Unnatural Causes

A woman barrister's fight to keep her law firm alive while investigating corruption in the poultry industry marks the auspicious debut of Bettle, herself an English barrister. In the wake of husband Simon's depression and suicide, Geri Lander, senior partner in the law firm founded by Simon, must juggle running the firm, trying cases and caring for her 11-year-old son, Rory. Dealing with her condescending male partners and the still-chauvinistic legal community while trying to be true to Simon's ideals and establishing a new life are more than enough for anyone to handle. But added to all this is a claim brought by Joanna Pascoe, a widow who seeks justice and the real cause of the death of her husband (Thomas Pascoe, the late doctor, made a video in which he said that he believed his illness was caused by eating chicken infected with some type of deadly bacterium.) Geri takes the case on contingency, upsetting her partners and causing further strain to the already struggling firm, whose finances teeter precariously after a partner disappears with substantial funds. On the home front, Rory is fighting his own battles as he tries to come to terms with his father's death, and Geri gratefully accepts Joanna's offer to stay with Rory after school in exchange for legal assistance. Bettle makes her case expertly for Geri as an advocate and friend for all seasons while presenting an unsettling picture of women at the mercy of today's court system. Future appearances from this skillful author will be welcome. (June)