Rating: 
Summary: Sibling Rivalry And Murder With A Twist In Miami!
Review: Brilliant, powerhouse lawyer Gail Connor is looking to make partner at her upscale Miami firm. Gail's marriage, already on the rocks when the novel begins, finally disintegrates leaving her to juggle motherhood alone, (she has a six year old daughter Karen), along with a career that takes up too much of her time. When her wild, free-spirited sister Renee is found brutally murdered, Gail's career is put on hold as she becomes the prime suspect. There has always been much sibling rivalry between the two, and Gail had always envied Renee's ability to garner favor and claim attention, even though she was the "bad girl," while Gail tried so hard to be the "good" one. Add some fascinating secondary legal cases to the mix, along with a hunky Cuban American defense attorney who has his eyes on the lovely Gail, glimpses of Miami's "old society, old money," alongside the city's darker side and you have the makings of a terrific mystery thriller.Barbara Parker writes tight, taut prose and surely knows a lot about law and the legal world. Her characters are well defined and very believable, especially Gail Connor. Ms. Connor is not always likable. She is often stressed-out, as we all would be if faced with a failed marriage, a young daughter who is miserable with the sudden changes in her life, a demanding career that doesn't allow for time to cope with family problems, a sister's death and ensuing guilt because of their estrangement, and a murder investigation where all evidence points to her. She is frequently snappish, disagreeable, and not there for her child. Gail has many positive traits also, but what is so refreshing here is that the author gives her heroine normal human frailties - and a human face. One does not always have to like her for the novel to succeed. In fact, one of the reasons the plot is so successful is because the story and characters are so lifelike. There are roller coaster twists and turns in this tale of old money, old secrets, and family loyalty and betrayal. This is a wonderful beginning to a terrific series. You will want to return not only to read more of Ms. Parker's compelling fiction, but to become better acquainted with the extraordinary cast of characters introduced here. A great read!!
JANA
Rating:
Summary: strong characters, strong plot, weak who-dunnit
Review: Fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable, with a more than palatable romantic side. An empathetic third-person narrative allows the reader to deeply relate to the main character's issues and personalities. No one is perfect here, which really makes the book a cut above your run of the mill fem-thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: strong characters, strong plot, weak who-dunnit
Review: Fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable, with a more than palatable romantic side. An empathetic third-person narrative allows the reader to deeply relate to the main character's issues and personalities. No one is perfect here, which really makes the book a cut above your run of the mill fem-thrillers.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts off slow but picks up speed
Review: Gail Connor is ambitious, smart, and successful. She is working her way up to partner in her law firm while neglecting the people closest to her. When her sister is found with her wrists slashed, Gail starts to rethink her life. Then when this suicide is investigated as a homicide, Gail has to scramble to prove that she is innocent of the murder. Along the way, Gail meets the handsome and charming Anthony Quintana, a Cuban-America attorney with a flair for criminal cases (and women).
I have to admit that I dragged myself through about half of this novel. I didn't really care for Gail Connor. She seemed rather cold and judgemental. Perhaps that is the opinion the reader is supposed to get in the beginning. I really don't think I liked her any better by the end of the novel, but I at least liked the story much more once the action started to pick up speed. As for the Miami setting? If the city is really as superficial and dangerous as presented in the book, then I have no idea how anyone manages to live there! I would like to read more about Anthony Quintana and his family, so I'm willing to take a chance on the second book in this series.
If you start this one, give it some time. It really starts off at a slow pace, but the second half of the book is worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: Try being on both sides of the law...
Review: Gail Connor wants to be a partner in her Miami law firm and puts in 80 hour weeks to prove she should be considered partner material. Of course, her life outside the law firm suffers... Her marriage, her relationship with her mother, her daughter... and then she's accused of murdering her younger sister! Barbar Parker gives a well-written story with just enough twists & turns to keep it exciting. I was almost finished reading before I thought I had it figured out. First in a series. I can hardly wait to get the next in the series!
Rating:
Summary: Try being on both sides of the law...
Review: Gail Connor wants to be a partner in her Miami law firm and puts in 80 hour weeks to prove she should be considered partner material. Of course, her life outside the law firm suffers... Her marriage, her relationship with her mother, her daughter... and then she's accused of murdering her younger sister! Barbar Parker gives a well-written story with just enough twists & turns to keep it exciting. I was almost finished reading before I thought I had it figured out. First in a series. I can hardly wait to get the next in the series!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the better legal thriller writers!
Review: I randomly stumbled across this book while browsing the fiction paperbacks at my local library branch. I flipped through a couple pages, thought the writing looked "not bad," so borrowed it as a fast and possibly fun read. I got more than I expected, by far! At first I found the writing a little awkward, the characterizations flat, and the story slow. However, once it started going, things got quite a lot better. It turned out to be quite well-written and had fairly good, fleshed-out characters and a good, well-paced plot. I particularly enjoyed the main character, Gail, who's a good example of a strong female character who fearlessly takes matters into her own hands, even against all the advice of her male friends, relatives, etc. And boy, does she get things done! In the end, I definitely found Ms. Parker to be one of the better writers in this genre (e.g., *much* better than John Grisham, who, although a good plotter, is definitely *not* a good writer). I'm looking forward to reading her other books. Glad I ran across this book! Couldn't put it down once it started going...
Rating:
Summary: One of the better legal thriller writers!
Review: I randomly stumbled across this book while browsing the fiction paperbacks at my local library branch. I flipped through a couple pages, thought the writing looked "not bad," so borrowed it as a fast and possibly fun read. I got more than I expected, by far! At first I found the writing a little awkward, the characterizations flat, and the story slow. However, once it started going, things got quite a lot better. It turned out to be quite well-written and had fairly good, fleshed-out characters and a good, well-paced plot. I particularly enjoyed the main character, Gail, who's a good example of a strong female character who fearlessly takes matters into her own hands, even against all the advice of her male friends, relatives, etc. And boy, does she get things done! In the end, I definitely found Ms. Parker to be one of the better writers in this genre (e.g., *much* better than John Grisham, who, although a good plotter, is definitely *not* a good writer). I'm looking forward to reading her other books. Glad I ran across this book! Couldn't put it down once it started going...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Legal Thriller!
Review: I read a review of this book while browsing on Amazon and decided to purchase it and I am so glad that I did! This is a great book, from start to finish~ you will not be disappointed! The mystery surrounding Renee's death, Gail's professional and personal life, and the investigation are intertwined perfectly! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. It is a great read and gets you hooked from the start! Don't pass this book up ~ it's a must-read!
Rating:
Summary: You can't read just one
Review: I read this novel in just one night- all night long. The plot is suspenseful and engaging. The characters are so compelling that I couldn't stop at just one Barbara Parker novel. I've now read the entire series Connor/Quintana series. In addition to her characters Parker's depiction of Miami gives the reader a real appreciation of the town and its underlying conflicts. I can't wait for the next installment.
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