Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Both transparently manipulative and genuinely moving....Conviction bogs down in descriptions of byzantine legal technicalities, but it is impossible not to keep reading or skimming to the last page. (Grade: B)" Entertainment Weekly
Review
"In [Patterson's] sure hands, this fascinating and often agonizing in-depth look at the death-penalty process becomes a personal journey for the lawyers, the convicted, and the reader. Highly recommended." Library Journal
Synopsis
When the body of nine-year old Thuy Sen is found in the San Francisco Bay, the police quickly charge Rennell and Payton Price with her grisly murder. A twelve-person jury, abetted by an incompetent defense lawyer, is nearly as quick to find the brothers guilty, and to sentence them both to die for their crimes.
Fifteen years later, overworked pro bono laywer Teresa Peralta Paget, her husband Chris, and stepson Carlo, a recent Harvard law graduate, become convinced not only that Rennell didn't receive a fair trial but that he may well be innocent. Racing against the clock and facing enormous legal obstacles, Teresa, Chris, and Carlo desperately try to stay Rennell's execution, taking the case all the way to the Supreme Court, and to an enormously moving and powerful conclusion.
Synopsis
From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author comes the harrowing story of a possibly innocent man, the labyrinthine politics of death row, and one lawyer's personal and professional crisis.
About the Author
Richard North Patterson is the author of twelve prior novels, including Balance of Power, Protect and Defend, and Degree of Guilt. Formerly a trial lawyer, Mr. Patterson served as the SEC's liaison to the Watergate Special Prosecutor, and is now on the boards of several Washington-based advocacy groups. He lives on Martha's Vineyard, MA.