Old City Hall

By Robert Rotenberg

Book Overview

"Breathtaking . . . A tightly woven spiderweb of plot and a rich cast of characters make this a truly gripping read." -Jeffery Deaver, author of The Bodies Left Behind It should be an openandshut case. Canada's leading radioshow host, Kevin Brace, has confessed to killing his young wife. He had come to the door of his luxury condominium with his hands covered in blood and told the newspaper deliveryman: "I killed her." His wife's body lay in the bathtub of their suite, fatal knife wound just below the sternum. Now all that should remain is legal procedure: document the crime scene, prosecute the case, and be done with it. The trouble is, Brace refuses to talk to anyone-including his own lawyer-after muttering those incriminating words. With the discovery that the victim was actually a self-destructive alcoholic, the appearance of strange fingerprints at the crime scene, and a revealing courtroom cross-examination, the seemingly simple case begins to take on all the complexities of a hotlycontested murder trial. In the tradition of defense lawyersturnedauthors such as Scott Turow and John Grisham, Toronto-based defense counsel Robert Rotenberg delivers a debut legal thriller rich with his forensic skill. Firmly rooted in Toronto, from the ancient Don Jail to the sterile morgue and the shadowy corridors of the historic courthouse, Old City Hall takes the reader inside clattering Italian restaurants and late-night greasy spoons-and outside, to open-air skating rinks and parade-filled streets. Rotenberg leads us on a fascinating tour of a city as exciting and vital as the motley ensemble populating his story: there's Awotwe Amankwah, the only black reporter covering the crime; Judge Johnathan Summers, an old navy captain who runs his courtroom like he's still standing astride the foredeck; Edna Wingate, an eighty-three year old British war bride who just loves hot yoga; and Daniel Kennicott, a former big-firm lawyer who became a cop after his brother was murdered and the investigation hit a dead end. Douglas Preston rejoices that Rotenberg's Toronto settings "make this most multicultural city in North America come alive." Elmore Leonard has Florida; John Lescroart, San Francisco; Robert B. Parker, Boston; Scott Turow, Chicago; George Pelecanos, D.C. And now, with Old City Hall , Rotenberg offers us a page-turning legal thriller set in a diverse and surprising Toronto filled with unexpected characters and plot twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374225427
• ISBN13: 9780374225421
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 369 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

What a find!

Other reviewers have outlined the plot, which delivers as many twists as a corkscrew. The book is well paced and the characters fully developed: the detectives; the accused and his family; the prosecutor, and witness Mr. Gurdial Singh; none are cardboard characters or placeholders. It was a rare pleasure to read, and I hope for more novels from this very talented author.

Really Captivating

Fantastic first novel. Even the "minor" characters came to life and the plot unfolded in a captivating way ... couldn't put the book down. One of the best books I've read in some time. I can't wait for his next novel!

Couldn't Put It Down

We loved this book because it was fun to read. Details are so well written that it is easy to visualize the story. The characters are well developed, believable, and the ending isn't predictable. You don't have to be Canadian or a Maple Leafs fan to get the humor. Hope to meet Greene and Kennicott again and again. They get into your bones like old friends.

I Can't Wait for the Next in the Series

Somehow the cover of this book interested me as I walked through the library. I read the first paragraph and I was taken. I could not put it down. The characters were all so interesting. It seems like Mr Rotenberg has thought of these folks for a long time and was anxious to give them life. The plot moved around some. It began to unwind slowly, but as the book progressed the action sped up. I do not want to give away the story but pay attention to the side characters. Also the court room scenes were insightful. One can tell Mr. Rotenberg was a trial lawyer. He showed what was going on in a very clear manner. The ending was a little convuluted but I did not mind it because I did not want it to end.

Wow! Couldn't put it down...

This is a terrific book. It's got a rich cast of characters - created with such insight into human nature that they seem like people you know. The plot is inventive and multi-layered. This is not your usual "Just the facts M'aam" linear mystery. It's a mystery for smart people. I loved it.