The last novel from the author of Shadow of a Doubt and In the Presence of Enemies offers a thrilling courtroom drama about a federal judge facing a decision that threatens everything he holds dear. Newly appointed federal judge Paul Murray's first case is a corporate takeover war that rivals in magnitude the QVC/Viacom battle for Paramount. It's a media circus and a potential legal nightmare-not to mention a feather in Murray's cap if he handles it well. As the mud flies, a young reporter for the Wall Street Journal quietly digs away, looking for the story of a lifetime while he courts a member of the defense team. Furthermore, Murray's new wife, heiress Hope Scott, is drawn into the case through her long-time friendship with one of the warring moguls and the evil deeds of her trust's executor. Threats to blackmail Murray and his wife make a mistrial a distinct possibility. Should he recuse himself from the case? Another solid legal thriller, this posthumous publication by the author of Shadow of a Doubt (St. Martin's, 1992) yields taut drama and great courtroom action. Fans of this popular genre will love it. Recommended for popular fiction collections. --Susan Clifford, Hughes Aircraft Co. Lib., Los Angeles Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. The prolific Coughlin, author of the best-selling Shadow of a Doubt (1991) and In the Presence of Enemies (1992), presents another fine thriller, this one involving corporate takeovers. The fiscally conservative 1990s find business gurus Crandell and Valentine playing big-money games as if it were the heyday of the free-spending 1980s. As they vie to purchase a majority share of a cutting-edge software company, they trample over the lives of newlyweds Hope and Paul. Hope, wealthy daughter of a late New York financial wizard, has found happiness at last with widower and state supreme court judge Paul Murray. He's cut from a different kind of cloth; born to an immigrant Irish working-class family, he's become one of the most respected justices in all of New York. Wanting only the best for her husband, Hope consults her friend Crandell, who pulls strings to get Paul considered for a federal court seat. But Hope's na{‹}ivet{‚}e in asserting her influence comes back to haunt her when Paul is chosen to hear the case between Crandell and Valentine. What's particularly appealing about Coughlin's treatment of a well-worn premise is his skillful development of the peripheral characters. First-rate entertainment. Mary Frances Wilkens First Edition Hardback Coughlin Shadow of a Doubt collectible