Joe Watson is an associate in a prestigious St. Louis law firm when a notorious district court judge assigns him a politically explosive pro bono case--he must defend a bigoted white man accused of killing a deaf black man. Watson's decision to represent his irreputable client in court, rather than wriggle out of the case, outrages his partners and imperils his marriage. Lacking any prior trial experience, Watson depends on Rachel Palmquist, a sexy neuroscientist, and Myrna Schweich, a brash criminal defense attorney, to uncover the truth about the murder. "Hilarious...subtle, entertaining...a serious novel of ideas." --George F. Will , The Washington Post "Exuberant...deeply pleasurable...Here is a whodunit that achieves a comic fugue-state mastery of the language of our sexually charged, violent, technocratic society." --Colin Harrison, The New York Times Book Review "[A] beautifully crafted legal thriller... Brain Storm establishes Dooling as one of the more skilled craftsman working in this genre." --Keith Schneider, Detroit Free Press "Dazzling...[Dooling's] satirical wit rules every page." --Holly Hildebrand, Houston Chronicle A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR "Brilliant...A superior tale, a thinking man's John Grisham thriller." --Richard Bernstein, The New York Times "Hilarious...subtle, entertaining...a serious novel of ideas." --George F. Will, The Washington Post "Exuberant...deeply pleasurable....Here is a whodunit that achieves a comic fugue-state mastery of the language of our sexually charged, violent, technocratic society." --Colin Harrison, The New York Times Book Review "[A] beautifully crafted legal thriller... Brain Storm establishes Dooling as one of the more skilled craftsmen working in this genre." --Keith Schneider, Detroit Free Press "Fast-paced and engaging...If you've tired of Grisham and Turow, try this instead." -- Greg Burkman, The Seattle Times "Richard Dooling has done it again. With Brain Storm he has written a wacky, offbeat, zany, and wildly funny novel...Dooling writes superbly." --Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch "Dazzling...[Dooling's] satirical wit rules every page." --Holly Hildebrand, Houston Chronicle Richard Dooling is the author of two previous novels, White Man's Grave (nominated for a National Book Award) and Critical Care . He lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife and children.