Rating: 
Summary: Not nearly as good as Law of Gravity, but...
Review: Stephen Horn's first novel has one of the best scenes I have ever had the pleasure to read and visualize. In Chapter 10, the main protagonist, Frank O'Connell, a somewhat down-and-almost-out lawyer, who also happens to be a Vietnam combat veteran, takes on a very snooty, highly pretentious old school attorney by the name of Robert L. Burnside. O'Connell puts the ol' sourpuss neatly in his place after sitting through a sermon of threats by this blowhard barrister to sue our hero for slander. You can almost see the sweat on Burnside's brow and smell the soiling of his neatly pressed pants when O'Connell finishes with him. John "Lilly" Lelankevitch of EVIL, BE GONE (also available on Amazon.com) would really like Frank O'Connell. This book is worth buying just to read this scene (pages 148 to 153).
Rating: 
Summary: Attorney Stephen Horn has just written...
Review: his second novel, and I caught up with his first, "In Her Defense", recently. The book is a great read. The legal plot is complex and takes a simple case of murder and mixes it with a government plot. You're not sure who the bad guy is until the very end! One thing you do know is that Horn's hero, Frank O'Connell, is a principaled attorney who has left the comfortable life of his father-in-law's law firm in order to pursue criminal matters, his passion from his days in the NYC D.A.'s office. No one, not Frank's estranged wife Moira, his son, his beloved father-in-law, a Washington D.C. "fixer", his client, or his investigator really understands what makes Frank tick, and why he's pursuing the kind of court appointed criminal cases he's taken. Enter a society homicide, complete with ethical temptations, and O'Connell & the story are off and running. Fast paced, great characters, and the promise of more to come from Frank O'Connell make "In Her Defense" a worthy read!
Rating:
Summary: A wondeful debut!
Review: How do you prepare a defense when your client openly admits that she killed someone? That's what we're about to find out. Frank O'Connell's life is in shambles. He walked away from a profitable position in his father-in-law's firm and his marriage is in the dumps. He's wondering how he's going to make ends meet and continue on when a rich socialite walks into his office and tells him she wants him to defend her against a murder charge for which she is guilty. From here, the author takes you on a roller-coaster ride of murder, deceit, and a government secret that has been kept buried for half a century. I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: 3. 5 stars - Mixed Feelings
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. In parts, it really had me hooked, but in other parts, I felt the story was weak, and some plot points were slightly implausible. The plot is relatively familiar; a talented lawyer with problems of his own must "rescue" an accused damsel in distress. Of course, his defense team will consist of the all-too-familiar grizzled-but-wise ex-cop or PI, and at least one fresh-behind-the ears intern. But a few interesting angles are thrown into the mix. Ultimately, I felt that the main character's relationships with the 2 main women in the story weren't quite right. And I found the wrap-up to the main mystery in the story to be a little unsatisfying. But overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to fans of the genre.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Example of the Genre
Review: Is this a five-star book? Of course not. The Bible, Hamlet and The Grapes of Wrath are five-star books. But, among the genre, this is a four-and-one-half to five stars. It is fun. I cannot wait for this authors next book.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I read this novel today (riding back from The University of Philidelphia, where my son was playing football, while my wife was driving), and could not put it down til the end!
It was very realistic.
I am a trial lawyer, at Buffalo NY, who has tried murder cases in NY and US Courts.
I think this book is fabulous; because it captures the "feelings" of a murder trial, which is surely the "superbowl of criminal defense lawyers."
Indeed, defense lawyers have feelings and are not just "a head of cabbage, " as Oliver Wendell Holmes noted.
I love the risk of gambling at trial, but feel tormented by cases where clients confess their guilt, but there is perjury against them.
Defense lawyers have "feelings" about clients; and yes, they fight against prosecutorial misconduct, even when their clients are wrong.
They say: "If you can railroad the guilty, it's easier to railroad the innocent."
Although the author of this book is a former prosecutor (which I tend to detest), he has a uncommon grasp of the emotions of defense counsel; yes, even when the lawyer thinks his client is guilty.
This novel is an excellent portayal of the conundum defense counsel feel when prosecution witnesses are lying; but the lawyer wonders if the client should have taken a plea bargain anyway.
I hope the author gives me another novel to scrutinize.
Rating: 
Summary: Welcome Stephen Horn to the Courtroom Genre!
Review: "In Her Defense" is the first novel for Stephen Horn and if it's any indication of his talent this reader is very impatient to find his next book. Since the death of William J. Coughlin there's been a shortage of courtroom dramas with the wonderful dollop of humor that makes the legal mumbo jumbo even easier to enjoy. Frank O'Connell is a loveable, albeit, mixed up criminal defense attorney. He is just Irish enough to be fun and not so over the top as found in John Lescroart's novels. The action is fast and furious and you feel you're walking the streets each night with O'Connell as he attempts to sort out his demons. The client has admitted guilt, but the attorney refuses to plead her out. Horn fills the pages with interesting and very likeable characters that you come to care about and hope to meet again. Good to the last drop. Well done!! and give us more!
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