Eight stars
I turned my attention to Paul Goldstein once more for yet another strong legal thriller. He creates a well-paced piece that is able to keep my attention and educate me in equal measure. With Michael Seeley back in control of his life, he is nestled into the Manhattan firm that helped him build a reputation. With many great clients, Michael is surprised when he is visited by an elderly Cuban musician, seeking to have the rights to his music back. Michael fights against pushback from his firm and the US Government to advocate for his clients, but finds himself in a great deal of hot water along the way. A great addition to the series that exemplifies Paul Goldstein’s work once more.
A legal genius who fell into the bottle, Michael Seeley oversaw his law firm’s litigation and proved himself to be highly successful. After it all fell apart, he lost his wife, his job, and most of his reputation.That was a year ago and Michael has done quite a bit to rehabilitate himself. He’s back working in his swanky Manhattan firm and handling countless cases that are both rewarding and complex. When Hector Reynoso darkens his door one day, Michael is confused. Hector comes with a recommendation from one of Michael’s longtime friends, but also with a mission. Hector would like the rights back to the music he wrote and performed in Cuba decades ago. Michael knows that he can do this and will likely not have too much trouble getting it accomplished. However, he will have to convince those within the firm of the benefit.
Michael faces significant blowback from certain members of the firm, but is able to convince enough of the partners to back his plan, as long as it does not impede Michael’s ongoing work. As Michael begins getting the paperwork in order for Hector, the elderly musician stops responding. Michael is soon told that Hector has returned to Cuba to rally some of his fellow musicians behind the plan to take back their music rights. Michael decides to risk it all and head to Havana, if only to liaise with his soon-to-be clients. There, Michael learns that the State Department is also leery of the ongoing engagement with this case and tries to deter the lawyer at every turn.
Added to the State Department, Cuba’s security police has its eye on Michael and there is no turning back. As Michael hunts for his would-be client, he discovers that there is more to the story than simply a few musicians. People much more powerful than he want this entire mess muted and left on the shelf, though they are subtle in their protestations. As Michael finds himself in more trouble, he will have to pull on every ounce of lawyering and use what gumption remains inside him to protect himself and the rights of a number of elderly men who only ever wanted to make music to be happy. Paul Goldstein delivers what I feel is his best novel in this short series, sure to impress the attentive reader.
I love legal thrillers that put me at the centre of all the action. Paul Goldstein replicates the feeling yet again, pushing limits and showing another side of the law. The narrative provides a clear pathway for the reader to see another side of Michael Seeley, as well as more aspects of the law that are both entertaining and unique from anything I have read before. Characters have always been something Goldstein develops well and this is no exception. Michael receives some added depth and his legal surroundings are better explored, but there is also a great sense of flavouring as those Cuban men and women enter the fray. The reader can feel everything going on and the characters serve as wonderful vessels to deliver heightened excitement to the story. The plot moves well, not bogging down as past novels have suffered, and there is a sense of surprise with each chapter. I would easily call this my favourite of the three novels and hope Paul Goldstein returns to offer more to his great protagonist, in whatever capacity that might be.
Kudos, Mr. Goldstein, for yet another refreshing look at the law.
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