[.ca] Motion To Dismiss (ISBN 1575665433)

From Amazon.com:
There's nothing hard-edged or particularly profound about Jonnie Jacobs's series of mysteries starring California lawyer Kali O'Brien, but--like good TV movies--the plots are convincing, the characters colorful, and the writing smooth and competent. The author's latest finds O'Brien handling a trial in her hometown in the Sierra foothills for a lawyer friend, Nina Barrett, who is five months pregnant and just diagnosed as having Hodgkin's disease. When Nina's husband, Grady--a handsome and successful businessman with a history of sexual conquests--is accused of rape by a blowsy woman he met at a party, Kali very reluctantly agrees to defend him. She is virtually certain that the swaggering Barrett is guilty, and resents his betrayal of her sick friend. But as the investigation and trial proceed, Kali gradually begins to believe his claims of innocence--especially when two people die in suspicious circumstances. Jacobs succeeds in catching and holding readers' interest by setting up her characters as generic and then proceeding to fill in the relevant details that make them unique. Other Kali O'Brien books in paperback are Evidence of Guilt and Shadow of Doubt. --Dick Adler

gripping story with great characters:
This is a new author for me, but am I ever glad I made the discovery. Motion to Dismiss is a well written page-turner with depth and realistic characters. Kali O'Brien is an attorney who reluctantly represents the husband of a friend when he is accused of date rape. Rape grows to murder and she again agrees to represent him for the sake of her friend. There are several subplots - an ex-lover law partner who seems impicated in the crime, a second death - and they all tie together at the end. Pick up the book and settle in for an afternoon (or evening) of good reading. Just don't plan on getting anything else accomplished.

fascinating read:
An interesting, fast-paced legal thriller with realistic characters. Kali defends the husband of a friend charged first with date rape (he's been cheating on her friend) and then with murder. At the same time, she's involved with an old boyfriend, who she begins to distrust. I'm going to go back and read the earlier novels in this series. Highly recommended.

Great Read:
This was the best so far of the Jonnie Jacobs books that I have read. It grabs you from the very beginning and won't let go. I highly recommend this for everyone.

Good book:
I don't normally like Jacobs books as I feel she tends to write in the "mystery" genre which I don't always care for. I am glad I picked this one up though. It is written more in the form of a legal thriller and Jacobs brings us directly in the legal forum for a great close up look. This book has it all, murder, courtrooms and wonderfully fast pacing. Great summer read!

Average.:
Easy reading. Mostly dialog. Good plot. Starts snappy but gets very draggy until the trial.