Trial by Ordeal

In this enjoyable legal thriller, rife with crime, academic politics, courtroom drama and dashes of romance and Christian faith, Parshall, a D.C.-area lawyer, unfolds a tale of what happens to those who mess with the mob. After history professor Kevin Hastings is refused tenure and dumped by his girlfriend, he decides to get rich quick by pouring his savings into Chicago commercial real estate. It's a reasonable plan until the first property he buys turns out to house a historic church that can't be torn down. Unfortunately, Hastings has already contracted to resell the property, and his buyers turn out to be gangsters who want to build a parking garage as a venue for money laundering. They turn up the heat on Hastings, as do protestors who want to save the church (including an attractive potential love interest). After Hastings's life unravels, he ends up at a local mission, where an expected conversion scene ensues. Parshall knows how to have fun with his story, and there's humor and poignancy in watching one well-intentioned man's life go down the tubes. The title comes from an ancient custom of using torture to determine innocence or guilt, and Parshall weaves these references throughout the pages. Despite the predictable conversion scene, this is an enjoyable romp for legal thriller aficionados.