Rating: 
Summary: This thriller will leave you wishing for more of Lashner
Review: There are a number of legal thrillers being published with great regularity, but I haven't encountered very many that capture what it is like to walk out of law school with that freshly minted degree, pass the bar exam, set up practice and...wait. Wait for the phone to ring, wait for that promised money to start rolling in, wait for that career satisfaction to kick in.William Lashner, the author of HOSTILE WITNESS, describes this and, even though he describes it from a retrospective standpoint, does it quite well. Actually, he does a number of things quite well and a number of things amazingly well. When Victor Carl, Lashner's main character gets caught between the rock of expenses and the hard place of a shrinking accounts receivable, one gets the feeling that Lashner, who was a practicing attorney in Philadelphia, has either been there or has been close enough to it that he knows what it smells and looks like, even if he's never tasted it. When we meet Carl he is six years out of law school and, in his own words, flat-out broke. Out of time, out of money and possessing only an abundance of despair, a sharp intellect and a way with a smart remark, he finds himself only a few cases away from being destitute. One of those cases takes him to the offices of Talbott, Kittredge, and Chase, opposing counsel and one of the premiere Philadelphia law firms. Carl goes into their offices expecting nothing and leaves not only with a generous offer of settlement for a marginal case, but also an offer of employment as co-counsel. William Prescott III, a partner with Talbott, Kittredge, and Chase offers Carl the opportunity to represent Chester Concannon, an aide to City Councilman Jimmy Moore and charged as a co-defendant with Moore for extortion, arson and murder. The trial is in two weeks, but all Carl has to do is sit down, be quiet and leave everything to Prescott. The fee that Prescott offers is more than enough to solve all of Karl's problems as well. It is that final point that sweeps away any ethical reservations Carl might have. It does not take long, though, before it becomes obvious to Carl that Prescott is subtly setting Concannon --- and Carl --- up for a fall. That, however, is not Carl's only problem. He soon finds himself involved with Moore's mistress, the beautiful, enigmatic Veronica Ashland. Ashland is the nexus of the Gordeon knot that lays at the heart of the crimes Moore and Concannon are accused of and has the potential to either save Carl's client or bring the case crashing down around his ears. Between first page and last, Lashner does a masterful job of keeping this complex, complicated plot humming along quite nicely and demonstrates a fine sense of knowing when to connect dots for the reader and when to sit back and let the reader do it. If there's a flaw at all in HOSTILE WITNESS, it's with the introduction of Morris Kapustin, a wonderfully unlikely private investigator. The flaw is that Kapustin is so interesting a character that he almost steals the entire book away from Carl. If only every author had such a problem --- Lashner has so many interesting characters that they must jostle for position between the book covers! HOSTILE WITNESS is a magnificent debut that will leave the reader wishing for more of Carl --- and of Lashner. More of both, thankfully, are on the way. --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Rating: 
Summary: Better than Grisham
Review: This author deserves a wide audience. If you like Grisham or Turow or the other legal fiction writers of recent times, try this one. The plot is twisty and turny, but best of all, you have a hero who is different and struggling with interior demons. I look forward to the sequel
Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable read
Review: This book has everything - likable characters, a fast-paced plot, genuine suspense and delightful moments of unexpected humor. Easily one of the best debuts I've ever read. I am eager to read the author's follow-up, "Veritas," and will gladly pick up any future novels. Give this one a try - you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Pleasant Surprise
Review: This book is a very well written "legal thiller". It starts out dark with expectations of a "woe is me" narrative, but then shows the depth of Victor Carl. It's only when Lashner gets below the surface of the characters that the story starts moving - and when it does, it really starts to move. The book jacket compares this author to Grisham - there's no comparison, Lashner is far superior in this rookie novel. Looking forward to more from him.
Rating:
Summary: Lashner's a real talent
Review: This book is wonderful. Great, great characters, a clever and very well thought through plot (but not so intricate that you can't follow it), and a payoff at the end that matches or exceeds the reader's expectations. The protagonist, Victor Carl, is a real original. And the book's well written to boot! (Lashner's a practicing lawyer and a graduate of the Univ. of Iowa graduate writing program).
Rating:
Summary: HERE'S A MYSTERY NOVEL WITH A SATISFYING FINALE
Review: This is one of the best legal thrillers I've read - including Grisham, Turrow, R.N. Patterson. Protagonist Victor Carl is so human - flaws and all - I found his character as complelling as the mystery itself. Don't read any synopsis of this book! Get to know the characters and the story one page at a time. I devoured the book during a recent vacation - and on the 6 hour plane trip home. Couldn't wait to check for additional titles by the author and was glad to learn that Carl's not-so-illustrious legal career continues in Lashner's next novel.
Rating:
Summary: amazing first novel
Review: This should be considered a new classic among legal thrillers. Incredibly witty, insightful, and entertaining--extremely well-written. For once, a hero who is not Superman. Not that Supermans are unexciting when drawn well, but there are a lot more mere survivors out there, heels even, and Lashner gives us one even more interesting than Sammy Glick. Victor wasn't born with the world's greatest advantages, hasn't gotten what he wants yet, and has experienced a lot of losing--so now what? Life goes on. That's the point here, or at least one of them.
Rating:
Summary: A lawyer handbook
Review: This very long book masterfully written with some sense of humor and fine prose, portraits one situation any lawyer may confront any point in his working life, to decide to follow ethic principles and be financially strained or grab the opportunity that comes once in life, quick career advancement and social prestige working in association with the top company of the city in the litigation field performing dishonest maneuverings in order to protect the shady deals of the powerful bad guys. The main character and hero, attorney Victor Carl, is very likeable, speaks in first person and probably reflects the experiences collected in the working life of the author who exhibits a proven track record as a lawyer according to what is mentioned in the back cover of the book. Throughout the intricated plot Victor explores the underworld of Philadelphia, coming in contact with corruption, scandals, organized crime, embezzlements, scams, bribes, drug abuse and all kind of crooks. A must read for every junior lawyer fresh off from graduation, far different from any Grisham or Turrow thriller, this story besides entertaining, teaches lessons.
Rating:
Summary: A fast-paced, suspense-laden and often quite funny thriller
Review: Victor Carl, the protagonist of "Hostile Witness," is one of the most enjoyable characters to appear in suspense fiction in quite some time. Far from being the embodiment of the idealized American lawyer, Carl is full of flaws and frailties that make him all the more enjoyable to follow in this fast-paced, suspense-laden thriller that has humor and heart. The book may be set in modern-day Philadelphia, but its roots lie in the California-based film noir classics of the 1940s and early 50s. "Hostile Witness" is easily the most enjoyable book I've read in a long, long time. I hope it is the just the first of many such books from newcomer William Lashner.
Rating:
Summary: A fast-paced, suspense-laden and often quite funny thriller
Review: Victor Carl, the protagonist of "Hostile Witness," is one of the most enjoyable characters to appear in suspense fiction in quite some time. Far from being the embodiment of the idealized American lawyer, Carl is full of flaws and frailties that make him all the more enjoyable to follow in this fast-paced, suspense-laden thriller that has humor and heart. The book may be set in modern-day Philadelphia, but its roots lie in the California-based film noir classics of the 1940s and early 50s. "Hostile Witness" is easily the most enjoyable book I've read in a long, long time. I hope it is the just the first of many such books from newcomer William Lashner.
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