Combining the elements of a thriller and a courtroom battle over a defective toy which apparently has resulted in the deaths of two young children, this novel marks the return of Seattle’s David Sloane, “the lawyer who does not lose.” The plot includes various subplots, including corporate greed, espionage and an adoption battle over Sloane’s step-son.
In the beginning, Sloane wins a big malpractice case arising out of a leading pediatrician’s apparent mishandling of one of the two boys. However, Sloane has misgivings when a toy designer tells him he is responsible for the child’s death. This sets off Sloane’s quest for the truth, bit the disappearance of the designer makes proving the toy’s flawed design nearly impossible.
The ups and downs as the novel progresses take the reader for a wild ride, with enough tragedy and triumphs to keep one’s interest. The courtroom scenes, both in the case of the toy hearing as well as the custody case, are extremely effective, and the book is recommended.
