Court of Lies

Attorney Spence (Police State: How America’s Cops Get Away with Murder) makes his fiction debut with this enthralling courtroom drama set in 1954 Jackson Hole, Wyo. The integrity of Judge John Murray, a fair and thoughtful man, comes into question when he presides over the case of Lillian Adams, who’s on trial for the murder of her rich husband. Murray has known Lillian since she was a child, and he and his wife look upon her as the daughter they never had. “Yes, he was in conflict... But such was the challenge of every judge in the thousands of small one-horse towns across the land.” As the case unfolds, episodes from the lives of the protagonists—the judge, the defense attorney, the prosecutor, and the defendant—reveal their tangled histories and the genesis of their animosities and loyalties. This witty and insightful novel also raises questions about the true nature of justice. As the judge observes, “Justice must find ways to trump the law.” Spence is off to a promising start. Agent: Peter Lampack, Peter Lampack Agency. [em](Feb.) [/em]