Error of Judgment; - Advance Reading Copy

Behind a four-inch plate glass window in the hospital wing of an uncompleted prison, a man sits in silence, his hair burned off his skull, his eyes fluttering in a dream state. His lawyer, Nick Downes, waits for his client to speak, to explain why he showed up in a brothel carrying a claw hammer, confessing to a murder in a chalk quarry in Kent. But when the dreamer awakes, Nick Downes will not get the answers he seeks.
The body in the quarry was decomposed beyond all recognition, except for the bizarre object found in its gut. While forensic scientists search for clues to the dead man's identity and a beautiful prison psychiatrist tries to unlock the mystery of the defendant's tortured unconscious, another player walks into the game, a woman of extraordinary sensuality who claims to be the defendant's wife. She is Liz Turner, and Nick Downes cannot resist her.
As the case of the demented killer goes to trial, Nick begins to realize that both the man he has been sworn to defend and the woman he is obsessed with have dangerous, secret identities. A web of betrayal is being spun around the barrister - and it will leave him fighting for his career, his freedom, and his life.

Dias did well in the U.K. with his first novel, False Witness, which led to a certain amount of hype to the effect that, as a practicing criminal lawyer, he is Britain's answer to Scott Turow and John Grisham. So far, the score is decidedly in the Americans' favor. Although Dias clearly knows his law and introduces a certain amount of local color concerning the drinking habits of lawyers around the Old Bailey, his plots and characterizations leave a great deal to be desired. Dias's hero is barrister Nick Downes, who seems to be losing the love of fellow barrister Sally Fielding when a remarkable case walks into his life: a man has confessed to a murder, can lead police to the body but doesn't know who it is?or even who he is. The mystery man has a highly seductive wife, who quickly has Nick in thrall?at least when he's not trying to make up with Sally or cozying up to sexy psychologist Ann Barnes (Nick's appeal to the opposite sex is one of the several inexplicable things about this remarkably feckless hero). The plot, involving prostitutes, drugs and a dual personality, is ludicrously far-fetched and quite devoid of suspense. The writing is clunkily trite ("Nick wondered whether the case would be another example of the only other biological law he knew: Boy plus Girl equals Trouble") and flat ("...the claw hammer smashed into Liz's skull, crushing bone, making blood spurt from her head. And making a sickening sound"). "In the style of John le Carre and Scott Turow," claims the publisher. Putting it kindly, Dias is not quite there yet. Major ad/promo.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Dias, a distinguished British barrister, uses his considerable legal experience to concoct a mystery that is part courtroom drama, part love story, and part psychosexual murder tale. Barrister Nick Downes has just broken up with his longtime girlfriend. To drown his sorrows, he throws himself into his latest case, defending schizophrenic Will Turner, who's accused of killing his brother. Nick desperately wants to win the case to shore up his faltering ego and prove he hasn't failed in every aspect of his life. The case is tricky and complex, and before it's over, Nick is consorting with prostitutes, exploring Freudian psychoses, visiting brothels, and having sex with his client's wife. Convicted of sexual assault, in constant mental turmoil, and frightened for his life, Nick uncovers a horrifying secret that lifts the lid off the bizarre case and reveals the identity of the sad, sick killer. Dias' plot is a schizophrenic mix of good and evil, innocence and guile, and lust and love. Readers will find themselves alternately shocked, horrified, and riveted by this superbly told psychological thriller. Emily Melton

Fenkl's first novel is based on his boyhood in Korea. Born to a Korean mother and an American GI father, he contrasts a childhood influenced by an extended Korean family and the American way of life as represented by the hamburgers, hot dogs, and Coca-Cola of his father's army base. Elements of this novel are reminiscent of Mishima's writing?young boys portrayed as both emotionally sensitive and cruel, and beyond adult control. Fenkl's own character, however, exhibits compassion and thoughtfulness toward others as he attempts to cope with the consequences of his biracial heritage and the many tragedies that occur among his friends and family. The narrative voice shifts between child and adult, reflecting on the events of childhood?a strategy that is not completely successful. Certain potentially significant parts of the story are not introduced well or not fully developed. For instance, the "ghost" brother does not appear until the end, with no build-up. Despite its weaknesses, this book is a worthwhile addition to academic and public library collections.?Rebecca A. Stuhr-Rommereim, Grinnell Coll. Libs., Iowa
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.