Shadow of a Doubt

by William J. Coughlin

Book Overview

An electrifying courtroom drama of extraordinary power, reissued to tie in with the super release of In the Presence of Enemies. A failed trial lawyer and recovering alcoholic is swept back into the spectacular career he'd lost when a woman from his past asks him to defend her stepdaughter against a murder charge.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312059612
• ISBN13: 9780312059613
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

excellent

Ordered 3 books from Thrift Books, all were condition as described and quick delivery. Will continue to use this seller.

Two mysteries--whether Angel killed her father or Charlie Sloan will finish the case..

Charlie Sloan has been around the bend and is slowly coming back. He's made millions of dollars, wed three beautiful women, had a prosperous career, and lost them all to the bottle. When an old lover comes to him asking him to help with her step-daughter's defense in a case of murdering her father, Charlie sends her elsewhere, but she refuses to go. As he digs, he believes Angel hasn't committed the crime and is determined to get her off--because an NGRI plea isn't an option anymore and he's not willing to send a girl with a mental illness to prison. The novel's fast-paced and interesting. The end was surprising if you weren't paying real close attention. A good read by an author I want to hear more from!

The best ever

I picked this book up in the early 90's when it was first published. I thought it remarkable then and now, re-reading it, even more so. It is scary to try a case, especially when the cards are stacked against you. Charley Sloan beefed up his courage with alcohol, and the house of cards eventually came tumbling down. Now he has a chance for redemption . . . . and those that hate him a chance for retribution. This really captures the marriage of alcohol and litigation, regrettably often not that far apart. Coughlin has a strangle hold on the the self doubt of any lawyer who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and his descriptive powers of that fear are without parallel. Nice view of the dark humor of the meetings, too. 5 stars. Could be 8. Highly recommended. Larry Scantlebury

Hard-hitting, memorable characters who live real lives.

Attorney Charles Sloan, "Call me Charlie, every one else does.", has a serious case. Not only his client's life, but his own career hang in the balance, and Charlie must walk a desperate tight-rope to victory or failure. If he fails, his client could go to jail for life - or worse! But Charlie knows that his life is just as much in the balance as the prosecutor, judge, and media try to sell him down the river. A five-star read if ever I've seen one.

Very good!

This was the top of this author's works, after this one, it's a 6-degree downgrade