Product Description

California lawyer Greg Monarch was in no mood for visitors. But it's not every day a federal judge comes knocking at his door, especially with a curious request: to review the final appeal of a murderer on Death Row who personally asked for Greg's assistance. Tired of defending killers, Greg has every intention of turning the case down--until he discovers the prisoner is a former lover he hasn't seen in two decades: the fiery, impetuous Sarah Trant.

Her fate determined in a verdict rendered five years before, Sarah was found guilty of slashing an old man's throat in central California's sheltered El Nido Valley. All subsequent appeals have been denied. Now, six months from execution, she turns to the one man she hopes can save her. Greg failed once before trying to rescue Sarah from her private demons. This time, however, the demons may not be just in her head. . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #857860 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-02
• Released on: 2001-01-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 320 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Despite its sleepy appearance, the tiny hamlet of El Nido, Calif., harbors terrible secrets. As Siegel's second thriller featuring attorney Greg Monarch (after The Perfect Witness) begins, El Nido resident Sarah Trant has been sitting on death row for five years, convicted by a jury of townsfolk on the basis of very shaky evidence. Monarch, who lives in the nearby town of La Graciosa and was formerly Trant's lover, agrees to handle her appeal, though he knows Trant has a history of mental instability. Upon arriving in El Nido, he gets a frosty reception. The district attorney won't help with even the most basic information, the sheriff is downright hostile and Trant's former attorney refuses to take his calls. Monarch pushes on, eventually discovering aspects of the case that were covered up the first time around. These include the fact that the testimony clinching Trant's convictionAa dying declaration from the victim identifying Trant as the killerAis patently false; the dying man's throat was cut all the way to the spine. Monarch figures the key to the case is the victim, Brewster Tomaz, an elderly geologist who had been working for an oil company that wanted to build a huge health spa on its now dry fields. Trant, who vehemently opposed the health spa plan, had clashed with Tomaz several times in the past, but so had many others, including people with knowledge of one of El Nido's even bigger secrets. Though some of the plot turns are predictable, Siegel beautifully captures the flavor of scandal in a small communityAthe knowing looks, the awkward silences, the amateur attempts at coverup. The novel ends, appropriately, not with big-city drama, but with a quiet, small-town America nod-nod-wink-wink deal. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
California attorney Greg Monarch is back (after The Perfect Witness), and this time out he's helping old girlfriend Sarah Trant in her last-ditch efforts to avoid execution. Sarah is claiming "actual innocence" as her final defense, saying that she was framed for the murder of old Brewster Tomaz, that she didn't cut his throat and leave him dead in El Nido Creek. Greg's investigation turns up not only flagrant trial misconduct by the prosecution but also a dark tangle of lies and twisted relationships that have pushed the citizens of seemingly peaceful El Nido Valley into a conspiracy of silence. And when Sarah's original defense lawyer suddenly dies of a mysterious illness, Greg begins to realize just how dangerous his investigation is. Crime reporter Siegel has again crafted a thriller filled with a wealth of legal detail and realistic characters that will appeal to Phillip Margolin fans. Highly recommended.ARebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Lib., Hammond, IN
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
After his strikingly original debut (The Perfect Witness, 1998), Siegel settles into a more well-worn groove, inviting his returning lawyer hero Greg Monarch to reopen the five-year-old murder conviction of his onetime lover. Sarah Trant has always had a thing for blades, as Greg first realized when she pulled a knife on a cat she insisted was waiting to attack her, effectively sending her off to a psychiatric clinic and ending their romance. Now Sarah, whod gone after her release to live in the snug California valley of El Nido, is in much bigger trouble. Charles Whit, founder and managing director of ModoCorp, had planned a modern development project for El Nido and hired ancient local geologist Brewster Tomaz to burnish his reputation with the natives. When Tomaz was found with his throat cut, it took a jury less than an hour to find Sarah guilty. Looking over the case documents after Sarahs final appeal has landed on his desk, Greg can see why. Along with the physical evidence against Sarah, the State had presented a dying declaration of Sarahs guilt, courtesy of her friend, rancher Diana Sanborn, a witness whose reluctance made her testimony all the more damning. But when the witnesses he deposes keep contradicting the case put together by Sheriff Roy Rimmer, Greg decides that instead of arguing the appeal on procedural grounds, hell assert Sarahs actual innocence, condemning the guilty verdict as a gross miscarriage of justice. Sadly, the moment Gregs settled on his strategy, things get even more predictable, with witnesses rushing to recant their depositions on the stand. Only an eleventh-hour surprise can save Sarah. Hmm. Rousing stuff for fans of legal intrigue who arent up to the challenges of Siegels memorable debut. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

As good as it gets
Even when Central California Federal Judge Daniel Solman asks for his help, attorney Greg Monarch says no even though this is the woman's last appeal. Five years ago, a local jury convicted the death row inmate of killing an elderly geologist. Six months from now she will visit the chair. As he reads her petition, an angry Greg knows he must dive into another death row case because the convict is his former lover, the tumultuous Sarah Trant.

Greg begins to attain background information, but finds roadblock after roadblock. Sarah's attorney refuses to cooperate. The sheriff and the District Attorney reject Greg's inquiries. However, Greg immediately sees a fatal flaw in the prosecution's case. The victim's alleged final words accuse Sarah of murdering him, but his gutted throat made it impossible to speak. As Greg digs deeper, he realizes that other individuals had stronger motives to kill the victim, However, with official inertia slowing him down Greg wonders if he has enough time to prove his client's innocence.

ACTUAL INNOCENCE is an intriguing legal thriller that centers on a small town's conspiracy to hide a scandal. Though it's obvious what is going on, the story line is well written and provides insight into the bumbling efforts of the leading town officials to hide their ignominy.

Harriet Klausner

Actual Innocence or Actual Guilt
This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give `ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.

Actual Innocence or Actual Guilt
This being the second book of Barry Siegel that I have read in my time as a reader I had an idea of what to expect. Even thought The Perfect Witness was not my favorite book of all-time I figured what the heck, I'll give `ol Mr. Siegel another shot to win over my high credential likings. Siegel did a decent job with Actual Innocence but did not top the charts with this one in my eyes.
As in The Perfect Witness, author Barry Siegel uses a lawyer as a main character. Once again this main character is Greg Monarch. Monarch plays a top notch lawyer in la Graciosa, California. After being named the county's top lawyer Monarch is asked to take a case which seems to already have a verdict, guilty. The case is for murder, the alleged murderer that Monarch is to defend is Sarah Trant. Prior to finding out who he would be defending, Monarch refused to take the case. The reason being that Trant had previously been found guilty five times. Eventually Monarch decides to meet and defend. He travels to the El Nido Valley, where Trant is being held, on his journey there he is involved in wreck and ends up at Diana Sanborn's residents. While spending time at the Sanborn residents he learns that there has been some key evidence left out of the trials. After the District Attorney and Trant's former attorney do not help Monarch goes on his own. He found that Brewster Tomaz, who was the man Trant was believed to have killed, was slashed from one side of his throat to the other and would not have been able to speak. Trant and Tomaz did not get along due to Tomaz's brainstorm of putting a health spa in El Nido However, a witness claims that Tomaz's last words were "Sarah Trant did this." Monarch pushes on to find the "real" truth as the El Nido locals work to cover themselves. As Monarch gets to the bottom of the case Siegel shows the scandals of a murder framing in a small community. But will the jury see this or will they help to cover the El Nido community, buy and read to find out if Monarch did enough digging to get to the bottom of what Trant says is the truth in order to prove her "Actual Innocence."
Lawyers Wanted! If you're a lawyer then this book definitely could be for you. If you're not a lawyer then you had better like murder trials. My experience was that of a Figure-Skating judge trying to determine a score for a contestant who pulled off many tough stunts at times but put you to sleep throughout the rest of the routine, it had its ups and its downs. The character development I thought was a definite plus, I felt that Greg Monarch especially was well-developed throughout the story. After finding out that he was La Graciosa's top lawyer Siegel then showed why as Monarch searched and searched until he found answers. Diana Sanborn's character also developed as she began as a real nice lady trying to help Monarch out and turned out much different. Another positive of this book was the believability. This was probably the thing that kept me most interested being that these things more than likely go on in today's world. As for the negatives, I would say the biggest downer for me was how the middle of the book drug on. Even though it was a key point in the book to explain Monarch searching for answers, I often caught myself dazing off wishing I was Brewster Tomaz so I would not have to sit through these core chapters.
As I stated above if you are a lawyer then this could be your book. If you like crime or even maybe mystery or suspense books you may also be in for a possible treat. If not then read at your own risk! If you do not qualify in the traits above and perhaps are just looking for a book to read on a rainy afternoon I would recommend spending a few more dollars and getting a book of better choice, but hey that's just my opinion. I just hope that no one is caught in "actual innocence" of reading a bad book.