Missing Witness

"Missing Witness" by Gordon Campbell, published by William Morrow. I've been reading courtroom thrillers lately and had high hopes for this one based on the positive Amazon reviews. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a dud. The writing is pedestrian and uninspired. The characters lack depth. The dialog is stiff and phony. The story is hackneyed. I put up with these weaknesses for a while, hoping that the plot would unfold quickly enough to hook me. But having reached the 30% mark without feeling at all engaged, I decided to end the torture and move on to something else. To put my reaction in context, I find it equally impossible to read Grisham's books, which have always struck me as third-rate. If you're a Grisham fan, you may respond more positively to Gordon Campbell than I did. If you're looking for a solid courtroom thriller that grabs you by the throat, try something by Joseph Teller, who actually knows what he's talking about. His debut novel, The Tenth Case, is a compelling yarn that works beautifully right up until the climactic conclusion, which strikes the only false note in the story. His second effort, Bronx Justice (Jaywalker), is also a gripping read and has the virtue of being drawn from the author's own experience as a young trial lawyer. Gordon Campbell, in my opinion, is no Joseph Teller. Book details: 449 pages, published 2007. Order now on BookShops.in with fast, reliable delivery across India.