Wendy Cartmell Author of the Sgt Major Crane Novels

Book Review A Game of Proof by Tim Vicary. 5*

A mother's worst nightmare - can her son be guilty of murder?

Sarah Newby, who left school at 15, and was living as a teenage single parent on an inner-city estate, has worked her way up to begin a career as a criminal barrister. Then in a terrible irony her own son, Simon, is arrested and charged with a series of brutal rapes and murders. The evidence against him appears so strong that his QC advises a guilty plea, but Simon swears he is innocent and begs his mother take on his defence. There is no law against a mother representing her son, so Sarah agrees. The only other obvious suspect for the murders, however, is a man who has already been acquitted once - with Sarah acting as his defence lawyer ...

Has Sarah, in her single-minded determination to create a career for herself, neglected her son so much that she no longer knows him? Since he has often lied to her in the past, how can she trust him when he says he is innocent this time? And what should she do when she herself uncovers evidence that seems to suggest his guilt?

It seems that telling the whole truth must be weighed in the balance against keeping certain information well hidden ... (Author description)

A Game of Proof is not only an outstanding legal thriller, but an outstanding British legal thriller, which makes a nice change from John Grisham and Scott Turow. Mr Vicary writes with a sure clear hand and there is nothing in this novel I would change. There are no wasted words, overblown or soppy sentimental descriptions, and the author has triumphed in his descriptions of the emotions his characters go through. All the characters are superbly portrayed, Sarah Newby herself, her family, the police, the villans and the victims. He deftly portrays two of the central themes in the book: how do defence lawyers feel about defending the accused, even if they feel he could be guilty and; how do outsiders feel about the role of the defence barrister. He realistically shows both sides of the argument. The climax of the book was superb and I found it impossible to put down the book at this stage, preferring instead to burn the midnight oil to finish it. 5 very big *s.

Available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Proof-trials-Sarah-Newby-ebook/dp/B005ALGIFK/ US

http://www.amazon.com/Proof-trials-Sarah-Newby-ebook/dp/B005ALGIFK/ UK