Journal Entry 1 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Thursday, January 11, 2007

From Booklist
Veteran criminal attorney Hyde's debut legal thriller features a veteran criminal attorney whose latest case, defending a homeless man against a homicide charge, keeps getting more and more complicated. Eventually, if somewhat predictably (this happens a lot in the legal-thriller genre), Stuart Clay, who might make an interesting series lead, has to risk his own career to save his client's life. The plot is functional, though hardly remarkable, but the main attraction here is the author's familiarity with his Washington, D.C., setting. Much like George Pelecanos, Hyde knows all the nooks and crannies, all the dusty alleyways and grotty street corners, that hover behind the capital city's shiny facade. With a little narrative polish, this might have been a truly remarkable first novel. As is, it heralds a fresh new voice and another crime author who recognizes that a carefully evoked setting can steal the show. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Received as a review copy for Front Street Reviews. I'll post my thoughts when I'm done reading. 

Journal Entry 2 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Here's the first draft of my review, I'll update this post as I update the review:

The Only Pure Thing – A Stuart Clay Mystery
By Patrick Hyde
Mystery
Published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc.

“Bloodied Bally’s don’t prove murder”

Veteran criminal attorney Patrick Hyde’s debut novel introduces us to defense attorney Stuart Clay. It begins with the discovery of a headless body in a parking lot. When Cleveland Barnes, a mildly deranged homeless man is found wearing the dead man’s bloody Bally loafers, Clay is assigned to convince the court that Cleveland is innocent of any crime worse than robbing a corpse. As he says in his first press conference: “Bloodied Bally’s don’t prove murder”

Clay, with the assistance of investigator Cindy Oh, immediately begin to research the backgrounds of both the deceased and the accused. They soon discover as so frequently happens in detective novels that everything is not as it seems. Is Cleveland really as odd and detached from reality, as he seems to be? What are the New Columbians? Who is the pretty blond woman that left the club with the victim moments before he became a corpse? Why does a Mafia Consigliere insist on having a chat with Clay at gunpoint? Clay and Oh find some answers, but mostly discover more and more questions. These questions eventually lead them under bridges in the dead of night, into conflict with one of the FBI’s most wanted, and into a sex shop before finally resulting in a fatal miss-step.

The author takes the reader on quite a journey through the court systems and seedy underbelly of Washington D.C. in the pages of this book. His descriptions are very realistic and compelling, and the twist ending is very well thought out. Very noir in style and reminiscent of an earlier era of crime authors. The legal jargon was a little distracting, as the reader had to remember acronyms and their meaning throughout the story.

Obviously familiar with his setting, the author pulls from his twenty plus years of experience as a criminal and labor lawyer to tell his story. A nicely put together piece that will hopefully be repeated in future books featuring protagonist Clay.
 

Journal Entry 3 by sarradee from Dallas, Texas USA on Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Sending to Rosie for inclusion in Giz-Angel's next m-bag. 

Journal Entry 4 by CdnBlueRose from Arvada, Colorado USA on Friday, March 02, 2007

Received today for Giz's mbag - thanks sarradee! 

Journal Entry 5 by CdnBlueRose from Arvada, Colorado USA on Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Mbag heading over the pond tomorrow! ENJOY Giz! 

Journal Entry 6 by Giz-angel from Greenwich, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, June 28, 2007

The M bag has landed - thanks Sarra this looks great and of course thanks to Rosie xxxx 

Journal Entry 7 by Giz-angel at 2010 Swindon Unconvention, Jury's Inn Hotel in Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 01, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (10/1/2010 UTC) at 2010 Swindon Unconvention, Jury's Inn Hotel in Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

releasing at the unconvention 

Journal Entry 8 by grockel1 at Swindon, Wiltshire United Kingdom on Saturday, February 12, 2011

Not a bad read but not in the style that I like