I love the intricacies of the justice system, especially engrossed by the trial itself. Nothing that teaches me bores me. Steve Jackson does an exquisite job at introducing us to the characters. He did this so well with the victim that I grieved over the senseless loss of a sparkling lovely girl. But as with the last book by this author, Bogey Man, somewhere after killers are arrested and trial is imminent, Jackson’s political views come out with a vengeance that crushes emotions that his brilliant characterization had created and the mood is all cerebral. Politics. Pro prosecution anti defense. It’s not that I don’t agree with him in this case (I’m no as familiar with the sleazy tactics the public defenders resorted to but if he would please write a book on the murder of Travis Alexander — now that line of a dishonest shameful defense went about as low as one could imagine. …). Through the first 16-18 chapters I was mesmerized and then very moved by writing that connected me to Jacine. That’s a skill this author wastes when his political views hit you with a hammer. I’d like to tell the author that I’d likely reach the same conclusion if I were allowed to with the facts of the case — his political stance jumps in and take away my chance to arrive there on my own. Maybe that’s it — he doesn’t think the readers will get it. But I think he’s wrong to think he could raise his expectations He’s too good a writer for us NOT to get it.