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: 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: Good Idea...Poor Execution
Review: I was waiting with baited breath to read this book after having read the description of this book. The premise was intriguing and sounded different enough to have a new twist in this genre. At first, the book was as promised: gripping and fast-paced --- for about 1/3 of the story. The last 1/4 of the book was the same, but somewhere in the middle, things bogged down. Can't give out details since that would ruin the story, but suffice it to say that the romantic angle was far too tedious and the development of the rest of story lagged because of it. I'd say this author had good future potential if he can learn to balance the story elements a bit better.
Rating:
Summary: Great read says the Author of $oft Money
Review: If this is Stephen Horn's debut work, I look forward to seeing more. This is a good legal thriller worthy of a Grisham comparison. I love the connection to the government as well as the espionage tie-ins. Frank O'Connell comes off as a protagonist that you both feel sorry for and despise at the same time. If you love a good legal thriller, and like to read a book that is hard to put down, this one is for you. I have grown weary of the Grisham copycat works flooding the market, however, I enjoyed this work, it was freash, new, cynical and had enough twists to keep me reading. I recommend this as a must read for fans of legal thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: I can't wait for the next book
Review: In a few words, Stephen Horn captured me on the first page and held me until the last. He has that rare ability to spin an outstanding yarn.
Rating:
Summary: In Her Defense...A Real Winner
Review: In Her Defense, Stephen Horn's debut novel, is a compelling legal thriller you won't be able to put down, no matter how hard you try. The story begins as Frank O'Connell, down on his luck defense attorney, is hired to represent Ashley Bronson, rich Washington socialite, accused of murdering an old family friend. To make her defense even trickier, Ashley admits to pulling the trigger. From this point on, the story pulls you in and never lets go. This is a fast paced, exciting, plausible thriller with plot twists that keep you guessing to the very end. The characters are terrific, well drawn and interesting. And, the writing is very entertaining, with witty and irreverent dialogue. Mr. Horn obviously knows his way around Washington, the Justice Department and the courtroom and his insight lends real credibility to the story. A strong climax and satisfying ending finish the story off and the last chapter is just icing on the cake. A great read that's destined for the best sellers list. I'm already looking forward to Stephen Horn's 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: 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: 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: An Interesting Debut
Review: Legal thrillers are pretty much of a sameness--young, beautiful damsel in distress, down-on-his luck attorney, twists, turns, yawns. In Her Defense includes all these elements with the exception of the yawns and the addition of a genuinely likable protagonist. I admit to enjoying this book a great deal inspite of my reservations for the genre in general. Frank O'Connell's relationship with his ex-father-in-law is terrific and his "operatives," wonderfully, are people I would like to meet. The flaw--and it's not a small one--is that Ashley Bronson is a complete throw-away. (Writers and publishers take note: the client needs to be neither young nor beautiful. In fact, if a book's dustjacket or blurbs include "beautiful" in a character's description, I won't buy it.) Anyone or anything, including goldfish that provide haircuts at reduced rates, would have been more interesting in place of Ashley, the obligatory femme fatale. Having said that, however, I still recommend In Her Defense as an interesting, fast-paced legal thriller with very human and appealing characters (save one), and great plot twists. I hope to see more from this author.
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