Product Description

To prosecutor Tim Kerrigan, the case of John Dupres appears open and shut. Not only is Dupre (infamous for his drug dealing and call-girl business) accused of murdering a prostitute and the son of a powerful businessman, but he has killed his lawyer in full view of a courthouse guard. For Kerrigan, this case could be his stepping stone to a position in Congress, but only if he helps sentence Dupre to the death penalty. Even to Dupre's new defence attorney, Amanda Jaffe, the result of this case seems clearly drawn. But when certain clues start popping up, from knife wounds on Dupre's own hands to hints dropped by friends of the murdered call girl, Jaffe begins to suspect there may be other people involved. She has heard about the notorious Courthouse Athletic Club - a group of wealthy lawyers and judges with country club memberships - but has never before believed that the club may demand the act of murder as a membership ticket. As more evidence piles up and even her own safety is threatened, Jaffe begins to realise that Dupre may not be the criminal he seemed and that the real culprit could lie within the plush, protected walls of the State's most prominent country club.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #478110 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review
"Unputdownable". Daily Express "A hot favourite by word of mouth". Daily Mail

About the Author
Phillip Margolin was a prominent criminal defence attorney in Oregon before turning to full-time writing. He has been an Edgar nominee and Ed Harris starrred in the movie of The Last Innocent Man.

Customer Reviews

3 1/2 Stars -- Not Among Margolin's Best But Still Good!
Ties That Bind features lawyer Amanda Jaffe -- returning from her harrowing experience in Wild Justice -- to take on a case that no one will take. The plot revolves around the owner of an upscale call-girl service accused of murdering a U.S. Senator, and of his claiming to have proof of the existence of a secret society of powerful men who have banded together for a commonly held political agenda. In typical Margolin style, the plot moves at a brisk pace and is laced with several twists and turns that will keep you guessing about what is to happen next. Unlike Margolin's earlier expertise, however, in creating multidimensional characters that you really care about, I found Amanda Jaffe to be a little boring and without a lot of depth; with the latter also being how I felt about many of the other characters in Ties That Bind. Having stated this criticism, Margolin's books are always fun to read and keep the pages flying through your fingers. If you are in the mood for a fast-paced book in which you can easily lose yourself, Ties That Bind is one you should consider. While it is not as good as many of Margolin's earlier books (such as Gone, But Not Forgottern, After Dark, Heartstone and The Last Innocent Man), Ties That Bind is a book I think you will enjoy.

Lethally Good
Few authors write with the clarity and pace to equal Margolin, his prose positively purrs with ruthless efficiency. Lean, relentless, and intrically plotted, his lethal thrillers expose the likes of John Grisham as the plodding bores they are.

Always a joy, even when Margolin looks like he's going to cop out with a nice, neat happy ending, he still manges to slip in a little grit, managing to maintain something that is quite wonderful. Smart, sharp, and lethal.