The Halls of Justice

When the justice system frees their attacker, a pair of twins take matters into their own hands. In this carefully researched novel, a West Coast prosecutor gives a first-person account of a rape case gone awry, concentrating on the psychological and legal minutiae. Whitener does a nice job with it. He has a confident, sharp, energetic sound, which he uses intelligently and expressively. He could imbue his voicings with more resonance and connect more with the varying moods. On the other hand, he makes the often clumsy dialogue sound better than it deserves and treats the violence and few necessary obscenities with perfect taste. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

June 3, 1996
Which of two twin sisters killed the man who raped them both? That's the question that drives Gruenfeld's latest thriller, which demonstrates that this up-and-coming author is as adept at legal twists and turns as he is at police drama (Irreparable Harm) and psycho-thriller chills (All Fall Down). Narrator Sal Milano, the top ADA in Santa Monica, Calif., is considering running for his boss's job and starting a relationship with brainy and beautiful defense lawyer Diane Pierman. He puts aside both ideas when Diane and her twin, Lisa, are raped by small-time drug dealer Vinny Rosamund and he signs on to prosecute the case. But despite Sal's best efforts, Rosamund walks--though not for long. Days later, the hoodlum is shot to death in a glitzy L.A. eatery. Eyewitnesses say the killer looked like Diane Pierman--or Lisa Pierman. As the twins are both charged with murder, the plot swivels on the delicious maneuvering of prosecution and defense: how do they tell which twin pulled the trigger if neither twin is talking? Gruenfeld handles the legal elements, including the trial, with aplomb, tossing in catchy legal tales and bon mots along the way ("there's right, there's wrong, and then there's the law"). The conclusion feels forced, though, and the revelation of some information that Sal has kept to himself will have some readers feeling cheated. But, then, arrogant Sal isn't the most likable hero around--which is one reason why he and his adventure are so refreshing. 75,000 first printing.