She Treads Softly: That Care Forgot

Sunday, November 3, 2024

That Care Forgot

That Care Forgot by James Warren
10/28/24; 304 pages
The Book Folks

That Care Forgot by James Warren is a highly recommended legal crime thriller that occurs in two time periods and cities.

In Los Angelas Rebecca Holt, a junior attorney, is handed a pro bono case of a convicted felon by a firm partner. She has to go to the prison to talk to Nick Malone about his upcoming parole hearing. Once there, Nick would rather discuss the Crescent City Killer, a a serial killer from New Orleans in the 1990's. Over the span of several visits Rebecca tries to get Nick to discuss his upcoming parole hearing while Nick insists on continuing his detailed story of the assistant district attorney and police investigation from the past.

As the narrative continues, Nick's details and insider information into the case become suspect. Why does he have so much insider information about the notorious case?

This is a well-written debut novel that displays keen insight into the corruption that can run rampant behind the scenes of a high profile investigation. As a former attorney and federal prosecutor, author James Warren has the experience and background to add details and observations to the novel that help create an atmosphere of suspense while building the tension as the plot unfolds.

The two timelines finally show a connection at the end. Some suspension of disbelief is required. Additionally, the dual stories and time periods weren't completely effective here as the story from the past is the much more compelling and interesting investigation. The characters from this time period are also more fully realized.

That Care Forgot is a good choice for those who enjoy legal crime thrillers. Thanks to The Book Folks for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.