Degree Of Guilt
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The core of Richard North Patterson's legal thrillers is characterization, and Degree of Guilt, the novel that relaunched his career in 1993, features two captivating individuals: Christopher Paget and Mary Carelli. Paget, the upstart hero of Patterson's 1979 Edgar-winning The Lasko Tangent, is now a sophisticated trial lawyer doing his best to raise a teenage son in San Francisco. He's a man to be admired: famous for bringing down the president in a financial scandal, he has settled into the comfortable life of a successful attorney. His life is transformed, however, when his former lover (and mother of his son), Mary Carelli, pays a visit.
The novel begins in a San Francisco hotel room as Mary, now an NBC journalist, surveys the torn landscape of author Mark Ransom's apartment. Ransom is, or was, America's most eminent writer. As she tells the police, Ransom had uncovered new recorded evidence of an affair between a long-dead starlet and a now-sainted senator (shades of Marilyn Monroe and JFK). While Ransom and Mary were listening to the tapes, she claims, he tried to rape her and she killed him in self-defence. Mary turns to Paget to defend her in what becomes a complex case of missing and conflicting evidence. Old emotions are stirred between the two just as Paget begins to doubt Mary's innocence.
The suspense of Degree of Guilt is grounded in the twists and turns of the trial at the novel's centre, but just as compelling is the emerging history of Mary and Paget, and Paget's struggles to keep his son out of the media frenzy surrounding his mother's case. Patterson also addresses the deeper ethical questions that face many lawyers as they decide which cases to take and which evidence to use. Capturing archetypal characters and situations, Degree of Guilt becomes a parable of American law. --Patrick O'Kelley --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“A page-turner.”—"The New York Times Book Review"
“Compulsively readable.”—"People"
“One intense courtroom clash after another...An intelligent and gripping thriller.”—"The Washington Post"
“Flamboyant and entertaining.”—"The Boston Globe"
“Electrifying.”—"The Cleveland Plain Dealer"
“One of the year’s best thrillers…Superb characterizations and intense dialogue make this utterly compelling reading.”—"Library Journal"
“Absorbing.”—"Publishers Weekly"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was my first Patterson and I read it on holiday and literally couldn't put it down. The action grips you from page one and won't let go until you know how it ends. Patterson has the gift of a natural story-teller to really make you connect with his characters in a way few current writers can. Beware though, once you enter his world you'll never want to leave.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book may be described as a page-turner but to me it was not. As much as I wanted to know what would happen - and believe me, how often was I not tempted to take a peep at the last chapter - there simply was too much of interest to contemplate in between.
I have never read anything with such naked, honest and detailed characterization as in this book. Not only the description of people and their essential selves, as the author puts it, but the analysis of both their actions and the reasons for them. It made me stop a lot of times, both to think and to read whole paragraphs once again. My mind demanded clarity and understanding in order to continue reading, and I believe, being prepared to fully benefit from the detailed descriptions of people and fragments of their lives.
As the synopsis tells, defence attorney Christopher Paget has taken the case of famous TV journalist, Mary Carelli, as she stands trial for the murder of America's most eminent novelist Mark Ransom. Carelli and Paget have a shared past, which the case show as being more complex than it first seems. It also threatens their future and that of their teenage son. These are the main participants but the book contains several highly interesting people who all play an important part in the outcome of the case, as well as adding to the human and moral benefit of the story.
I would recommend reading "The Lasko Tangent", the book covering Carelli's and Paget's past, before reading "Degree of Guilt", although it's not absolutely necessary. Also, after "Degree of Guilt" I strongly recommend "The Eyes of a Child", which may actually be seen as a sequel, continuing exactly where "Degree of Guilt" ends.
For readers who want intelligent entertainment from a writer with a remarkable insight into the human mind and the reasons for our choices - or perhaps, the seemingly lack of them - read Richard North Patterson. His books will not only entertain, but enlighten, disturb, explain and stay with you long after you have finished them.
I have never read anything with such naked, honest and detailed characterization as in this book. Not only the description of people and their essential selves, as the author puts it, but the analysis of both their actions and the reasons for them. It made me stop a lot of times, both to think and to read whole paragraphs once again. My mind demanded clarity and understanding in order to continue reading, and I believe, being prepared to fully benefit from the detailed descriptions of people and fragments of their lives.
As the synopsis tells, defence attorney Christopher Paget has taken the case of famous TV journalist, Mary Carelli, as she stands trial for the murder of America's most eminent novelist Mark Ransom. Carelli and Paget have a shared past, which the case show as being more complex than it first seems. It also threatens their future and that of their teenage son. These are the main participants but the book contains several highly interesting people who all play an important part in the outcome of the case, as well as adding to the human and moral benefit of the story.
I would recommend reading "The Lasko Tangent", the book covering Carelli's and Paget's past, before reading "Degree of Guilt", although it's not absolutely necessary. Also, after "Degree of Guilt" I strongly recommend "The Eyes of a Child", which may actually be seen as a sequel, continuing exactly where "Degree of Guilt" ends.
For readers who want intelligent entertainment from a writer with a remarkable insight into the human mind and the reasons for our choices - or perhaps, the seemingly lack of them - read Richard North Patterson. His books will not only entertain, but enlighten, disturb, explain and stay with you long after you have finished them.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have just finished reading this book over several weeks in 25 minute installments on the train to/from work and feel like I have lived with the characters and agonised over their situations. It has a similar flavour to a Grisham but I found it much more involving with very plausible characterisation in particular - these people seem real! Gradually the truth unravels throughout the book. Highly recommended - I'm off to start the sequel! I also recommend 'The Lasko Tangent' which precedes this book but not quite as much as 'Degree of Guilt'.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Intelligent Legal Thriller with Complex Characters
Mary Carelli is a successful broadcaster who has been arrested for the murder of famous author Mark Ransom. Read more
Published 8 months ago by belinda_p
fab
Richard North Patterson has once again produced a classic. Never mind the number of pages, buy, get yourself engrossed and you will not regret entering the world of RNP.
Published 11 months ago by Tony Laforce
Very good read!
I read the Lasko Tangent and this book is the follow on. These are the first 2 Richard North Patterson books I have read as he was recomended by a friend. Read more
Published 18 months ago by S. King
First rate courtroom drama
Having become tired of John Grishman I have been looking for an alternative author in this genre and, in Richard North Patterson (RNP), I have found a credible author. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jonathan Clark
Great book
This was my first book by this author and l'm not quite sure what led me to pick this one up but l'm really glad l did. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2007 by booky
Fantastic legal drama
This was my first Patterson, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Having read a lot of John Grisham, this made a refreshing change. At least it wasn't set in the deep South! Read more
Published on 1 Feb 1999
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