Line of Vision

Rarely do first novels have original, well-developed plots. Line of Vision has one of the best plots I have ever read in the legal thriller genre. If the character development were as strong as the plot, Line of Vision would be one of the great legal thrillers of all time. In the end, the book successfully transcends the amazing plot to raise fundamental questions about human motivation that will haunt you.

I was attracted to Line of Vision after learning that the book had received the Edgar award for best first novel. Since I had found many other fine writers this way, I was looking forward to the book. My high expectations were greatly exceeded. The plot complications reminded me of first-year classes in evidence in law school while the complexity of the issues addressed exceeded most law school articles I have read. Those who like their thrillers to be intellectually challenging will adore this book!

Marty Kalish is the book's protagonist and narrates the story. He is...Read more

This is everything that someone looking to read a legal thriller wants to see in a book. Great courtroom scenes, legal dueling behind the scenes, twists and turns in nearly every chapter, and an ending that will shock are all present here. When I was reading this book, I was consistently reminded of Scott Turow's classic, Presumed Innocent, though this book is not quite up to that standard. It's close though.

Some of the negative reviews here confuse me, since I really didn't see anything not to like in this novel. Yes, it is in first person, which can detract from some books, but I think that only adds to a novel like this. The main characters are well developed. The book flows well and the surprise ending is just crafty enough that it's difficult to guess but still believable. This writer will be very popular very quickly, so if you want to say that you were on the bandwagon before everyone else, read it now. Ellis is like John Grisham before he realized that he didn't...Read more

In this ingenious first novel, David Ellis tells the story in this psychological legal thriller through commentary by the main character, Marty Kalish, an investment banker. Kalish, an up-and-comer in a prestigious firm, tells us his story in real time and flashbacks of a love affair with married socialite Rachel Reinhardt. Early in the novel, we learn that Marty killed her surgeon husband who was in the process of beating Rachel. Or what did happen? Marty proceeds to build alibis, ditch evidence but is still arrested for the murder despite the lack of a body or any physical evidence connecting him to the murder scene.

Through the preparation for the trial, we learn more about Marty whose life was focused on succeeding in business to build up personal wealth. Except for a close relationship to his nephew, Marty has few redeeming relationships in his life. You do build a strange kinship with him in his struggle to build a defense and in his reactions to events with his former...Read more