Capital Offense
 Kathleen Antrim
 (Guest Reviewer - Bill Carn)
 2002 1st Books Library
  ISBN: 1403325804


Carolyn Alden Lane overcomes childhood abuse, to become a successful attorney, & set her sights on a position in the White House.

Guest Reviewer Bill Carn writes:

While I was shopping at Costco, Capital Offense was being promoted by the author Kathleen Antrim, so I bought an autographed copy. Good decision. It was an impulse purchase. Something I do to interrupt my love of recognized authors with new & unknown writers.

I was surprised that I read this selection in one sitting. A satisfying read, of an original story. Plenty of intrigue, direction changes & unexpected outcomes.

It wasn't until I was well into the story I realized Capital Offense was Kathleen Antim's first book, so I don't expect the clean edge of experience to insulate me from some of the clichés & awkward moments. While it is always easy to offer negative criticism, this story & its presentation show the author's zeal & success in presenting a very different story.

Kathleen Antrim shows how the viciousness behind the pleasant mask of politics in the trenches, can be intriguing, exciting, & just downright nasty.

An original story of a woman who overcomes abuse through childhood to womanhood, becomes a highly successful attorney, marries into a well to-do family & progresses through the intrigues of politics to a position in the White House.

Throughout the story, Carolyn Alden Lane continues to find things are never what they appear. Adversity she has learned to handle. She is smart, & deals with the duplicity of the power brokers with her training & skills developed from years of experience & success with difficult cases in court.

There are parts of the book that really bothered me & made me very uncomfortable. I thought about these things for days. There is something different about Capital Offense that made the book quite impressive.

As an avid reader of Elizabeth George, Campbell Armstrong, & a whole lot of distinguished & experienced authors, Capital Offense was a deviation for me that turned out to be quite intriguing.

Kathleen Antrim has obviously worked very hard to create a book with a difference. It is a good story & crafted with the desire to present a winner. Perhaps not quite yet, but I really think her day will arrive.

Reading Capital Offense reminded me of the book, Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff. Being a Kiwi, that was a book that surprised me, & Capital Offense did the same. So much so that I wanted to submit a review. I have no literary credentials, but those of enthusiasm & excitement for the enjoyment of a good story.

I am very glad I read it, & do look forward to Kathleen Antrim's next book. If you like a mystery with an original story Capital Offense will meet your needs.
(03/30/03)

Guest Reviewer - Bill Carn
2002©Bill Carn