Solomon
Vs Lord Series
Paul Levine
Reviewed by Barb Radmore
Paul Levine has created a series of
courtroom mysteries that revolve
around a pair of well defined characters. Victoria Lord is a bright and
proper lawyer. Steve Solomon may also be bright but his brash ways get
him into hot water both in the courtroom and out. Steve Solomon and
Victoria Lord do not make the best team it would
seem, "by the rules" Lord to work with the "write your own laws"
Solomon. Together they make sparks fly- but fire can be dangerous. And
playing with fire can have unexpected consequences. The flames of the
couple are tempered by Solomon's nephew, Bobby. He adds much of the
humanity and humor to the series and rounds out the edges of the other
characters.
Each book is organized around various "Solomon's Laws," the
guiding principles for Steve. Classics include "I will never
break the law, breach legal ethics, or risk jail time...unless it's for
someone I love" or "A shark that can't bite is nothing but a mermaid."
Each one is a gem in itself and should be embroidered on pillows and
given to all law school graduates. (Now that would shake up the
courtrooms!)
Levine is able to write excellent courtroom mysteries that each has an
outrageous sense of humor that sees the absurd in both the legal system
and society as a whole. Well crafted, the plots are never left wanting
to meet the humor. Each deftly plotted mystery culminates in courtroom
theatrics that appear as authentic as they are amusing. Levine is at
his best when describing the various judges and their foibles.
With Jimmy Buffet playing in the
background, laying in a hammock with a
cold margarita next to you, stretch out and relax this summer with this
guffaw inducing series.
Trial and Error
This is the forth and most recent addition to the Solomon Vs Lord
series. Steve's nephew gets them in the middle of bio-terrorists,
dolphins and attempted murder. Trial and Error is very fast paced, full
of the surprise twists that characterize Levine's series. Solomon must
solve the crime when his nephew's dolphin friends are released during a
murder. He is also representing one of the men involved, a trial that
should boost the image of the Solomon and Lord law firm. Victoria
Lord is also preparing for the trial, but she has been convinced to
return to her old job with the prosecution. Solomon is forced to
balance his extremes when dealing with both Lord and with Bobby's
overbearing baseball coach. It is the most touching of the series so
far, also the most laugh out loud one. It is Levine's talent that he
can do both in the same book.
Kill All the Lawyers
This is a solid entry into the series. It is a discussion on the
meaning of truth, wrapped in a action packed thriller.It examines the
length it is acceptable to stretch to achieve justice. Steve is the
main character in this one since it is his past catching up with him.
He is getting all the PR he can handle from a local radio host but none
of it good. He helped put the man into jail years before, which is a
problem since he was the man's defense lawyer. That would cause hard
feelings with most people, and this radio host is a well known
psychiatrist and author who is not going to let Steve off the hook.
Steve must solve exactly how he got away with murder in the past to
prevent more murders in the present, espcecially his own.
This one includes the great line by Steve's dad "lawyerin's like
playing poker with ideas."
Deep Blue Alibi
The second book of the series starts with a flying yacht and ends with
an exploding boat. Victoria is happy to be reuniting with her Uncle
Grif, a friend of her parents. But she quickly turns from
family friend to family lawyer when he is accused of murder. The trial
brings her back in contact with his son, her sweetheart from childhood,
the
man both families thought she might marry. Steve instantly loathes the
gorgeous athletic man from her past. The tension of the past and the
trial combine to create a rift between them, both professionally and
personally. The suspense builds as Victoria attempts to solve both the
mystery of the murder and mysteries from her past, without the help of
Solomon.
Paul Levine has made this one as much about the dynamics of family and
the effects of the past as a legal mystery. Steve tried to find out why
his father was removed as a judge many years ago while Victoria delves
into the secrets behind her father's suicide. Each discovers that the
truth is not always the best answer.
Solomon vs Lord
The debut to the series it introduces us to all the main characters
that pepper the rest of the series. In it Levine begins the creation
of all his characters, sets the background history for the future
books. It is not necessary to read this one first but it adds much to
the enjoyment of the rest of the plots and characters.
Solomon needs Lord to become the lawyers for a socialite accused
of killing her husband during sex gone wrong. Lord needs Steve's
experience in the courtroom. Together they make the perfect team, if it
was not for the fact that they are absolute opposites. Victoria is
looking for stability in her future, a job at a nice law office,
marriage to her handsome, wealthy businessman fiancé. Solomon is
willing to take risks, both professionally and personally. Steve must
also fight the system as it tries to take his nephew away from him.
Rescuing Bobby from his abusive mother, Solomon's sister, may not have
been done the most legal way but now he will do whatever it takes now
to keep Bobby safe.