Ben Lewis is young
for a judge. He was appointed by the governor as a favor to his dead
father. Sometimes he doubts his ability as a judge and facing the
most important trial of his career others do also. The trial
concerns the murder of a beautiful woman. Her husband, who was drunk
at the time, found her and immediately became the chief suspect. The
case seems open and shut, but is it?
Ben has his own
romantic problems being caught between two women, a desirable Swedish
girl, and a sultry Mexican heiress. As Ben struggles with the trial
and his personal demons, he faces the truth about himself and the
law.
A Covenant with
Death is more than a murder mystery, it's a psychological exploration
of the meaning of life and the relation of law to society. The novel
takes place in an unnamed Southwestern county in 1923. The atmosphere
of heat and sand is a perfect backdrop for the ensuing action. I
thought the author did an excellent job showing how the town's people
react during the complex case.
Ben's character is
well done. Although I often dislike books where the main character
does a lot of soul searching, in this instance it was compelling. I
also loved the character of his mother. I highly recommend this book
if you enjoy a good murder mystery, but even more if you're
interested in truth, innocence, and the limits of the law.
I received this book
for review from Net Galley.
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