The wrong man

Format:

Book

Title:

The wrong man

Author:

Ellis, David, 1967- author.

ISBN:

9780399158285

9780425251942

Publication:

New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2012]

Physical Description:

389 pages ; 24 cm

Series title(s):

Jason Kolarich ;

Number in series:

Summary:

When Jason Kolarich accepts the case of a homeless Iraq War veteran accused of murdering a young paralegal, his course seems clear: to mount an insanity defense for a man suffering so badly from post-traumatic stress disorder that he has no real memory of the crime. But as Kolarich digs deeper, he realizes that, unlikely as it seems, his client is probably innocent. Only days before her death, the murdered paralegal had stumbled onto something she wasn't supposed to know ... information that someone would kill to keep secret. Her murder was no random crime but a targeted hit, and the wrong man was charged. As Jason Kolarich races to discover the truth in time to save his client, he finds himself embroiled in a mystery involving the Mob, a mysterious assassin known only as "Gin Rummy," and a conspiracy of wealthy international terrorists with explosive plans for his city. With thousands of lives at stake, Kolarich has more on the line than ever before ... and time is running out.

Subject(s):

Iraq War, 2003-2011 -- Veterans -- United States -- Fiction.

Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Patients -- United States -- Fiction.

Homeless veterans -- United States -- Fiction.

Assassins -- United States -- Fiction.

Terrorists -- United States -- Fiction.

Organized crime -- United States -- Fiction.

Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Geographic Term:

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Monmouth Public Library	Fic Ellis, D. 2012	Searching... Unknown
Searching... McMinnville Public Library	Ellis, D.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Salem Main Library	Ellis, D.	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Silver Falls Library	FIC ELLIS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Woodburn Public Library	Ellis	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

When Jason Kolarich accepts the case of a homeless Iraq War veteran accused of murdering a young paralegal, his course seems clear: to mount an insanity defense for a man suffering so badly from post-traumatic stress disorder that he has no real memory of the crime. But as Kolarich digs deeper, he realizes that, unlikely as it seems, his client is probably innocent. Only days before her death, the murdered paralegal had stumbled on something she wasn't supposed to know . . . information that someone would kill to keep secret. Her murder was no random crime but a targeted hit, and the wrong man was charged.

As Jason Kolarich races to discover the truth in time to save his client, he finds himself embroiled in a mystery involving the Mob, a mysterious assassin known only as "Gin Rummy," and a conspiracy of wealthy international terrorists with explosive plans for his city. With thousands of lives at stake, Kolarich has more on the line than ever before . . . and time is running out.

Author Notes

David Ellis is an attorney and author. He prosecuted and convicted Governor Rod Blagojevich in the Impeachment trial before the Illinois Senate. He currently serves as Special Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, and has argued dozens of cases at the trial and appellate levels, specializing in constitutional law.

Ellis won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel for Line of Vision. His other novels include Life Sentence, Jury of One, In the Company of Liars, Eye of the Beholder, and the Jason Kolarich series. He has written several books with James Patterson including Guilty Wives, Mistress, Invisible, The Murder House, and The Black Book.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

A wicked sense of humor and an appealing lead lift Ellis's third legal thriller featuring Midwestern prosecutor-turned-defense lawyer Jason Kolarich (after 2011's Breach of Trust), though Kolarich tends to act more like Jack Ryan than Perry Mason. When paralegal Kathy Rubinkowski is gunned down near her apartment, the case against Iraqi war veteran Tom Stoller is clear-cut. Stoller was apprehended with the murder weapon and the victim's purse near the scene of the killing. Since his mental state is questionable, Stoller's aunt prevails on Kolarich to represent him. The attorney comes to believe that Stoller's apparent confession was actually referring to a horrific incident that happened during wartime, but as Kolarich is the second defense lawyer on the case, the judge allows him little time or leeway to gather supporting evidence. Toward the end, the plot veers into Tom Clancy territory with some sacrifice of plausibility. Given the heavy-handed telegraphing, few will be surprised by the revelation of the final secret. Agent: Susanna Einstein, LJK Literary Agency. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Edgar-winner Ellis is a Chicago prosecuting attorney (he was the house prosecutor who tried Governor Rod Blagojevich before the Illinois senate), and he brings his legal expertise and insider's knowledge to the crafting of his legal thrillers. The third in Ellis' Jason Kolarich series (the others are The Hidden Man, 2009, and Breach of Trust, 2011) is one of those reads that starts, literally and metaphorically, in a dark street at night and that manages to extend that What's going to come up at me? feeling to just about every scene. A young woman, a student and paralegal, is shot to death on the street. A homeless man is found nearby and arrested; he is in possession of the young woman's purse, and he identifies the gun fired at the victim as his own. He's an Iraq War veteran, with PTSD and disorganized schizophrenia. Defense-attorney Kolarich takes on what seems to be an easily closed case, but as he delves into the paralegal's life, he discovers that any number of people may have wanted her dead. One flaw Ellis writes about a Chicagoesque city, when there's no reason to be coy about setting. But everything else here, from interviews through prepping the team of lawyers through the rigors and excitement of the trial itself, rings perfectly true.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2010 Booklist