The Undertaker's Widow

Margolin, Phillip

ISBN 10: 0553502182 ISBN 13: 9780553502183

Publisher: Bantam Audio, 1998

Synopsis

The author of Gone, But Not Forgotten introduces Richard Quinn, a judge whose struggle to follow justice in the trial of a congresswoman accused of murdering her mortician husband leads him into a maze of murder and deceit. Simultaneous.

About this title

Review:

In this legal thriller, a young judge in Portland, Oregon, struggles to save his marriage and his career after he becomes personally involved in the murder case he's adjudicating. The judge, Richard Quinn, is a deeply principled man who has proven himself an honourable and fair-minded public servant. When an extremely wealthy undertaker is murdered in his mansion in the West Hills of town, Quinn is chosen to preside over the case. The dead man's widow, Ellen Crease, is a driven state congressional representative who is running for a seat in the United States Senate. She's a shapely, pistol-packing Republican and a former cop. She's also a suspect, as is the dead man's underachieving son. Crease's political enemies also appear to be involved in the intrigue, but it's difficult to tell. After someone connected to the case tries to blackmail the judge for an extramarital misstep, Quinn decides to take matters into his own hands. He does some investigating, shares his discoveries with people who seem to be trustworthy (but aren't), and puts himself in harm's way.

It's interesting to follow Quinn as he grapples with the ethical issues of the case. When the blackmailers want him to tip the scales of justice one way, he considers tipping them the other direction. There is also something inherently diverting about observing a basically good man who is helplessly mired in a whole heap of trouble. Throughout the book, Quinn keeps stumbling into mortal danger and confiding in all the wrong people, digging himself deeper and deeper in trouble. --Jill Marquis

Review:

Effective, chilling ... (TLS)

The story twists and turns inventively. (SUNDAY TIMES)

Easily challenges Grisham or Turow (PUBLISHING NEWS)

A fast-moving legal thriller which keeps you guessing. (DAILY EXPRESS)

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Audio
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0553502182
• ISBN 13: 9780553502183
• Binding: Audio Cassette