Jersey Law

Liebman's second legal thriller featuring New Jersey criminal defense lawyer Salvatore "Junne" Salerno reads more like a series of sketches than a novel. Junne and his fellow ex-cop law partner, Mickie Mezzonatti, have developed a reputation for winning cases, despite their cutting of corners. For example, instead of doing their own legal research, they "borrow" from documents filed by others in court. Their longest standing client, Slippery Williams, a criminal recidivist, is facing a retrial for drug conspiracy and murder. Against the odds, given Williams's record, the pair persuade the judge to set bail, enabling Williams to run his narcotics business from home. Two other cases%E2%80%94an attorney facing indictment for bribing insurance adjusters; an electronics store owner up on tax evasion charges%E2%80%94dilute rather than enhance the main story line. Fans of the first book in the series, Death by Rodrigo, will best appreciate the scenes in which the closeted Junne struggles with his sexuality. (June)