Blood Money

WOW! What a great book, Jack Swyteck is assigned by the court to take on the case of Sydney Bennett a young mother accused of killing her two year old daughter Emma. The case is unpopular for most people think Sydney is a wild party girl they call ShotMom and therefore believe is guilty. BNN media has Sydney tried and convicted: now imagine the holy frenzy uproar when Sydney is found not guilty. While waiting for Sydney’s release a mob has formed and Celeste a Sydney look alike is attacked and falls into a coma. This book really grips at you with its exciting characters and amusement park full of twists and turns. Jack sues BNN for cause in the attack on Celeste, This a must read to learn the conclusion of this suit. I highly recommend this book.

It had been a while since I had read one of James Grippando’s Jack Swyteck books, so I was glad to get this one for my Kindle. I was not disappointed.

Although Jack Swyteck is a criminal defense lawyer, he always ends up in sticky situations unintentionally, and quite unexpectedly. He did some research for his friend, also an attorney, for an upcoming trial. However, Jack’s friend passes away before the trial starts and since Jack is the only living attorney of record, he is ordered to take the case. Sydney Bennett was reviled by the press and the general population and which gave her the nickname of “ShotMom” because of a picture showing she was out partying the night her two-year-old daughter disappearred. When the jury came back with a “Not Guilty” verdict, people weren’t happy, Arrangements are made for her release in the wee hours of the morning, but before she was released a woman in the crowd of protestors was mistaken to be Sydney and she was assaulted and strangled.

That’s where I stop with the storyline because the twists and turns the story takes from there will keep you shaking your head and always guessing what is next. Will Jack’s FBI fiancee, Andie, still be around when it’s over? Can Jack keep his Abuela safe? The monster has threatened to kill “someone you love”, while at the same time, Sydney has disappeared.

It started off reasonably well but by half way I found it relatively routine. There was something of a build up towards the end but it didn’t quite get there as far as I was concerned. This my first time reading this writer so I was somewhat disappointed.

I’m a big fan of James Grippando. I’ve read all his books. So I was excited to start this book. When reading the first chapter, I thought “Oh No, You Didn’t!” Clearly the base legal case is a Casey Anthony wanna be. I was really afraid this would ruin the book for me. However, it didn’t. Most of the book goes way beyond the Casey Anthony-like case. Would I have preferred that the base case was something else — definitely. However, the rest of the plot is interesting and well developed with lots of twists and turns, with opposing attorneys and scuzzy press you love to hate. Plus some of the conversations between Swyteck and Theo are laugh out loud funny. Too bad there wasn’t more of that. Will I read more of Grippando? Absolutely. I like his writing style. I just hope he doesn’t use current legal cases as bases for his plots in the future. I get why TV does it, but not an author. They should be more creative, unless it’s a true crime novel — at least in my opinion.

The tough thing about writing a review of a James Grippando novel, or a Lee Childs novel, etc., is that by the time I get here, everything’s already been said! Yup, it’s the Casey Anthony story, complete with the child drowning in the pool and the “Hot Mom” (that’s my combination of “Tot Mom” and “Shot Mom”). Of course, it’s way better that just that. Grippando adds layers and characters, plot twists and car chases, humor and pathos. Like most readers, I read it in two days; it’s just that good! Try it, you’ll like it, too!

One final note on the Casey Anthony issue. At first, I was surprised and a little disappointed that the stories were so similar. But then I realized that that was intentional, and maybe a little tongue-in-cheek. The thing that keyed me to that appraisal was his naming of the Nancy GRACE character as FAITH Corso. Nancy’s got no grace, and you can’t put faith in anything Corso says…

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member