The Wrong ManDavid Ellis
Putnam Adult, June 2012
ISBN: 978-0399158285
In The Wrong Man, a young paralegal is found shot dead in a alley, and Mike Stoller, a homeless Iraqi war vet is discovered with her purse and the murder weapon. Arrested and interrogated, Stoller seemingly confesses to killing her in a PSTD flashback, but is deemed fit to stand trial and given a Public Defender.
Jason Kolarich is a former prosecutor, who has flipped sides and now defends criminals. With only weeks before the trial Kolarich agrees to take the case. However, the judge bars him from using a defense of post-traumatic stress disorder that Stoller clearly suffers from. Unwilling to give up on his obviously sick client, Kolarich tries to put some kind of defense together.
At first, Kolarich begins diligently preparing an insanity defense, but, as is often the case with good legal thrillers, things aren't always what they appear. And in this case, what begins to appear are the interweaving threads of a more sinister plot involving organized crime figures, corporate corruption and terrorism.
The Wrong Man is a terrific legal thriller starring a dedicated attorney. The dialog is dynamic, giving the reader a real feel for the characters. The narrative flow is smooth and the voice of Jason Kolarich is clear and riveting. The mystery Kolarich finds himself enmeshed in is timely, controversial, and not easily solved. There is lots of suspense, some great character building, and decent action and humor. David Ellis has created a likable hero in Jason Kolarich.
DAVID ELLIS is the author of eight thrillers, including most recently Guilty Wives, written with James Patterson. He is an attorney in Chicago who served as the House Prosecutor who tried and impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich before the Illinois Senate.
ISBN: 978-0399158285; ISBN10: 0399158286; Imprint: Putnam Adult; On Sale: 6/14/2012; Format: Hardcover; Pages: 400; $26.95
