Witness for the Defense

by Jonnie Jacobs

Book Overview

With her unique blend of courtroom drama and feverish suspense, critically acclaimed author Jonnie Jacobs has won a legion of fans for her Kali O'Brien thrillers. Now the edgy San Francisco attorney... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157566643X
• ISBN13: 9781575666433
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

a real page-turner

This is a great book that kept me reading late into the night. Just when I thought the story had settled in to a certain direction, it took a twist that raised new questions and sent it off on a different path. The courtroom scenes were interesting and believable, the characters well-developed, and the writing smooth. I've enjoyed all this author's books, but Witness for the Defense is one of her best. A wealthy and well-known San Francisco couple, a hate-mongering radio host, a pregnant teenage girl with secrets of her own, a missing murder witness, and a sleuth whose involvement in the case isn't as straightforward as it first appears all add up to a winning combination.

Jonnie Jacobs' Back and Better than Ever.....

It was supposed to be a simple adoption. Attorney, Kali O'Brien had seen to it that everything was in place and would go smoothly. The birth mother, Melissa, a young college student who wanted her old life back, had signed all the necessary papers terminating her rights, as had the father and Terri and Ted Harper had brought their beautiful new daughter home. Within days, what all thought was a final adoption began to fall apart. Obnoxious, controversial radio talk show host, Bram Weaver, claims he's the baby's father and he wants his daughter. When Melissa doesn't dispute his claim, the Harpers are devastated and Kali gets to work preparing for an uphill custody battle that in her heart she knows her clients don't have a chance of winning. But when Weaver is found shot to death and evidence begins piling up against Terri, Kali begins a new fight to not only save her client, but to put this family back together..... Jonnie Jacobs has written a fast paced, page turner that's about to keep you up, reading all night. "Ripped from the headlines", her plot is compelling, with scenes full of suspenseful and riveting detail. Her characters are interesting and real and her writing, very crisp and smart, with good down to earth dialogue. As a practicing attorney, Ms Jacobs' expertise in the law and courtroom procedure, adds real credibility to the story. Witness for the Defense is a great read and a book that should be on all mystery/legal thriller lovers summer reading lists.

Jacobs does it again

I am always excited to see a new book by Jonnie Jacobs, because I love her books and really liked the last one, Murder Among Strangers. In her new book, Jacobs writes about Kali O'Brien, an attorney in San Francisco. Kali takes what she thinks is a simple adoption cleanup and ends up embroiled in a high-profile murder case. Everytime I thought I knew where it was going, I was in for a surprise. The courtroom stuff was fantastic, and the ending just blew me away. An awesome read.

Great book, great series

This whole series is great, and Witness for the Defense is the best yet. Kali is a likeable, very human, character. She agrees to represent a couple who are set to adopt a baby being born to a young woman who is living with them. Then a chauvinistic radio talk show host claims to be the baby's father and won't agree to the adoption. When he's murdered, the police arrest Kali's client. The last part of the book covers the trial, and as usual, Jacobs keeps the courtroom stuff so interesting you're on the edge of your seat. There is a also a thread involving an ex lover of Kali's, who is her client's brother, and a thread involving a possible witness to the murder - a man who is reluctant to come forward. Highly readable, fast-paced novel with the right mix of suspense and careful characterization.

Exciting legal thriller

In the Bay area, former professional football star, Ted Harper and his wife Terri hire attorney Kali O'Brien to expedite an adoption. The teenage single woman Melissa Burke is living with the Harpers until she gives birth. Not her usual case, Kali could use the easy fee and begins to insure all the papers are properly signed including obtaining the signature of the father, Gary Ellis. Melissa gives birth to a healthy girl named Hannah. Case closed. Case reopened when obnoxious anti feminine radio talk show host Bram Weaver claims to be Hannah's father. He demands the Harpers hand over his child. Kali begins preparation for what seems like a sure shot losing custody battle. However, that preparation changes when the same night that Bram spent a court ordered hour with Hannah, someone kills him. The obvious motive lies with Terri, who already attacked Bram in court, leaving Kali to defend her from a charge of murder one. WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE is an exciting legal thriller that twists and turns from a simple adoption to a relatively simple custody case to a complex homicide. Kali in her fourth appearance remains a refreshing attorney. The key secondary players (Harpers, Melissa, and Bram) provide the depth to the story line that turns this into an exhilarating tale. With this legal suspense series and her Kate Austen murder mysteries, Jonnie Jacobs continues to provide some of the best genre entertainment.Harriet Klausner