WILD JUSTICE

by Richard C. Smith ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 17, 1990

A second outing for Boston private eye James Maxfield Mallory, a Harvard-educated, law-school dropout (A Secret Singing, 1988), who finds two cases dovetailing: the Maine murder of crafty land-grabber Ben Chapman and the Boston mugging of feisty cat-lover Mary Wyman (who's trying to thwart the Eden's Garden development schemes). Both cases lead back to the shenanigans of a disbarred--and assumed dead--lawyer originally named Prescott. Among the complications: the prime murder suspect in Maine is the long-lost brother of the stunning Dana McOscar, a law clerk working for the deceased's brother, a noted judge; and both the DEA and the FBI have tied the Eden/Prescott deal to Miami drug shipments, elaborate money scams involving mob types, and real-estate finagling by Brahmin law firm nabobs. By the time all the dummy corporations, deeds, leases, land titles, and whatnot are sorted through, and Dana comes to Mallory's rescue, the undead Prescott takes it on the lam to Paris, where he can start all over again with his wheeling, dealing schemes. So-so, but with occasional wry flourishes. Mallory's Maine friends, romance writer Samantha and her gentleman farmer, are more appealing than Mallory, who suffers by comparison to notable Boston sleuths Brady Coyne, Parker, et al.

Pub Date: July 17, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1990

Categories: FICTION