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- The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors in Houston Reviewed By Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
The Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors in Houston Reviewed By Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
- By Norm Goldman
- Published September 21, 2019
- GENERAL FICTION REVIEWS
Norm Goldman
Reviewer & Author Interviewer, Norm Goldman. Norm is the Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com.
He has been reviewing books for the past twenty years after retiring from the legal profession.
To read more about Norm Follow Here
Author: Marc Grossberg
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
ISBN: 978-1-62634-655-0
Every profession has its
share of "rotten apples," and the world of lawyers is
certainly not immune. These are characters that may not precisely
cross the line of unlawfulness, nonetheless, they think very little
of committing shady acts that are unethical. Lying, bullying, and
manipulation become their method of operation. Every so often,
however, they venture too far, and the consequences are catastrophic
and devastating.
Marc Grossberg sets his debut novel, The
Best People: A Tale of Trials and Errors in
Houston, Texas where his central character, a
thirty-six-year-old former cop and now an attorney, Paddy Moran has
just been admitted to the Texas bar. To describe Paddy as a hustler
would be an understatement. He believes that moving to Houston from
Brooklyn was the right choice to set up a practice where he felt that
he could make it big and where people who came with nothing can
eventually become heavy-hitters. And that was his goal.
Paddy's
first client, a former police colleague of his and his best friend,
Jed, contacts him seeking legal advice following his wife's filing
for divorce. He has also been kicked out of their home. Jed has not
been a "good boy" and was caught fooling around with
another woman.
After explaining to Jed the legal implications
of a divorce and the possible claims his wife has over him, Paddy
agrees to take on Jed's case without charging him other than his
court costs and out-of-pocket expenses. Overcome with emotion, Jed
thanks Paddy and promises to refer his police colleagues to him when
they require legal assistance.
The first of Paddy's referrals
turns out to be a godsend and a catalyst in moving Paddy's law
practice forward. It doesn't take long for Paddy to accumulate at
least three police divorce cases a month. All were uncontested and
completed with a fixed fee. Not too bad for someone just starting out
in practise.
In one instance, however, Paddy refuses to take
on a case that involves a cop's wife, Pillar Galt, who had been
roughed up by her husband, Ronnie. Paddy explains to Pillar that it
wouldn't be in his best interests to entangle himself with a cop as
he makes his living from taking on divorce cases from them, which, as
he states in his Brooklyn accent, his "bread and buttah."
He does refer her to another attorney. As we will learn, this will
not be the last time that Paddy will bump into Pillar, which proves
to be quite an interesting saga as it affects their respective lives
in more ways than one.
Before long Paddy is off and running
to becoming a hot-shot attorney in Houston, initially within the
police community, and ultimately weaving its way into the broader
community particularly among the well-to-do movers and shakers.
One
such member that helps him break into this exclusive club is Margo
Shear, who contacted Paddy, after being referred to him by Jed. Margo
was the victim of serious carelessness on the part of a physician who
neglected to follow instructions concerning her medical history when
she was admitted to his hospital. With Paddy's intervention, Margo
was able to attain a substantial settlement when both the physician
and hospital were sued by Paddy. After his success with Margot's
case, the word got out that Paddy was the "go to" attorney
when you needed someone who was a street fighter and not afraid to
take on anyone including attorneys from "white shoe" law
firms.
Along the way to his fame and fortune, Paddy hooks up
with another lawyer, Will Marshall, whose pedigree, temperament and
style, is the complete opposite of his. Yet, Will loved money, and
his partnership with Paddy enabled him to enjoy a lifestyle which
both he and his wife believed were entitled.
Slowly
tantalizing, this well-crafted debut novel transports readers into
fascinating excursions in the rough and tumble world of trial
litigation, particularly divorce lawsuits where the stakes can be
very high. Lawyers practicing this branch of law sometimes require
expertise in areas they don't teach you in law school. They not only
must know their law but also be very creative. They will stop at
nothing and take no prisoners. What counts is winning at any cost.
However, when greed becomes reckless, and creativity becomes crooked,
we have a problem.
Practicing law for over fifty years in his
native Houston, Grossberg, who describes himself as "an observer
and listener," confirms a golden ear for capturing
the tones of the nasty culture that engulfs some law firms. His
writing is spare and intense, and like flowing water, the novel keeps
moving with a story that is entertaining but at the same time troublesome. As for the principal character, Paddy here we have someone who is at times unprincipled, yet you have to admit that he does "make things" happen with his crafty schemes.