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Joel Goldman continues his Lou Mason series with a strong installment in COLD TRUTH. Mason has a relatively successful independent law practice but a quite unsatisfying love life. Though he maintains good relationships with his extended family and friends, he has been unable to sustain a long-term relationship. And then, just as Mason meets Abby Lieberman, the woman of his dreams, he's thrown into a new case that involves an angry young woman, a charismatic former drug dealer, his new love interest Abby, and a high profile murder. The novel opens with the murder of Gina Davenport, a popular radio psychologist and talk show host. What makes the murder so sensational is more than just the identity of the victim -- it is televised live as a reporter is interviewing a homeless man for a news segment. During the interview, Davenport is seen plunging from an upper story window of her office building after being pushed through her office window. Even more shocking is that Davenport's career flourished after her daughter's eerily similar death. Mason is hired by Arthur Hackett, the owner of the building in which the murder occurred and the radio station where Davenport worked. Hackett hires Mason to defend his daughter, Jordan, whom he feels sure will soon be charged with Davenport's murder. Davenport had been Jordan's psychiatrist for several years and had just informed her young patient that she would no longer be able to treat her. Mason must protect himself, his client, and those closest to him as he begins to put together the clues that will ultimately tie together his new client, a former client, drug dealers, and the charismatic Centurian Johnson, who runs the home for troubled teens where Jordan has been living. The novel has a good mix of fast-moving action and suspense and is filled with enough twists, turns, dead ends, and reversals to keep you guessing until the final pages. While I enjoyed following Mason and Abby in unraveling the clues to reveal the mystery, there were some rough spots. Mason, acknowledged to be addicted to danger by those closest to him, continually walks headlong into one dangerous situation after another, leaving his extraordinary good fortune to pull him through every time. The novel is littered with bodies, yet the character who faces the most danger, Mason himself, walks away virtually unscathed. After awhile, I found it difficult and somewhat tiring to trust his judgment in almost all situations. However, this aspect of the story does little to take away from the enjoyment of this absorbing mystery. Goldberg has created a character who is likeable, though flawed, and one that you want to pull for. I found it easy to get to know Mason, Abby, and his friends and family and enjoyable to wade through the clues leading to the surprising resolution. If you enjoy legal fiction and a fast-paced story, you'll enjoy COLD TRUTH.
Reviewed by Kim Holloway, August 2004
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