Criminal Justice

Standing steadfast for his ideals of truth and justice cost Dan Galindo both his job as a prosecutor and his family. After struggling to rebuild his career, he has finally stopped his downward spiral and begun to regain his self-respect when he finds himself at the center of an undercover drug investigation and becomes the number one suspect in a murder. Pete Bradbury's low-key narration draws out the story's suspense and keeps the listener on edge. His understated characterizations are reminiscent of the detectives of old-time radio shows. The story comes together in a satisfyingly neat package with no loose ends. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

February 2, 1997
Though a legal thriller, the action in Parker's first-rate latest (after Blood Relations) focuses not on the courtroom but on the sultry streets of Miami, where Parker shows how the end justifies the means not just for the bad guys but, too often, for the good guys as well. Refusing to put a lying witness on the stand in a major drug case has cost attorney Dan Galindo his job as a federal prosecutor, shattered his marriage and earned him the wrath of DEA agent Vincent Hooper. Broke and reduced to taking cases referred by his music producer ex-brother-in-law Rick Robbins, Dan hooks up with keyboard player Martha Cruz, a bandmate of Dan's current girlfriend, Kelly Dorf, who has been arrested for hitting a Miami cop. Martha, Dan soon discovers, is involved with Rick's very silent partner, Ecuadorian "businessman" Miguel Salazar. Miguel is determined to make Martha a star-a goal shared by the ambitious Martha and by Rick, who's desperate to finally produce a hit group. But the DEA is after Miguel, a major drug smuggler, for laundering money through Rick's company. Unbeknownst to Dan, Kelly, with a cocaine trafficking charge hanging over her head, is working as their informant. When Dan breaks up with Kelly, she retaliates by telling the DEA she overheard him talking with Miguel about the money laundering. Parker, herself a former Miami prosecutor, throws the steak of real experience on the fire of Miami and lets it sizzle. 60,000 first printing; author tour.