DEADSPIN

by Gregory Michael MacGregor ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 1997

A top-drawer Los Angeles trial lawyer faces tough going when he tangles with a wealthy and powerful candidate for the US presidency: a riveting courtroom drama from attorney/first-novelist MacGregor. An accomplished litigator, Chris Lane, at the behest of an college classmate, accepts a high-profile case in which a bankrupt English company, Pegasus Technologies, will be leveling fraud charges against Arrow Dynamics (a specialty contractor owned by politically ambitious billionaire Russell Lindstrom). Unbeknownst to Lang, this legal action is not being underwritten by the plaintiffs but by a group of retired intelligence and military officers (known as the Fortress) eager to bring Lindstrom to book for working both sides of the arms-sale street. Though in the dark about the agendas of all interested parties, the Pegasus mouthpiece is prepared to make a persuasive case that his client (which had contracted with Arrow for the plans of a lightweight recreational airplane it wanted to sell in upscale consumer markets) was sold a defective design that went into deadly flat spins without warning. He even discovers that Lindstrom had a hand in engineering the ill-fated prototype. Owing to the hardball tactics of the industrialist, however, Lang is unable to get a full bill of particulars before the jury. A hostile judge (who may have been bought off) excludes important evidence; two key witnesses die in suspicious circumstances; and incriminating exhibits (including test-flight notes in Lindstrom's handwriting) go missing. At length, on the eve of the Republican convention, Lang feels obliged to go outside the law to expose the coverup and secure justice for the country as well as for his clients. Consequential stakes, constant suspense, high-tech skullduggery, and well-drawn characters with credible relationships: an immensely entertaining debut that could have Grisham, Turow, et al. looking to their laurels.

Pub Date: Oct. 15, 1997

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 480

Publisher: Bantam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1997

Categories: FICTION