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Victor Carl makes no apologies as to who he is and what he does while acting as the first-person narrator on the latest entry of this legal series. Victor is a Philadelphia lawyer who does his job for the money, if there is any to be had. When he hears the words "pro bono" it better be about a U2 fan and not about taking a case for no money. If he thinks your case is a lost cause, he will tell you. He's a straight-shooter and does not believe in beating around the bush. If you pay him $10,000 as a retainer for a loser case appeal, he'll take it. But he knows a loser when he sees one. Or as you might figure out by now, guess again. François Dubé is serving time for a crime he alleges he did not commit -- the murder of his wife. Nothing new has arisen from the case appeal but he is willing to pay Carl a $10,000 retainer to look into it. Ever since Carl gets the money paid by a mysterious woman Victor figures that there is something else going on which does not make much sense. There are too many inconsistencies regarding the police report and a colorful cast of characters that have a personal interest in how the case goes now that the appeal has been granted. There are some clever manipulators in the story as well as some instances of sarcastic humor between Carl and a dentist who manages to take a bad situation and make it better. He's not afraid to get into other people's personal affairs and yet he is successful at what he does. Carl doesn't trust him but it is their interactions that make the novel entertaining. FALLS THE SHADOW is an interesting courtroom drama filled with twists and turns as seen through the eyes of a self-proclaimed cynic who believes nothing good can happen in life. Aside from the case he is working on he will do a (shudder) pro bono case on behalf of a four-year-old that will make him see lie in a different way. Lashner's work gains strength in the character development area as you see the narrator's perspective change as things continue to happen in his life. The book is an entertaining respite and you'll enjoy this.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, May 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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