Reversible Errors (Paperback)

Actually this story reminds me of a really good debate (as in high school/college forensics), where two sides hammer away at each other and every time somebody finishes speaking you are convinced that their side should win the day. The way in which Turow builds the evidence is quite compelling, especially as it brings us closer and closer to the truth. Early on it becomes clear that there is something going on here that neither side understands, and while the ultimate revelation is certainly not on a par with what Turow unveiled at the end of "Presumed Innocent," the way the author was able to place so many layers around that truth is pretty good.

Readers will find many of Turow's Kindle County cast of characters popping up throughout the novel, but they are all minor figures in the tale. Arthur Raven is finally having his moment in the sun and he offers the sort of stolid character whose nobility is only recognized under such rare circumstances. This is a good man trying to do the right thing, and might finally be recognized by his peers for the qualities he has always exhibited. On the other side of the fight is prosecutor Muriel Wynn and detective Larry Starczek; she has ambitions for political office and he wants to rekindle their relationship from way back when. Again, there is the opportunity for the characters to revert to traditional stereotypes, but both exhibit openmindedness even as they reentrench their position. Also involved is Gillian Sullivan, the judge who convicted and sentenced Rommy at the end of the original trial, after which she was ended up in prison after a bribery conviction. She becomes perhaps the most interesting character of all in this little legal quagmire.

As with all of Turow's novels there is an attention to legal detail that I admire and a way of constructing the maze of facts and evidence that I appreciate. In "Reversible Error" I especially liked the way the character of Arthur Raven is caught up with the case and the events as the readers. It is not, therefore, all that strange that at the end we want Rommy saved from death row not because of a sense of justice but rather because we want Arthur to come out ahead at the end of the nightmare.

What has happened in the last few years ?

I found this book like treading through treacle. It was slow and worse still boring. No twists ,turns excitement at all, instead it seemed to concentrate on rather elongated love stories.

Sad to say I will not be looking out for the next effort from this author

I found Reversible Errors to be the most eloquent anti-death penalty book I have read. It's even more moving than the evidence that many people on Death Row were innocent when DNA tests were first applied to the evidence. Our justice system is supposed to set free 20 guilty people rather than convict one innocent one. In death penalty cases, we probably aren't doing so well. Innocent people have been executed in many cases. Once that happens, there's little good we can do about it. As we judge, so shall we be judged.

The criminal justice system isn't as neat and objective as television, movies and novels usually make it out to be. But naturally, most people who write about the system do so as nonparticipants. Mr. Turow writes from the vantage point of being both a top-flight lawyer, but also someone who works on death penalty appeals. It's clear that he writes from first-hand experience as to the poor defense work in many of these cases.

In Reversible Errors, Arthur Raven, an earnest corporate attorney, is appointed by the court to handle a death penalty appeal. Like most, he views this assignment as undesirable and likely to end in frustration. His client has been convicted based on his own confession to a gruesome triple murder. Arthur's a man who hasn't found love, and assumes that he never will. His commitment to the law does show his love of fulfilling his sense of duty.

The brilliantly plotted story shows how "neat" pictures of "who did what to whom" usually aren't so neat in reality.

If you don't like your stories realistic and graphic, you may not enjoy this book.

After you finish this book, think about times when you've judged a situation incorrectly . . . and lived to regret what you've said and done. How could you have handled the situations better? How can you reverse the error now?