Law of Attraction: A Novel

Review by Susan Tunis for Law of Attraction: A NovelRating: Until reading Allison Leotta`s novel, Law of Attraction, I`d forgotten exactly how often I enjoy legal thrillers.This entry is a joy from first to finish.The fundamental part is Anna Curtis, a freshly-minted Assistant U. S. Attorney.Anna prosecutes misdemeanor domestic violence cases, and as the novel opens we see the Laprea Johnson case from the first intake.

nna`s opposing counsel for the test is an old law school pal, Nick Wagner.Despite a strong attraction, Anna knows that she can`t get involved with a public defender-and surely not one she`s up against!But later the unsatisfactory conclusion of the Johnson case, Anna and Nick`s relationship changes.And it changes once more when they see themselves on opposing sides of the Johnson case for a 2nd time.

While it is no doubt annoying for a novelist to be compared to her fictional creation, it is open that Allison and Anna share more than a hair color.Allison Leotta also graduated Harvard Law and became an AUSA in Washington, DC.Her intimate acquaintance with Anna`s world really shows.She is unquestionably strongest when writing from Anna`s POV, and slightly weaker when channeling her inner city characters.At one place one of them claims, "All due respect, Ms. Curtis, but you don`t love my life."`Nuff said.Still, Leotta manages to make some interesting and layered characters.

For a novice novelist, she does an excellent job with exposition, and really explains the ins and outs of what prosecutors are up against.The prose and negotiation are warm as well.It`s not that the authorship is especially beautiful, but it isn`t clunky either.It`s just easy reading without being dumb.The pages fly by and there`s a welcome vein of humor throughout the bible to relieve the colored subject matter.

With any secret or thriller, it`s actually the game that makes or breaks the story.I basically figured the whole thing out about midway through the novel.I`m clever like that.When, 50 pages later, the friend was thinking on the same lines as me, I realised that maybe the novelist was more cunning than I had granted her credit for and had tossed a few red herrings into the mix.In the end, I did get some of it right, but there were a heck of a lot of surprises on the way.This is a fast-paced book, and if somehow the mystery doesn`t prevent you completely riveted, there`s a serious luck the romantic aspect will.Things get a bit steamy.

While Law of Attraction isn`t going to win any literary awards, it was a terrifically entertaining debut and was more than adequate to meet me.This is an author to watch.I`m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!