Resumo de Act Of God - SUSAN R SLOAN

Act of
God begins with a
sickening crime. Someone has bombed the Seattle Family
Services Center,
commonly known as the Hill House. Nearly 200 people inside perished, many of
them children.

Hill House
was a complete medical facility that provided a broad range of women''s services
including infertility issues, gynecology, obstetrics and pregnancy termination.
Could that be the reason the building was targeted?

The people
of Seattle want
answers and a nation stands divided over the tragedy and its moral
implications. Authorities arrest a suspect named Corey Dean Latham. He''s a
kind-hearted naval officer that doesn''t meet the terrorist profile, yet he''s
facing the death penalty.

Attorney
Dana McAuliffe of the prestigious Cotter Boland and Grace Law firm is chosen to
represent young Latham. From her first meeting with the suspect, she feels in
her heart that he did not commit the crime. Based on her instinct and a desire
for justice, she sets out to attempt the impossible: a not guilty verdict in
the nation''s most riveting case.

Dana is
confident she can successfully represent her client. She has the support of her
superiors, her husband and her best friend. Little does she know her past will
return to haunt her?

Act of
God chronicles the
trial''s progression and its implications. Author Susan Sloan peers into the
minds of a handful of jurors without revealing their intentions too early in
the novel. Readers are aware of others'' attempts to sabotage the case. These
actions provide plenty of drama, providing plenty of mystery around the final
verdict.

Sloan
peppers her tale with several sub-plots. She names and characterizes several
bombing victims, adding emotion to the tale yet forcing readers to remember the
details of several extra characters. These pages are better devoted to the
events leading up to the case. There is minimal explanation as to why Corey is
even a suspect making it hard for readers to put their sympathy in the
defendant''s camp.

There are
many things that can go wrong in the course of a major trial, and Sloan strives
to address them all. The result is lots of extraneous mini-stories. Featuring
just a couple of stunning developments would have streamlined the tale and
doubled the drama.

As it
stands, Act of God is a decent legal thriller. The book will hold your
interest from the first page to the last. Attorney Dana McAullife is similar to
the gutsy Nina Reilly character created by Perri O''Shaughnessy. The abortion
debate woven in the trial fans the flames of controversy and adds good drama to
the tale. This Sloan novel has a stunning James Patterson-type ending so
refrain from glancing at the last page. A little no-peeking discipline on your
part will ensure a satisfying reading experience with a surprise twist and a
final treat.

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