Reddy And Abel
 William M. Stephens
 (Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan)
 2002 Koenisha Publication
  ISBN: 0971875847

A legal thriller about two wills, squabbling heirs & naive lawyers set in 1940's Tennessee.

Sr. Reviewer - Narayan Radhakrishnan writes:

William M. Stephens is the newest lawyer-author on the block & Reddy and Abel is the first in his series of post World War II legal thrillers set in Tennessee.

Lora Lee Reddy is a fledgling lawyer trying to make her mark in the field of advocacy. Her first client, Winifred Stobb lands Reddy in the case of a lifetime--what seems a routine probate issue, the will of Elmo Stobb, her father, suddenly assumes grave importance & opens a whole can of worms, when another will is discovered to have already been filed--by the Stobb household housekeeper.

In the midst of this furor Oakley Abel, a fresh law school graduate, walks into Reddy's office. Though they begin on the wrong foot, they soon hit it off, & become a great team. The probate issue eventually gets onto the docket & in an exciting courtroom drama, the real beneficiary of the deceased's estate, is revealed.

Reddy And Abel is a good debut. Though primarily a legal thriller, elements of romance & action are subtly mixed, enhancing the storyline. The relationship between Reddy & Abel is something along the lines of Nick & Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies, or of Pierce Brosnan & Stephanie Zimbalist in the tv series Remington Steele.

William M. Stephens' expertise in the legal stuff is obvious, only an expert could squeeze suspense out of such a dry subject as probate law.

Why only 3 stars? Simple--whether we mean to or not, judging a book by its cover happens, & this cover just doesn't work. In the Introduction, the author says it's a scene from Roan Mountain, where Reddy And Abel is set, but what do rhododendrons & mountains have to do with heirs, wills & lawyers? Otherwise, a fine romantic legal thriller from a promising author.

More from William M. Stephens: Souls on Fire
(02/16/03)

Narayan
2003©Narayan Radhakrishnan
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I am a 26 years old lawyer practicing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Along with my legal practice, I have finished post-graduate studies for both Business Law & Human Rights. I am a self proclaimed numero-uno legal thriller lover & am the proud owner of all of Grisham's & Turow's novels. I enjoy John Mortimer's Rumpole & relish an occasional Martini & a rare Scot(ch)t-oline with a Patterson on the side.

My work A FICTION OF LAW is now about 500 pages in length & features 500 lawyer authors & 2000 legal thrillers covering a 300 year period - inclusive of entries from the USA, UK, Asia, Europe, China, Middle East etc. Still in search of a publisher.
www.keralatourism.org