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How nice it is to see a William Lashner novel once again. Since FATAL FLAW, Lashner has been publishing on an annual basis, increasing quantity and quality in direct proportion. 2004's PAST DUE contained one of my favorite passages of that year, a description of a crime scene that paralleled a Nativity display. FALLS THE SHADOW, Lashner's latest effort, similarly has a memorable passage, a long, dark description of a slim, slow fall from grace for three individuals and the redemption of two of them.
As with Lashner's other novels, FALLS THE SHADOW features Victor Carl, an eternally struggling defense attorney whose considerable courtroom acumen is not matched by his office management talents, or lack thereof. There are several stories that take place here; front and center is Carl's defense of Francois Dube. Dube has been tried and convicted of murdering his estranged wife, and retains the reluctant services of Carl and his partner, the not-so-reluctant Beth Derringer, in his efforts to obtain a second --- and hopefully exculpatory --- trial. Dube looks guilty as guilty can be, given his fiery relationship with his wife and the presence of the murder weapon in his apartment. There also is the inescapable fact that Dube is…well, he probably belongs in prison even if he didn't kill his wife.
Carl, however, is compelled to joust at windmills, and when he discovers that one of the chief witnesses against Dube --- a young man now deceased --- had a history that goes to the issue of his credibility, he decides that there might be something worth pursuing in this case. But his unease is almost palpable, and the fact that Dube seems to be exerting an almost Svengali-like influence over Derringer doesn't help matters.
At the same time Carl finds himself appointed as guardian ad litem for
a troubled child whose difficulties are much worse than they appear on the surface.
Carl is not exactly guardian material --- and he is the first to admit it ---
but, as has been so subtly demonstrated in Lashner's past novels, there is much
to admire in Carl, once one gets past his wisecracking facade. Indeed, Lashner
plumbs heretofore unseen depths of Carl's personality, and the result is --- dare
I say it? --- ultimately heartwarming. But don't tell anybody.
One would think that the foregoing would be enough to carry two novels, but Lashner, as always, gives his readers more. FALLS THE SHADOW also introduces Dr. Robert Pfeiffer --- Bob to his patients --- a dentist who fancies himself as a fixer, and who does not limit that description to teeth. Dr. Bob is an interesting character, so interesting in fact that he threatens to hijack the entire novel away from Carl. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, one can easily visualize Dr. Bob standing there, smiling, laying the brick and mortar and glad for the opportunity. I predict that Lashner's ever-increasing legion of readers can reasonably expect to see more of Dr. Bob at some future time, perhaps in a forthcoming Carl novel or even in a nightmare.
FALLS THE SHADOW is yet another in an unbroken string of memorable novels from Lashner, a worthy successor to last year's PAST DUE. If you have never been introduced to Lashner or to Carl, now is the time to jump on. Highly recommended.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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