Book Review: Cross Examination by James E. Carroll

Reviewed by Josie Prado

A tense and atmospheric legal thriller featuring murder and fraud

Navigating a courtroom and attempting to complete the herculean task of convincing 12 strangers of your client’s innocence is difficult. Attorney Jamie Carson has faced this challenge numerous times and achieved great success, thanks in large part to the support of his firm, Ely, Snow, & Carson.

On one fateful day, however, he’s tasked with representing Herbert “Herbie” Jones, a stockbroker charged with felony firearm possession. Herbie’s story is outrageous: he claims he was involved in a bar fight, passed out, and woke up in jail facing a gun charge. He swears that he has never owned a gun and has no idea why the weapon was found in his car.

Carson is committed to doing what he does best—finding the right moment to turn the jury to his side with eloquence and style. This is complicated, however, by the discovery that the gun can be traced to a murder that occurred two weeks prior. The state prosecution is determined to make sure Herbie is brought to justice for the crime, even if the evidence is nebulous.

Although Ely, Snow, & Carson has never represented a client charged with a capital crime before, Carson believes his client is a scapegoat who is being set up by his company, Atoll Investments. Carson’s team begins their research and searches for a truth that is shrouded in corruption, manipulation, and greed.

Cross Examination excels with the natural-sounding, rapid-fire dialogue we’ve come to know, love, and expect from our legal thrillers. Carson’s questions feel realistic and not overly dramatic for the sake of entertainment—even if they are still entertaining. As readers, we feel like members of the jury, gasping collectively as Carson skillfully makes his point.

This book also does a great job of capturing the little-known aspects of a lawyer’s work and the challenges they face. Sure, there are mentions of the material benefits of practicing law, but the book really hits home on the toll of such a demanding work schedule.

Emphasizing the importance of meticulous research in building a case, this is a multi-faceted story that requires thinking from multiple angles. Luckily, Caroll explains legal jargon simply and well; this book is both a faithful study and a genuine admiration for the practice of law.

Sometimes, there can be a bit too much exposition regarding the characters, their personalities, and even some of their discoveries. Without it, we don’t always piece together key insights alongside Carson and instead simply find out what he learns. Still, there are so many fun and interesting plot twists to discover in Cross Examination. Legal thriller aficionados have met their match with this ligitation-loving, twisty novel.

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