Title: Justice is for the Lonely
Author: Steve Clark
Publisher: Rorke Publications
ISBN-13: 978-0-9903700-2-4
Pages: 429
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense
Reviewed by: Jason Lulos
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Pacific Book Review
Gripping story about a gifted yet troubled female attorney: a paradoxically practical idealist pursuing justice in a world where trust is hard to gauge. This is an intriguing, complex drama with interesting, well-drawn characters set against the background of a sensationalized trial. The novel is intricately woven via several plot lines but is written so well that the plots weave seamlessly together. The characters are multidimensional, round, and therefore, realistic.
The heroine, Kristen Kerry, is a lawyer with a vigilante’s attitude. She pursues truth to a fault, a righteous femme fatale, and an admirably human feminist figure. She drives and guides the plot. Clark sustains the suspense through Kristen’s constant chess match with finding who she might trust. The notions of trust, justice, and truth thread the portrayal of Kristen’s own character as well as the plot and the side critique of the justice system. So, the novel is not just an attention-grabbing plot; it is also a character study and an examination of legal processes.
Kristen Kerry represents a trio of nurses and the hospital’s insurer in a case of malpractice. Kristen uses her ingenuity but is also willing to use her sexuality to solicit information. So, there is an interesting dipping into the salacious, but only a bit; this drama does not become a soap opera. On the contrary, it is a character study of its heroine and a critique of the actual workings of the justice system. Kristen carries a lot of baggage, including a troubling childhood. Her rise to success illustrates the self-reliance and individual determination we always hear about in the context of American dreams. But, she struggles with her past and her focused intellectualism is sometimes intruded upon by her recklessness (which does come in handy at times).
Clark pulls no punches. He gives a gritty look at the manipulative world of doctors, lawyers, parole boards, and ex-cons. Those who love any of the Law and Order series will be drawn in by this novel – and not just for the intriguing plot lines and the train wreck appeal of criminal motives. The novel is written in the third person but we essentially see things through Kristen’s eyes. She is a postmodern version of the traditional film noir detective. Constantly reworking her own psychology and troubled past, she critically examines the very justice system of which she is a part. It can be a lonely position, hence the title.
