Rating: 
Summary: As a debut novel - It's a commendable read.
Review: After enjoying "After Dark", I decided to read Phillip Margolin's debut novel, which was first published in 1978 and being nominated for an Edgar Award. Thumbs up for being a debut and written in the late 70s, it may not be as sophisticated and compelling as compared with those more recent works of some legal/criminal/thriller writers.Nonetheless, it is a sincere and good effort work from PM. This could attribute to PM himself being a criminal defense lawyer in Oregon where he works both as an appellate and a trial attorney. As quoted from the book, he has represented over 30 people charged with murder, including a number of clients who have faced the death penalty. What I admire about PM's novel is that, just like "After Dark", he has invoked or should I say, at least he tried (especially for those who do not favour this book), to instil some thought provoking 'dark' facts for us to ponder seriously!!
Rating:
Summary: A Guessing Game
Review: Heartstone is a well written, page turning novel. Margolin doesn't let up on the suspense and keeps you guessing right to the very end. Excellent!
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book!!
Review: I can't beleive so many people did not like this book. I loved it. The ending is unreal- I screamed when I found out what really had happened. I thought it was one of the better books that he has written. If you do like this book- check out "Gone But Not Forgotten" by Margolin which is just as good.
Rating:
Summary: Margolin Is Mesmerizing!
Review: I don't feel like writing a long review about Heartstone, considering the fact that I accidently wrote it on the novel "After Dark" by Phillip Margolin page. But Heartstone and After Dark are both fascinating novels. I would strongly suggest all the novels by Phillip Margolin to anyone who likes Steve Martini, John Grisham and J.F. Freedman. Make sure you have your doors securely fastened, because there is a lot of suspense in the Phillip Margolin novels.
Rating:
Summary: Surprize ending.
Review: I have never read any other books by Phillip Margolin but I liked this book. It takes a look at the legal system and the lost memories of people. How witnesses can be turned to "remember" events that never occured. This novel reads more like a true crime novel with all the plots, twists and turns. It sounds like Margolin got the idea from this novel from an old retired cop. Just when you think the novel is over and your sympathies are all lined up, there is a death bed confession with a surprise ending. Keeps you guessing until the very end.
Rating:
Summary: Surprize ending.
Review: I have never read any other books by Phillip Margolin but I liked this book. It takes a look at the legal system and the lost memories of people. How witnesses can be turned to "remember" events that never occured. This novel reads more like a true crime novel with all the plots, twists and turns. It sounds like Margolin got the idea from this novel from an old retired cop. Just when you think the novel is over and your sympathies are all lined up, there is a death bed confession with a surprise ending. Keeps you guessing until the very end.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best work
Review: I just finished Heartstone and must say I found it a little too confusing to be enjoyable. There seemed to be far too many characters, too many to be able to pin down one to be interested in and identify with. Although the premise is certainly interesting, and the conclusion a bit of a surprise, I found myself not feeling much of anything by the end, except a relief that I wouldn't have to spend more time being puzzled by another vaguely familiar character name.Gone But Not Forgotten is a much better read. If you enjoy gory suspense, try Headhunter by Michael Slade - now that is a page-turner with a great ending!
Rating: 
Summary: They can't all be great
Review: In a fast trip through previous Margolin books, Hearstone was the first one that I found lacking. The characters were not as well developed as they are in other Margolin books and the plot took too long to get anywhere. If this is your first one, keep reading. Gone But Not Forgotten and The Last Innocent Man were much better.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!!
Review: It's nice to hear the other reviewers lauding Margolin's other books because this book left me pretty flat. Indeed, I am wondering what the fuss is about this author -- but I'll give him another try -- someday. So what's wrong (or right) about this book? Basically, I realized about half way into the book that I really didn't like any of the the characters. Part of the problem is that there are way too many characters so there's no chance to develop a sympathetic protagonist (or even a crook). The book also bounces around between all of these people and lacks any sense of flow.
Rating:
Summary: HEARTSTOPPING HEARTSTONE
Review: The criminal justice system is given a once-over in this well-developed, and well-written mystery. Margolin gives us the murder of two upstanding young people on a November night in 1960. Richie Walters has just asked cheerleader Elaine Murray to go steady with him. Their love and hopes for a future together are gone before you know it.
As we examine this murder in depth, we find there are many people involved, and we find ourselves wondering, who really killed this couple? And why?
The immensity of characters doesn't overwhelm the book; you may stop and ask yourself, why are these characters introduced? But by the time the book is finished, you'll see why.
Although the lawyers and the suspected killers are certainly strong focus in the book, I found the heart of the book to be Esther Peglosi, the rather ... teenager who becomes the key witness in the prosecution's case. We first meet Esther as a rather well-developed young woman who doesn't have trouble bedding anybody, but we are also introduced to horrifying facts about her childhood and her parents. Later on, Esther is cunningly seduced by a cop obsessed with the case into being hypnotized, and here we begin to see how the power of suggestion breaks down this girl, and how her love for this cop propels her toward inevitable disaster. Esther's character is very, very well written and she holds the book together.
It's interesting, also, to see the development of young Mark Shaffer, the up and coming lawyer, who finds himself defending the accused Bobby Corbett. He starts out totally ineffectual and enamored with the defendant's live-in girlfriend, and ends up becoming savvy and accomplished. The denouement of this novel is shocking, in what happens to Bobby and Esther. Also, the deathbed confession of the titular character is a whopper.
Can't forget to mention the true villain of this book and that is officer Roy Schindler, who uses his authority to basically fix the case and use poor misguided Esther. Although Al Caproni is culpable, too, he is just another victim of the political schematics.
A STUNNING AND WELL WORTH IT BOOK.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
|
