Tell No Lies

By Julie Compton

Book Overview

Jack Hilliard has the perfect life. A family man with two young sons and a supportive wife that he has loved since the day they met, he's also on the verge of being elected District Attorney of St. Louis. As secure at home as he is in the courtroom, he has plenty to fight for and nothing to hide. But everything in Jack'slife is not nearly as perfect as it seems,as he learns when he finally admits tobeingattracted to one of hisold friends and colleagues, Jenny Dodson. Jack tries hard to put his feelings for her aside, but his attraction develops into an obsession that he can't control. What should have been a terrible mistake never to be repeated turns into even more when Jenny is accused of the murder of one of her clients, and Jack is her only alibi. Now Jack's in the painful and precarious position of being trapped between saving a friend and protecting his family. Julie Compton's searing debut novel, Tell No Lies , is as much a whodunit as it is about why--why does Jack Hilliard do what he does, even when it seems he can't win, why does Jenny Dodson let him,and why is human nature as much about love and conviction as it is about trust and betrayal?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312378750
• ISBN13: 9780312378752
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 358 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.8" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Much more than a Legal Thriller

I thought I knew what to expect when I saw this was billed as a legal thriller, but boy was I wrong. A good part of the "thrill" in this book is how wonderfully developed and multi-dimensional the characters are. They suck you right in, and you care about them despite their faults. The author is very good at creating a powerful image with a single sentence that would have taken lesser writers five pages of description. And that's one of the things I like best about this book--it takes for granted that the reader is intelligent enough to make the leaps. I've read too many books recently that tried to spoonfeed me. There are a few poetic moments that just took my breath away. When you get to the cicadas, you'll know what I mean. And finally, I loved how the author did not follow the thriller "formula" of placing certain events at the beginning of the story and nevertheless was able to keep the suspense at a high level throughout. Let that be a lesson to other publishers out there--there's more than one way to weave a tale and readers appreciate an author who can take a different path and make it just as exciting.

A Good Solid Read

Julie Compton begins her writing career in fine style with a fast moving, quick read. What begins as an innocent kiss, takes a turn with deep reaching consequences. Without giving the story away, I'll say that the story's protagonist, Jack, is in for a soul searching ride. Torn between two options -- both damaging and potentially devistating to his career and family -- he will let his conscience guide his actions. A good solid read with authentic courtroom action.

As psychologically powerful as Fatal Attraction

I love this book ... Julie Compton deftly takes one into the lives of her characters, creates a complete sense of their enviroment then allows one to one to watch, like a horrified by-stander, as decisions, events and unexpected twists careen out of control to shatter lives. Between the artful nuances of lawyer negotiations, the suspenseful courtroom action and complex personal relationships (on many levels) I got the impression in addition to the author's law degree she must certainly have a minor in psychology. I can't wait to read Compton again.

Jack and Jenny...

This story is about a guy that has the perfect life..he's a District Attorney, he has a beautiful and devoted wife ...everything is perfect and in place until he starts to flirt with a colleague, Jenny Dodson. Their flirting turns into a kiss the kiss turns into an affair and the affair turns in obsession. One night of sex and lies creates the 'unperfect' world for Jack. Tell No Lies has courtroom drama, lies, sex, betrayal and murder. This was an enjoyable read with a twist you would never expect!

Spectacular and Seductive Debut

Tell No Lies is a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with intense situations from the courtroom to the bedroom and various other arenas in between. As a former attorney herself, the author, Julie Compton, manages to weave together a legal drama alongside seductively tangled relationships in and around the main character, Jack Hilliard. The drama unfolds at a strong pace, builds up nicely in the end, and ends on an unexpected twist. It's what every reader needs to escape life for a while--a must read!