Take a look at this review, by Front Street Reviews, of the third book in The Osgoode Trilogy, A Trial of One, preceded by COnduct in Question and Final Paradox. A Trial of One won an honorable mention at the DIY CONVENTION and Final Paradox won an honorable mention at The Hollywood Book Festival, held in LA. Visit my website to learn more. All three novels are available at all the online bookstores.

A Trial Of One

Mary E. Martin

Reviewed by Jaimie Bell:

Although the third book in the Osgoode Trilogy, A Trial of One can definitely stand on its own. Henry Jenkins is the executor of the vast but missing fortune of declared mental incompetent Norma Dinnick. As attempts to locate and retrieve the Elixicorp shares for his devious client advance, Henry finds someone else is also searching for her millions.

Dr. Robert Hawke insists the funds belong to his institute, which developed Emerituus, a miraculous drug that claims to reverse the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Michael O’Hearn is unaffected by Hawke’s astonishing presentation and magnanimous offers designed to manipulate the greedy and ambitious medical staff.  Though determined to uncover the hoax and expose Dr. Hawke as a fraud O’Hearn has yet to learn something more sinister is afoot at Hawke Institute and that the Doctor will stop at nothing to achieve his diabolical goal of the trial of one.   

As this drama was set in motion, lonely widow Dorothy Crawford finds some startling letters that hint her philandering husband, law partner to Henry Jenkins, did not die of natural causes. Ignored by police, she sets off to investigate the identity of the person only known as Q. Crushed under the weight of a loveless marriage, she finds new strength in her skills as an amateur detective.   

The story heats up as Jenkins races to Venice for the precious bank code with Hawke’s thug hot on his trail and spies seemingly everywhere in and around the dark channels. 

A thriller, murder mystery, and romance novel rolled into one, Martin is an excellent storyteller who created compelling multi-faceted characters.  Wading into the dark waters of Alzheimer’s she presented various stages of the disease, from mild dementia to mania, through her use of minor characters. The contrast between those unfortunates and the fully functioning Dorothy Crawford was a nice touch. Intriguing references to the first two books in the trilogy made them seem a terrific read as well.  The fast moving and tense buildup led to a very satisfying conclusion.  A Trial Of One is an iUniverse Publisher’s Choice.

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