By Reason of Insanity

April 14, 2008
Inspirational suspense novelist Singer (Directed Verdict) hooks readers from the opening courtroom scene of this tasty thriller, then spurs them through a fast trot across a storyline that just keeps delivering. Catherine O'Rourke is a seasoned reporter who covers trials for Norfolk, Virginia's The Tidewater Times. The latest sexual abuse case she covers hits a little too close to home, and she has a series of disturbing "visions" that suggest first-hand details of the crimes. Soon she finds herself on trial as the "Avenger," a Bible-quoting serial killer. Are her visions spiritual? Or does she have a split personality? She's unsure of her innocence or guilt-and so are her lawyers, including the likeable high-rolling Vegas attorney, Quinn Newberg, who is famous for his insanity defenses. Singer tosses out plot twists with abandon, shattering readers' assumptions but rarely straining their credulity. The characters' lives unpeel like onions, with layers of interesting revelations. Christian faith plays a role in the "visions" but never feels forced. Smooth point of view changes, snappy dialogue, interesting details and unexpected humor enrich the storyline. Like the best suspense novels, the character development is sophisticated enough that readers won't know the villain's identity until the final pages.

April 1, 2008
After a series of murders rocks Virginia Beach, journalist Catherine O'Rourke begins to have disturbing dreams that detail each crime. Unfortunately, these dreams make Catherine a prime suspect, and her lawyer, Quinn Newberg, sets out to prove her innocence by reason of mental illness. But Catherine's dreams may have come from an altogether different source than her own guilty conscience.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2008
How did crime reporter Catherine Cat ORourke wind up in prison? It starts with visions involving victims of a high-profile kidnapping, twin children adopted by the family of a well-connected defense attorney. In her first vision, Cat sees the children being executed. Nightmares? Maybe, but why do they occur when Cat is awake? She seems to know so much information about the missing children (and other grisly crimes) that she becomes the key suspect. Could Cat possibly have an alter ego committing these heinous acts? Enter defense attorney Quinn Newberg, who recently invoked the insanity defense to get his own sister acquitted for murder. Quinn decides this will be Cats defense as well, even though the evidence suggests otherwise. At the center of the heart-pounding action are the moral dilemmas that have become Singers stock-in-trade. In addition to scrutinizing the insanity defense from an ethical point of view, Singer offers similar appraisals of the death penalty andvigilante justice. This is inspirational fiction, but it isnt didactic or preachy, and its an exciting thriller all on its own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)