|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Edgar-nominee D. W. Buffa marks the return of series character Joseph Antonelli in The Legacy. At the beginning of the novel, Antonelli, as a favor to his cousin, goes to San Francisco to defend a man accused of the shooting death of California gubernatorial candidate, Jeremy Fullerton. No local defense attorney wants to work case due to its high profile. Joseph, who has nothing else to lose, volunteers to defend Jamaal Washington on this murder case. Everyone wants to believe that Jamaal is guilty of killing the politician because they do not wish to consider the possible alternative. The night of the murder, Fullerton was hosting a political fundraiser where without a trace of remorse he publicly humiliates his wife. Angry and upset she storms out of the party. Several hours later Fullerton is found shot dead near his car. Jamaal claims that he happened on the scene and that the police jumped to the wrong conclusion. During the course of the trial Antonelli will learn things about Jeremy Fullerton that nobody wants to make public. The candidate was suspected in a giant scandal that would affect the U. S. Government. Buffa disappoints with this novel after having written a powerhouse novel with The Judgment . The author takes too long to get to the point in this latest novel and forgets that there are readers who have read his previous books. At the end of the previous novel, Antonelli suffers a great tragedy that will forever alter his life. One expects that this would be addressed at the start of the novel when the character is introduced. However, it is not until more than halfway through the book that we learn what followed after those events. The other problem with this story involves the defendant, Jamaal Washington. The author does not develop him as deeply as he did with his other characters and spends too much time focusing on mundane events within the story. Every once in a while a great writer might publish a book that is not up to the standards of his previous novels. Do not judge Buffa by this work alone. Try one of his other novels such as The Defense and The Judgment . It is these types of stories that earn him award nominations and critical acclaim. Hopefully, the next novel will be better.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, September 2002
This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
