Damaged

by Pamela Callow

Book Overview

Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fianc 's accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm. When the grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it's just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn't only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl's death. Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm's charismatic managing...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778327507
• ISBN13: 9780778327509
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

3.7 Stars Amateurish But Readable if Ignoring Profanity and Blasphemy

3.7 stars. NOTE: Excessive language for the sake of language. I’m not complaining about a minimal amount. But even the narrator curses and uses blasphemy. Unprofessional. The story is good enough, but the writing is amateurish. I’m not sure why writers think their lead character needs to be severely damaged. Why does the female protagonist always have to work with her ex-boyfriend in spite of how degraded it makes her feel? I would think women who work with an ex-boyfriend are a rarity instead of the norm. I’m beginning to get really tired of the formula of a weak, broken woman being forced to work with her ex in order to do her job because, of course, she couldn’t get the job done without him! What? Stop it already. It’s not uplifting. It’s not inspiring. It’s not the norm. Build a new formula, already. The managing law partner at Kate’s new employer is certain she is sleeping with the partner who hired her. He also doesn’t like that Kate’s cop ex-boyfriend sent a good friend of his to jail. So, he keeps a close watch on Kate who is trying to get herself out of hot water when a client’s granddaughter becomes the victim of a demented serial killer, perhaps because Kate didn’t inform Child Services that the teenage girl might be raising herself and involved with drugs. The girl’s self-important mother turns out to be a judge and the ex-lover of Kate’s managing partner. She can’t be bothered with something as mundane as making sure her teenage daughter has proper care. Convinced that the truth about her lack of parenting skills will ruin her reputation, she convinces the managing partner to destroy Kate’s notes regarding the grandmother’s concern. One lawyer destroys notes in order to protect a former lover. Another lawyer gets involved in a morally decrepit money-making scheme. While Kate manages barbs from her ex-boyfriend and tracks the members of an illegal body farming business, the serial killer continues to leave the torso of his victims displayed in public places. Amateurish writing skills. But readable if you can get past the excessive profanity and blasphemy.

A fabulous, chilling debut!

DAMAGED is Pamela Callow's debut for MIRA and she's launched her career with a fabulous, chilling tale! Damaged's heroine, Kate Lange, is a lawyer trying to earn her stripes at Halifax's premiere law firm. After months of working family law cases, her big break comes when she's assigned to a litigation case for TransTissue, a company who processes cadaveric tissue for medical procedures. When teen Lisa McAdam is found murdered, Kate's world is turned upside down and she finds herself in the sights of a serial killer. There's not a lot of romance here, but there IS a lot of what if. Ethan Drake is a detective and Kate's ex. We're never quite sure how he's going to fit into things, but we know there is unfinished business between them. Then there's the managing partner at the law firm, Randall Barrett. There's a connection there, too, and the tension of whether or not will they explore it is always present when they're in the room together. I read this book pretty much in one go - all but 50 pages of it yesterday. I was turning pages at a fast rate getting towards the end - just as I should be with a thriller as things rise to a fever pitch. What really impressed me was the depth of character development. It's been a while since I read a thriller, but sometimes because they are plot heavy character is sacrificed for that. Not here. These characters are human and we like them or hate them as the case may be. There is a lot of medical and police procedure too, but for the most part Callow weaves it into the narrative seamlessly so it doesn't read in an instructional sort of way. A really solid debut with a satisfying ending that left just enough questions to make the reader NEED to get the next book in the series (which is Indefensible and out in 2011). What happened to Lisa's mother, the judge? What happened to Kate and her sister when they were younger? What will happen between Kate and Randall? This is HUGE once you've read the teaser for Indefensible! Will Finn be back? Well done Pamela! Can't wait for the next book!

Start of a great new series

Damaged is a story that contains all the best things - a tense thriller, a cool and imaginative medical plot, a unique setting and characters you care about and want to revisit again and again. The first book in debut author Pam Callow's thriller series featuring Kate Lange, a young lawyer who needs to prove she's better than her past, is a fast-paced ride through the city of Halifax. If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming or Elizabeth George you'll like Pam Callow. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Damaged

This novel is a must get. Most of my thriller books are set in other countries, to have one set in my backyard is a little creepy but a whole lot of fun. Eagerly awaitng Ms. Callows next thriller with the same cast and setting. K.S./N.S

Fantastic Debut!

Pamela Callow's debut thriller, Damaged is a page turning thriller that kept me up well past my bedtime, then had me climbing out of my bed to double check the lock! Set in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, with characters that jump off the page, and a riveting, spine tingling plot, Damaged is definitely a book for the keeper shelf. I highly recommend it!

intriguing Canadian medical legal thriller

In Halifax, attorney Kate Lange handles mostly family law cases for her firm Lyons McGrath Barrett. She wants much more as she knows these cases do not help someone work their way up the ladder, but that is all her boss Randall Barrett assigns her. Her current assignment is a custody case. Grandmother Marian MacAdam wants custody of her teenage granddaughter Lisa from her daughter the judge. Worried about her career by going after a judge and too frightened to do so, Kate strongly suggests Marian forget the custody argument. The lawyer also ignores her gut which screams for her to contact Child Protection Services. Soon afterward, Lisa is found murdered and Kate feels guilt for failing the youngster. Kate's efforts for atonement lead her to her former fiancé homicide detective Ethan Drake who is working the murder investigation that has ties to the affluent medical world. Damaged is an intriguing Canadian medical legal thriller that grips the audience from the moment that a horrified Kate feels remorse that she allowed her fears to overwhelm her sense of decency as she knew the grandma made a strong appeal in the interest of her granddaughter. The key to the story line is Kate who is a classic scaredy cat who ends up in "Hell", which could have broke her or given her a steel backbone replacing the mush. Fans will enjoy a sort of coming of age tale as the women who always chose flight now must choose fight fore the first time in her life against a powerful influential opponent. Harriet Klausner