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Title: Star Witness by Dudley W. Buffa, Buck Schirner ISBN: 1-59086-792-0 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Pub. Date: April, 2003 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 10 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.71 (7 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Not a 'Star'
Comment: This novel is just dreadful--execrably written and poorly plotted, with badly drawn, inconsistent characters who ruminate endlessly (and pointlessly) on all things Hollywood. The writing is pedestrian and hackneyed--I thought I'd scream if I had to read one more labored metaphor.
The author seems to have gotten his knowledge of both legal maneuvering and the movie industry from hack novels; nowhere does he display any true experience or understanding of either. He can't even come up with good names for the characters--"Mary Margaret Flanders" for a sex goddess? Ick!
Generally, I like legal thrillers AND books about the movie industry, so for me to hate this book as viscerally as I do took some doing. If I had spent actual time reading this piece of drek instead of merely listening to it as I drove to work, I would be far more bitter about it than I am. I hope you learn from my error and don't waste your time.
Rating: 4
Summary: And the winner is....? The reader.
Comment: I have read this author's other books and enjoyed them all. Star Witness is a different breed of cat than the others. It is not really a court room drama although a murder trial is one of the central venues. It is a murder mystery and even when the book is finished, you will be wondering about the identity of the murderer. It also is a commentary on the movie business and the rarified atmosphere that those who "make pictures" live in. Joseph Antonelli, criminal defense lawyer extrodonaire returns again as counsel and foil for Stanely Roth, a famous film producer, studio head and the accused murderer of his famous actress wife. The facts are not in his favor. His wife has been killed (her throat was cut) in their Hollywood mansion. He claims to have left for work very early and had slept in another bedroom so as not to disturb his wife and was unaware that she had been killed. Blood stained clotheing is found in his clohes hamper. The clothes are his. The blood is hers. There is no evidence that anyone other than the maid and Mr. Roth were on the premises during the time she was killed. Things seem pretty open and shut to the police who arrest him and charge him with murder. With that as the background, Buffa spins a very interesting story of Hollywood, its characters, its foibles and its fables. The courtroom work assumes a substancial amount of literary license as it relates to the manner in which the attorneys ask questions, but it is certainly more interesting than sticking to the real rules. It is a book which keeps moving, asks questions and leaves you wondering and thinking about it after it is over. Not a bad result.
Rating: 4
Summary: I liked the author's style....
Comment:
I didn't expect to like this Hollywood murder/courtroom drama as much as I did. The material has been done in a thousand other books....famous film director marries younger star...she's killed in a dramatic fashion....he's framed/arrested/put on trial....good attorney is hired to represent him/figure out who actually did it/restore the director's reputation.
What surprised me about this book was the author's literary craftsmanship. He employs a simple writing style to shed a harsh light on Hollywood glitz and glamour, showing what actually happens in the world of show business. There isn't a lot of action...and he doesn't overuse dialogue.
Reading this book was like being in the presence of a very good storyteller who makes you want to sit a spell and listen to what he has to say, because you know it's going to be good and it's going to be worth your precious spare time.
Enjoy!
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Title: The Defense by D.W. Buffa ISBN: 044900399X Publisher: Fawcett Books Pub. Date: 29 August, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Legacy, The by D.W. Buffa ISBN: 0446613681 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Prosecution by D.W. Buffa ISBN: 0449006905 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 30 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Judgment, The by D.W. Buffa ISBN: 0446611247 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 29 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.50 |
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Title: Fatal Flaw by William Lashner ISBN: 0060508167 Publisher: William Morrow Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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