Hear No Evil

I read Grippando's Hear No Evil last evening. After finishing Leapholes, I was compelled to see if his adult novels read as well as the recently published YA title. Though somewhat confused with the already established relationships of various characters, I chose to read the fourth installment of this series instead of beginning at the start, I was quickly interested in Jack's conundrum surrounding taking on the client and an old friend of his father's. The scenario of a stereotypical beautiful blonde client playing her lawyer/s (specifically her well timed tears, lying, and withholding of evidence) was made believable through the complications she brought not only to the mystery, but also to Jack's personal life.

Always a concern in "lawyer fiction" the courtroom trial scenes were blissfully quick and did not skimp on drama or law. References made to jury selection, media attention, and the intricacies of Cuban American politics were important parts of the trial and personal life of Swyteck. I found the one night tryst with a girlfriend working in Africa who just happened to be stopping over on her way to a conference in California (to get DNA) a bit far-fetched, almost a too convenient since she is also a doctor. But this may have been something more realistic if I had read previous books with her playing a more important role.

The ending was interesting on many levels. Jack learned more about his heritage, his mother, and deepened his relationship with his father. His client got caught up in her own web of intrigue and it could be argued she got what she deserved. Most importantly, a young deaf boy - hence the title hear no evil - was given a chance.

I still have three of Grippando's books sitting at home checked out through ILL (see list of ready to read titles). I admit to being more interested in the stand alone title featured on his web site, Lying with Strangers, due out next summer.

Tags: James Grippando, Hear No Evil, Fictional Lawyers, Jack Swyteck