False Accusations - Hardcover

Jacobsen, Alan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340748869 ISBN 13: 9780340748862

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 1999

Synopsis

Dr. Phillip Madison was flying too near the sun. He had it all. The perfect job. The perfect wife. The perfect reputation. He is a man on the rise. How is it then that he stands accused of 'murder one'? The callous slaying of two nobodys on the darkness of a California highway. His car did the deed, he has no alibi, and it seems that he has no hope.

But as this brutally twisting story gets going, it starts to seem that nothing is straightforward. He is fighting to prove himself to a world that his falling apart around his ears. To his wife - he is an adulterer, to his colleagues - a pariah, and to the Law - a murderer.

This is an original, searching and powerful first thriller from a talented new American author, who combines the best of Grisham and Michael Crichton.

About this title

Review:

"A gripping, fast-paced thriller..."
Professor Joseph Taylor, former Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney, Sacramento County

"A compelling read that rivals Crichton, Cornwell, and Turow - you won't put this down till the end"
Fred Wynbrandt, former Assistant Director California Department of Justice and Liaison to Congress and the FBI

From the Author:

Have you ever thought what would happen if you were accused
Have you ever thought what would happen if you were accused of murder? You'd be exonerated, of course, becausethe evidence would bear witness to your innocence, right? Everything would be fine, right?

Don't be so sure. What if the evidence IMPLICATED you, and the very support systems you thought you could rely on-the police, the district attorney, your friends and family--all treat you as if you're guilty until proven innocent?

This is the situation Dr. Phillip Madison faces early one morning when detectives show up at his home with an arrest warrant. In writing "False Accusations," I wanted to explore the emotions a falsely accused individual experiences, the pitfalls of our criminal justice system, and what happens when a confluence of events makes it impossible for such a person to defend him or herself. I was intrigued by how an innocent person would react. How his spouse might react, his children. How the media or law enforcement would treat him.

"False Accusations" can be read as a straight-forward psychological thriller, or viewed more deeply, as a reflection of the weaknesses that permeate our criminal justice system. After spending several months immersed in research, I came away with a different view of our judicial system. The most frightening aspect of what I learned is that despite all the safeguards built into our courts and juries and judges, the end result is not always one of justice. And that means that innocent people can be sucked into a vacuum of guilt even when they're innocent. It can happen. Worst of all, it can happen to you. "False Accusations" demonstrates just how easily it can occur.

For that reason, "False Accusations" has been called "Riveting" and "Terrific" by bestselling author John Saul, "Chilling," (Booklist), "A fantastic reading experience" (Midwest Book Review), "An edge-of-the-seat thriller" (Review Publishing), and "Unnervingly plausible" (Tucson Weekly). Radio host Bert Lee called it "Fascinating," and The Mystery Reader said it was "A slick thriller, fast-paced..." with "several surprises." See for yourself why Library Journal called "False Accusations" "Essential for suspense and thriller collections." Then write me and tell me what you think. As the readers who've been writing me daily can attest to, I do write back!

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0340748869
• ISBN 13: 9780340748862
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 350