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FALSE FORTUNE
by Twist Phelan
Poisoned Pen Press, September 2007
292 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 1590583639


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Attorney Hannah Dain has returned home to work in her father's law firm with her sister Shelby but things are difficult. Hannah has recently learned that she is the product of an affair her deceased mother had and because she has always had a shaky relationship with Shelby she doesn't want her sister to know the truth just yet.

And on top of that, Hannah has found out that she has a younger half sister from the man who was her mother's lover. She especially doesn't want Shelby to find out about her until she can think of a good way to bring the whole subject up.

When Hannah and Shelby go to take pictures of abandoned uranium mine for a case, Hannah's empty car is swept over a cliff into a lake by a woman in her car. Hannah and a man she met at the mine rush into the water and manage to save the woman. Afterwards, to soothe her nerves, Hannah goes kayaking on the water, as this is her sport of choice these days and she rarely goes anywhere without her kayak lashed to the top of her car.

The next day, Hannah mistakenly spills her tea on Shelby who is supposed to soon be in court. Hannah is made to go in Shelby's place, as it's just to tell the judge that both sides have settled. It's a case that some Tohono O'odham Indian tribe members have brought against the government for burying radiation waste on Indian land, making the water toxic. These people and their children have developed terrible illnesses because of the water and so they have sued the government.

When Hannah gets there she discovers that the women suing do not want to settle but want their day in court. Hannah feels that she can't do anything but follow their wishes and so a date for the trial is set instead of a settlement. On top of that the judge appoints Hannah lead counsel in the case.

The people in power, both from the government and the tribe, are furious with Hannah for going to trial, as is Shelby when she finds out what happened. Little can Hannah suspect that the people who are involved have their own agenda for keeping the case out of court and who will do anything to anyone to keep the truth from coming out.

To make matters worse, that night Hannah answers her door to find her 14-year-old half sister Anuya there. Swearing her to secrecy Hannah introduces Anuya as a friend's daughter who is staying with her as she is going to apply to a special school in the area.

Writer Twist Phelan certainly knows about the desert, as her descriptions are quite powerful and vivid. The readers also get to hear something about history as we learn that our government used Indian land as a dumping place for radioactive substances while lying to the Indians and telling them that it was safe.

Unfortunately almost every page of this story has a reference back to the other books in the series. Names of people and places are thrown at the readers as if the writer is quite positive that everyone knows what she is talking about. As a first time reader I was quite put off by these constant references.

With this kind of series, the main character must be likable and I'm afraid Phelan has made Hannah too perfect. She seems to be superhuman in physical perfection and prowess as she manages to rescue people again and again from rushing water and bullets as she jumps, grapples, deep dives and kayaks their way to safety. She also doesn't seem to feel tired or over heated as she walks for miles leading friends and family out of the worst of the desert heat and afterwards she doesn't need more than a quick shower and a bottle of water to perk her up, making her ready for the next set of dangers that will fly at her.

Hannah's secretary even tells Hannah that her biggest problem is that she just spends too much time helping others and not herself and that Hannah just doesn't realize how many people care deeply about her. I can see the writer just loves and adores Hannah. As for my feelings for her – I pass.

Though the story of uranium dumping and its effect on the Indian population around those sites was interesting, I didn't much care for Hannah and I won't be looking to read any other books in the series.

Reviewed by A. L. Katz, September 2007

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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