A Question of Proof

Renowned defense attorney Dan Lazar must defend his lover, Susan, against charges that she murdered her husband, but even Dan is not sure that he believes her. By the author of Star Time. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.

Overblown dialogue and prolonged exposition undermine Amiel's ( Birthright ) courtroom drama featuring a Jewish lawyer in Philadelphia. Dan Lazar defends low-life clients with high-profile cases, and he's having a tough week. Peter Boelter, owner and publisher of the Philadelphia Herald , prints inside info on Dan's pimp/rapist/killer case; Dan's live-in lover and law partner leaves him for his archenemy--the smarmy D.A.; a coke-head witness says Dan bribed him before he testified; and Dan's ex-wife takes their kid to California. Susan Boelter has it worse, even though she and husband Peter are perceived as Philadelphia's "golden couple." Peter may run the family paper, but his father bequeathed Susan control of voting stock, and thus enabled her to stop the sale of the Herald to a tabloid mogul. Resentful Peter cleans out their joint accounts and sues for divorce and custody of their daughter, all with the full support of his Boelter relatives. Stymied, Susan turns to Dan for help and they become unlikely--and public--lovers. When Peter is found dead, Susan becomes prime suspect, adding to their travails. Forgive contrived plot devices and poorly motivated developments, and hold out for the surprise twists at the end.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A step up for Amiel (Star Time, 1991, etc.) as he plots a strong courtroom meller that hooks you fast--and pulls you straight through to a knotty, post-courtroom surprise ending. Amiel also goes for deeper thoughts than usual, with burned- out hero, criminal defender Dan Lazar, sunk in spiritual disbelief. The main story details the high-gloss lives of old money in Philadelphia, but it's anchored in the gutter tricks of Lazar as he gets a rapist-murderer off the hook, as well as a boorish Mafia chieftain. Lazar's reputation is so shady, in fact, that even though he's innocent of wrongdoing his license gets lifted for six months, a bad blot on his honor. Meanwhile, he falls for Susan Boelter, wife-then-widow of wealthy publisher Peter Boelter--head of the prestigious Philadelphia Herald, whose city desk, pressroom, union problems, and plant layout get plenty of play. Peter wants to sell the family paper to the owner of the ailing local tabloid, the Mirror, the Herald's only rival. The Herald will then fade into the Mirror. Susan, however, has inherited controlling stock because Peter's father didn't trust his wild son, and she's against the sale (which would bring Peter personally $60 million). So Peter sues for divorce, cuts Susan off from all income, and--trying to sway her vote--behaves like a monster, especially in seducing the affections of their daughter Karen. When Peter is found dead at the bottom of the cellar stairs, the medical examiner declares the death a homicide by a blunt instrument. Susan calls in Dan Lazar to defend her, who pleads to have his license returned for the case. Subplots about the rapist gone rampant and other dirty deeds multiply until the day in court arrives.... Reader sympathies are dizzied by the resolution's who-did- what-to-whom tennis match, but you're likely to go through with it. Neat storytelling with the usual suspects--though you'll never guess who did it. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.