attorney Frank O'Connell has thrown away the silver spoon to become, ugh, a public defender. However, ethics aside, Frank wonders if he is heading to the pits of legal hell when he suddenly becomes the lawyer to renowned socialite Ashley Bronson, who admits she killed former Commerce Secretary Raymond Garvey. Ashley blames Raymond for driving her father to suicide. Frank and private investigator Walter Feinberg make inquiries seeking a link between Garvey and Ashley's father. The duo also looks to see if someone else could have potentially killed the cabinet member in order to throw doubt in the minds of the jury. However, the more Walter and Frank dig, the more questions surface as the CIA becomes involved. IN HER DEFENSE is a fabulous legal thriller that will place Stephen Horn near the top of the sub-genre list with his debut novel. Frank is a complex character struggling between personal ethics and the seeming failure of his career change. The support cast augments the tale with intelligence as they provide insight into the judicial system or into Frank's personal life and that adds depth and motives to the lead protagonist's personality. The story line is sharp whether the subplot augments the legal side or Frank's personal life. Fans of legal thrillers will toot the author's horn for this wonderful novel. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Fresh and smart!
Review: "In Her Defense" is a fresh, smart, and fun approach to an old favorite: the murder mystery. There are twists and turns at every corner, keeping you guessing what the next page will bring. The more I got into it, the harder it was to put down. What a great book! I'm looking forward to more from Stephen Horn!
Rating:
Summary: Move over, Grisham!
Review: This new author has a level of mastery in writing that readers search for. I was delighted at the excitement of his story and the freshness of the storytelling. I highly recommend "In Her Defense" to anyone wanting a fun, suspenseful, romantic, legal thriller that you won't want to put down! A real winner!
Rating:
Summary: In Her Defense
Review: What a great book- perfect timing because it is a fun summer read! The plot of this book involves and attorney and his client, but unlike other legal thrillers I have read, this book had a very realistic story line. The plot revolves around an attorney who is seperated from his wife, and is defending a woman who is accused of murder. There are lots of plot twists, and I won't spoil the ending, but I couldn't put the book down, and was really sorry to see it end. I only hope there is a sequel out soon! Don''t miss this one--you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: When Kennedy was killed, they didn't call it the Oswald case
Review: Great, great, opening. I heard at one point that the greatest opening line in a novel was "It was a dark and stormy night." I don't know if this is true. It sounds a little too subjective. But Stephen Horn does grab you on the first page.
I like Horn's protaganists, Frank O'Connell here and Phillip Barkley in "Gravity" because they are flawed. We like Spenser and Elvis Cole but after awhile, they are almost too good in both the physical and the metaphysical sense. But O'Connell is a mutt. Even we, the reader, who are supposed to feel sympathy for him, cluck our tongues when we find he walked away from the beautiful girl, the loving (Ay, Laddie, treated him like me own son from Kerry) father-in-law, the worshipping son, the million dollar income for . . . . we don't know why? Frank doesn't know why? Frank's seeing a therapist. Heck he should be seeing a whole staff of therapists. Electro Convulsive Therapy's not enough! Bring on the thorazine, Zoloff and the old standby, Prozac. . . . But then it gets interesting.
The unwinnable case. Leonidas at the Gates of Fire. Horatio at the Bridge. The beautiful victem. The grumpy assistant investigator. (See McSorley in the "Law of Gravity.") The Darth Vader government conspiracy. I haven't done this in 4 or 5 years but I couldn't put it down. Read it in one sitting far into the night. 5 stars. Could be 8. Read "The Law of Gravity" after. Larry Scantlebury
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