Criminal Innocence

Near the start of this taut legal mystery from British author Ashford (Jigsaw Guilt), a running man knocks barrister Steve Drury to the ground in a Flexford car park. Drury later identifies the man from his mug shot as Daniel Fitch, who'd been fleeing a crime scene where he'd killed a jeweler in cold blood. Detective Inspector Carren and crew have their work cut out for them proving that Fitch and his airhead accomplice girlfriend, Daisy Allen, are guilty, but Fitch and Allen aren't going down without a fight. To ensure Drury changes his incriminating testimony, Fitch has his thugs kidnap 15-year-old Rose Stone as she's heading home from a party. Fitch threatens to have Rose killed if Drury doesn't lie on the stand. Perjury will mean Drury losing his license and facing his own trial. How Drury resolves his ethical dilemma as the police rush to rescue Rose makes for tense reading. (Nov.)