Suspicion of Guilt

Rating:
Summary: Good plotting, but I wished I liked the characters better
Review: At least some of them. Is this what people in Miami in those circles are like?

Anyway, the plot involves Gail Connor, an attorney aspiring to partnership in a prestigious law firm in Miami, who gets asked by an old friend to challenge his aunt's will. He finds it so unlike her (the will spoke of him affectionately, which is out of character for his aunt) that he is convinced it's a forgery. There's a lot of money at stake, and a lot of it going to Miami charities -- but the contingency fee if she wins will bring a lot of money into the firm. Being Miami, everyone of a certain class knows everyone else, and Gail knew the deceased aunt and Gail's mother was a close friend of the deceased. That's just the beginning of this tangled tail of a community with varied interests in upholding -- or not -- this will. The aunt's death is suspicious; we know from the first few pages that she has in fact been murdered, but eventually the police catch on. So the disputed will gets connected to a homicide.

There are quite a few characters, but that's not the problem with this book. It's the general yuckiness of most of the people in this book. Even Gail, our heroine, behaves badly fairly often, but particularly in the somewhat unbelievable ending (she is, after all, an officer of the court and really has to stay within the law more than she does).

I'll read more of this series because they're entertaining and well-plotted, but I doubt that Parker will end up on my favorite author list. I need a character to cheer for. I didn't even like the child in this story!

Rating:
Summary: Greed, Murder, Politics And The Beautiful People In Miami!
Review: Barbara Parker brings back brilliant, lovely and frequently stressed-out lawyer and single-Mom Gail Connor in this excellent sequel to "Suspicion of Innocence." Gail is now involved with charismatic Cuban American defense attorney, Anthony Quintana, and still struggling to help her six year old daughter adjust to life without her father. She is extremely ambitious in her career as a lawyer with a prestigious Miami firm, and is looking to make partner soon.

An old school friend and former lover brings a potentially lucrative case to Gail involving a forged will. If Gail wins the case her partnership in the upscale firm is assured. After an investigation into the death of the deceased, whose will is being disputed, it is determined that she was murdered. The cause of death had previously been called an accident. Gail's client is the prime suspect in his aunt's murder, and she persuades her lover, Anthony Quintana, to take the case. Against Anthony's advice, Gail is soon investigating both the forgery and the murder, and risking her life, career and relationship with Anthony to do so. When another "accident" occurs and a potential witness is silenced, the story's pace really picks up and it becomes apparent that there is more than one murder and one person's greed behind these crimes.

Barbara Parker writes tight, taut prose, her dialogue is snappy and realistic and her scenes involving opposing lawyers, and boardroom scenes are tension-filled. Her characters are well defined and very believable, especially Gail Connor. Ms. Connor is not always likable. She is often stressed, 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 man who loves her but is as strong-willed and stubborn as she is, and a criminal investigation that becomes more complex everyday. She is frequently snappish, disagreeable, and not there for her child. Gail has many positive traits also, but what is so different and refreshing is that the author gives her heroine human frailties. 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, as are the relationships. The characters grow and are, at times, transformed by what they learn.

There are roller coaster twists and turns in this tale of career white collar criminals, financial misdeeds, politics and multiple murders. This is a series so filled with complex characters and relationships that you will want to read more about them and their continuing development. I can't wait for Ms. Parker's next book. A compelling read!!
JANA

Rating:
Summary: Greed, Murder, Politics And The Beautiful People In Miami!
Review: Barbara Parker brings back brilliant, lovely and frequently stressed-out lawyer and single-Mom Gail Connor in this excellent sequel to "Suspicion of Innocence." Gail is now involved with charismatic Cuban American defense attorney, Anthony Quintana, and still struggling to help her six year old daughter adjust to life without her father. She is extremely ambitious in her career as a lawyer with a prestigious Miami firm, and is looking to make partner soon.

An old school friend and former lover brings a potentially lucrative case to Gail involving a forged will. If Gail wins the case her partnership in the upscale firm is assured. After an investigation into the death of the deceased, whose will is being disputed, it is determined that she was murdered. The cause of death had previously been called an accident. Gail's client is the prime suspect in his aunt's murder, and she persuades her lover, Anthony Quintana, to take the case. Against Anthony's advice, Gail is soon investigating both the forgery and the murder, and risking her life, career and relationship with Anthony to do so. When another "accident" occurs and a potential witness is silenced, the story's pace really picks up and it becomes apparent that there is more than one murder and one person's greed behind these crimes.

Barbara Parker writes tight, taut prose, her dialogue is snappy and realistic and her scenes involving opposing lawyers, and boardroom scenes are tension-filled. Her characters are well defined and very believable, especially Gail Connor. Ms. Connor is not always likable. She is often stressed, 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 man who loves her but is as strong-willed and stubborn as she is, and a criminal investigation that becomes more complex everyday. She is frequently snappish, disagreeable, and not there for her child. Gail has many positive traits also, but what is so different and refreshing is that the author gives her heroine human frailties. 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, as are the relationships. The characters grow and are, at times, transformed by what they learn.

There are roller coaster twists and turns in this tale of career white collar criminals, financial misdeeds, politics and multiple murders. This is a series so filled with complex characters and relationships that you will want to read more about them and their continuing development. I can't wait for Ms. Parker's next book. A compelling read!!
JANA

Rating:
Summary: I love Gail Connor!!
Review: I love the Gail Connor series by Barbara Parker!! They are about my favorite. Her relationship with Anthony is so well written. The chemistry between those two is so exciting and always in each book there is great suspense. I anxiously look forward to another book. I highly recommend you start with the first book in the series though to get the full effect. Otherwise it get's confusing because you will want to truly understand Gail's relationship not only to Anthony but to her ex husband, Dave. Parker is good at spinning a mystery and I can never put her books down. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: I love Gail Connor!!
Review: I love the Gail Connor series by Barbara Parker!! They are about my favorite. Her relationship with Anthony is so well written. The chemistry between those two is so exciting and always in each book there is great suspense. I anxiously look forward to another book. I highly recommend you start with the first book in the series though to get the full effect. Otherwise it get's confusing because you will want to truly understand Gail's relationship not only to Anthony but to her ex husband, Dave. Parker is good at spinning a mystery and I can never put her books down. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: It wasn't great but...
Review: It wasn't great fiction, but it kept me turning the pages - I just had to know who messed with the old lady's will. Unfortunately, I figured out whodunnit long before the end, but it still was gratifying to think, "Ah-hah! I knew it!"

Good book to read on a trip.

Rating:
Summary: Phrases
Review: This is the first BP novel I've read. Found it quite entertaining, except for the f--k word which she uses quite frequently, and in my opinion oft times unnecessary. But it keeps you guessing as to who the real killer is.

But the word, and phrase that caught my eye, was "caca" used in a comment made by Gails mother "I'll be up to my knees in caca". Unless you're English the word would be meaningless to you, to myself it brought back memories of many years gone by, used by many parents to children, for going to the toilet.

Which brought to mind a question for Ms Parker, where did you pick up that expression, Caca, I'm certain there's nowhere in N.America where they use it.

Would love to hear from you, and where you heard it.

Sincerely Richard Barlow

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book In This Series!
Review: This is the next book in the Gail Connor/Anthony Quintana series. It follows "Suspicion of Innocence" and is just as great! I'm so glad I discovered this author. This story follows Gail as she works on a case for a friend of hers from law school. Of course, nothing is what it seems at first. What looks like an accident really is a murder, etc. And the ending is so suspenseful ~ it will keep you hooked. I can't wait to read "Suspicion of Deceit" next!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: This is what I call an airplane book. It would be great on an overseas flight. I read it while suffering through a cold and it kept me entertained. However, I think the characters are not clearly defined. Both Gail and her boyfriend change to suit the mood of the book. Sometimes she seemed like an incompetent wimp, other times she seemed tough and intelligent. I didn't like her all that much. I wasn't pleased by the way she kept breaking promises to her daughter. Is that what it's like to be a divorced mom? And the sappy wrap up from Anthony's point of view made me cringe.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing characters
Review: This was my first BP book, and I found Gail Connor to be rather unlikable. She alternates between over-protecting and neglecting her daughter, uses people to get what she wants, takes drugs when she gets overwhelmed at work, and justifies stealing based on who's more deserving. Her client often acted like a jerk, so I found it hard to care who won.

Most of the secondary characters were likable - I found it hard to believe they cared so much about Gail.

I'd recommend any of Robert Parker's books over this - his characters are honest, intelligent and clever, and the relationships are believable.