Equivocal Death

Rating:
Summary: Sensational Legal Thriller Expands Genre's Possibilities
Review: "Equivocal Death" by Amy Gutman is the latest entry in the legal mystery genre, and the book does nothing to allay the sneaking suspicions that the genre may have peaked. There is absolutely nothing new or original here.

The main character, Kate Paine, is a Harvard Law graduate who works at a prestigious Manhattan law firm, or so the author tells you a hundred times. Perhaps Gutman keeps repeating where Kate went to law school in order to prove Kate is smart in spite of the character's ditzy behavior and general cluelessness. Even though Kate is supposedly a brilliant and ambitious attorney, 40% of the book is spent reading about Kate's whining about a romance that failed two years ago and obsessing about a new romance that her best friend is striking up with another woman. Another 30% of the book is spent on useless red herrings that do not add any suspense because they have nothing whatsoever to do with the plot.

The final 30% of the book deals with the murder of Madeleine Waters, a female partner in the firm where Kate works. Because Madeleine is killed off early on in the book, and there are only a few pages in the book devoted to her, no attachment is formed to the character and her death has no impact. Madeleine wasn't particularly well known or well liked by any of the other characters, so the plot has no choice but to go steadily downhill after she dies, which unfortunately is on page 46, and the book is 352 pages long. As another reviewer noted, Kate doesn't really solve the mystery here. The killer spells out in great detail why he killed Madeleine, as well as another person, but the reasons itself do not make any sense and neither does the killer's identity. It's as if Gutman pulled a character's name out of a hat and then set about making up reasons why the person did it.

While I have definitely read worse legal thrillers, I can't recommend "Equivocal Death." The nonsensical plot and the bird-brained Harvard law educated main character made this book a chore to finish.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad for a first novel but a little cliched
Review: "Equivocal Death" is about a young female attorney who is assigned to a team of lawyers to defend a men's magazine editor for sexual harassment. During the case, one of the senior partners, a woman, is murdered.

The book started out great. Gutman does a nice job capturing the flavor of New York City and the life in a big law firm. The plot is certainly noteworthy. Sexual harassment is a hot topic and fits in nicely.

The main character, Kate Paine, comes across as likable and believable.

But I think the book lost steam toward the end. I figured out who the killer was fairly easily. Plus the killer has "talking killer" syndrome. That's where the killer/villain spells out in dialogue exactly why he/she did the things they did.

There is a subplot with a teen-age girl whose mother is a drug addict that is completely pointless. I think it was just there to make the book longer. If you take it out it doesn't affect the story at all.

Plus, Kate Paine doesn't really SOLVE anything. Evidence turns up that she doesn't really do anything with.

Also one thing that struck me as odd. Many of the characters are referred to by their full names. Carter Mills this or Martin Drescher that. The only character I know that goes by his full name is Charlie Brown.

But it's a first novel so you have to allow room for growth. I think Ms. Gutman has a future with being a full-time author. If she does another Kate Paine mystery, I hope she makes it more of a mystery.

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: At twenty-six, Harvard law graduate Kate Paine feels she is heading to the big time after just one year at the prestigious Manhattan law firm, Samson & Mills. She knows that company big shot Carter Mills likes his young protege. Still, another partner, Madeleine Waters warns Kate to watch her butt because things are not quite what they seem at the law firm.

Kate plans to ask Madeleine to explain, but before they meet again, someone murders the older female attorney. A dismayed Kate begins to look beneath the cosmopolitan veneer of the company's surface. She soon uncovers acrimonious rivalries and the use of sex to gain an edge. Kate fears for her own life when she realizes how much she resembles a younger Madeleine.

EQUIVOCAL DEATH is excellent when the subplot deals with the trials and tribulations of a young lawyer trying to make a name in a distinguished law firm. When the tale turns to a well-written legal thriller it loses some of its oomph because Kate seems out of character as an amateur sleuth. She is a wonderful tyro attorney struggling to float in a sea of piranhas and even retains that fresh exuberance of the newcomer while conducting the investigation of her superiors. Amy Gutman is clearly a talented author, but needs to decide between a legal thriller and a legal expose. Hopefully, she chooses the latter starring a maturing Kate.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: An Great Debut Legal Thriller!
Review: Equivocal Death is a fine legal thriller by first-time author Amy Gutman. I enjoyed the pace and interesting turn of events. Though I had little trouble figuring out the culprit well in advance of the ending, that may be more of a reflection of being a criminologist and legal novelist myself.

Overall, I think that Gutman's novel was a pleasant addition to the legal thriller genre and look forward to her next one.

From R. Barri Flowers, author of DAMNING EVIDENCE, POSITIVE I.D., and JUSTICE SERVED.

Rating:
Summary: Bravo! A super read!
Review: Everything one could want in a legal thriller . . . and more. The story works on many levels: it's a page-turner that kept me up most of the night; a subtle, cool, and cutting portrait of high-powered law firm life (and death); a well-wrought character study with Kate Paine as the complex, likeable protagonist; and a savvy exploration of bigger issues such as sexual harassment at work. "Equivocal Death" is fabulously written and tightly edited. I loved the book, recommend it highly, and look forward to Amy Gutman's next.

Rating:
Summary: Boring, boring
Review: Having read a number of legal thrillers, Equivocal Death is simply a favorite. It is well written, the plot made me want to say up all night reading, and the authors' subtext of contemporary feminist issues made it more interesting and engaging. In short, I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Boring Boring Boring and Repetitively Redundant
Review: I could not bear the writing in this book. The author tries to load every sentence with as many words as possible. It is so badly done that I can not imagine why it was published at all or who would enjoy this book. Even Mother Theresa, were she alive, would find it impossible to care about the dimensionless characters buried beneath the amateurish writing. To be worth the money, this book should come with either a shovel to help you wade through it or a scissor to help you cut the pages into kindling.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book - bring me more
Review: I loved this book. The plot was suspensefull, full of surprises and extremely well written. Amy Gutman simply lived the life of Kate Paine and has a hard time hiding it. But that makes the book all the more interesting. I look for more great stuff from this author. Bring it on.

Rating:
Summary: Boring, boring
Review: It seems every cliche ever written is in this drawn out tale that is unrealistic and uninteresting. Luckily my copy came from the library so no money was wasted...just time not well spent.

Rating:
Summary: Total waste of money
Review: The book started out fairly well, but the amateurish writing really did start to get to me after awhile. The murders the story hinges around get dull and tiresome, and I actually began rooting for the unidentified killer to do away with Kate Paine, the undeveloped and boring heroine of the book. When finally learned who the culprit was, I had totally lost interest and felt that the author just pulled it out of a hat without any reason or logic. And there is nothing more annoying in books than the killer explaining to the victim (who is tied up and forced to listen to the obligatory rantings) all the reasons he has done such terrible deeds. For a better story, read "The Firm" by John Grisham, or "The Job" by Douglas Kennedy.