Conviction: A Novel (Christopher Paget Book 4)

Being a 44 year lawyer from a Berkeley education, I was, once, a whole hearted anti-death penalty opponent. I changed some in cases where the conviction was absolutely fair and the accused unquestionably guilty. But, now that DNA has evolved, a large number of those “guilty” have been shown, unquestionably not to be. We aren’t perfect enough to make such ultimate life or death decisions, often fraught with political overtones and not justice. Good job Mr. Patterson. I won’t spoil the ending, readers must learn for themselves.

This is a definite read for anyone who wants to understand the justice system and the politics underlying it. I was appalled at just how complicated it is. It brought me to tears for the character of Rennell, the retarded young man who is innocent of the crime for which he is accused. Mr. Patterson is an excellent writer, bringing a vividness to the characters and story. Don't pass this up!

This book is deep and for many probably confusing, but a good read. It is thought provoking and serious and confirmed for me things about our laws that I wish were not so. If you want to read something light hearted, this is not the book for you.

I have been reading this author for many years---unusual since I usually read romances, cozy mysteries, and non-fiction. I picked up one of his books and became fascinated by his characters and his mysterious ability to put books on the market focused on topics that were being hotly debated in the media at the time of publication. The use of the same characters in various roles (minor in one book, the major protaganist(s) in another) added a nice touch of familiarity. I purchased this book with the same anticipation I have the others, buying the CD in order to enjoy it while driving. Like the other reviewers--which I hadn't read until now--I was interested in the concept and the protagonists chosen are some of my favorites. Unfortunately, I also became bogged down in the legal arguments--a situation made worse by the fact that I was listening and couldn't skim through pages to skip the boring parts. (I started skipping anyway after I became less afraid of missing something vital.) The arguments of the opposition were the most discouraging as they continued to put the political implications of decisions above the life of the innocent man on death row. I know this is a fact of life in many cases, but I like a little less realism in my entertainment. (I watch the news for the real stuff.) My biggest disappointment was that the "bad guys" continued to win. I had come to expect in these novels that virtue, honesty, and compassion eventually won out over the harsh worlds of law/politics. Call it "hokey" but those victories always left me feeling that sometimes the "right" people can win out over power and greed.

Richard North Patterson has given us at least three great novels: Protect and Defend, No Safe Place and Caroline Masters. I suppose it was too much to expect a fourth in the form of a novel in which the primary focus is on the complexities, emotions and injustices of the death penality and its legal morasses as it is carried out in this country. I have read five of Patterson's novels, though I am not much of a fiction reader in my old age, prefering "faction" in my dotage. But unlike one of the previous reviewers, I find the actions and motivations of the Justice Scalia character, identified as Justice Fini in the novel, completely credible. This is a difficult book, in many senses. I suspect unless you have an overwhelming facscination with the marvels of the death penality, that most readers, even those like me who have serious reservations about the death penalty as it is carried out in this country, will find it unsatisfying. William F Harrison

The story behind this novel revealed that the justice system is not ever fair those who cannot afford a fair trial. They are getting a bum rap by those who are quick to assume the worse than carefully looking at the facts. This young man who was declared mentally ill and challenged was this unfortunate soul. He was ultimately sentenced again.after this proven fact to die by lethal injection. I was disappointed by this decision in this novel. I hope the future readers can overlook the outcome and discuss among others about the mentally ill and how they are treated in the justice system. Brad Morgan

I was horrified by the complexity of the capital punishment legal system and inexorable fate of this tragic death-row retarded young man, so well described by the author in the person of its main characters. Like you cannot win either way, the laws keep us safe but also kills us. Brilliantly written but left me quite gloomy. Thank God there is no death penalty in my country nor in the rest of the Americas and Europe.Angélica LussichMontevideo, Uruguay

Richard North Patterson's "Conviction" is another superb novel in his substantial corpus. The book is compelling, giving the reader an opportunity to understand the quagmire which is involved in contesting a death sentence conviction. At the same time, the novel, as is true of his entire corpus of work, draws us into the lives and interactions of the characters. A must read.

RNP weaves a powerful, polemic view of the capital punishment debate in the US.He uses characters you may be familiar with including the Pagets if you've read his earlier work. None of the characters are one-dimensional or throwaway. This is a carefully researched, detailed legal thriller which begins with a horrible crime. The Pagets take on the case of one of the accused. And whilst UK readers may query just how the US legal system persists in promoting capital punishment - at one point, a character points out that every other western democracy has got rid of it - this is a balanced narrative that explores the viewpoint of the victim's family, the convicted and the lawyers on either side.You don't doubt the moral conviction that underpins the author's work, nor do you feel that he's constructed something too fanciful. This is a serious, hugely well researched novel that takes you on the ambiguous journey. Yes, it doesn't pull its punches, and neither does it gloss over the legal details. It's an involving, rewarding read.

I am a big fan of Richard North Patterson's American legal and political thrillers. Good plots. Strong, believeable characters. Page turning legal to and fro-ing. I was very pleased to find one in audio CD that I had not read. The book deals with the death penalty and a case where the ability of the lawyers to prove the death row inmate both innocent and severely retarded may not be enough to save him from a lethal injection. Inter governmental politics may be more important. I will not give away whether the lawyers succeed, as the suspense is kept going right up to the last word. However, for me the book was almost totally ruined by the constant, vivid and literal repetition of the details of the child abuse that was the original crime. Maybe I am more squeamish at such things than most Patterson readers. But I think at least a warning that explicit paedophilia is featured often in this book would have been in order. The Audio CD recording was also made a laughing stock as just as the gruelling finale was read, there was a cheeky chappie advert by Jim Dale of some separate Harry Potter recordings - this was highly inappropriate, it even came before the Random House sign off. Not the best of my Richard North Patterson experiences.

Love this book. Not easy reading by any means, and quite sickening in places, but I’m sure is nonetheless realistic to in depicting the flaws of the legal system and its competency in providing legal aid. Tense to the very last second, you might want to put this down out of pure revulsion for the story unfolding (all too common in places I fear), but a must-read for realism and the facing of legal reality

RNP does it again. He leads the reader through a range of emotions - revulsion, surprise, frustration, incredulity, pride, grief - within a very credible tale.This sorry tale is a true reflection of the state of the US' legal system and they should be ashamed of it. Do US citizens realise just what a shabby excuse for a process this is?On a more general note I love that I found this author and his series of books; RNP constantly reprises past characters so if you're new to RNP, word of advice: for these characters and their contribution to make sense, read his books in sequence.

RNP does a great job with a truly terrible subject taking the reader through the complex world of the US legal system and death penalty process. Another masterclass from this terrific author.