Petra's Reviews > Blood Defense

My original Blood Defense audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
This is the first book featuring criminal defense attorney Samantha Brinkman. Brinkman and her team take on the case of an LAPD detective, Dale Pearson, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, a popular TV actress, and her roommate. The case ensures plenty of media attention and could be just what Samantha, who is hardworking but struggling financially, needs. But as more details of Detective Pearson’s relationships and history are uncovered, Samantha realizes this case will test her not only professionally but also personally.
Delivered in Samantha’s first person perspective, it was quite easy to warm up to her character. Samantha is witty and sarcastic allowing for some very entertaining dialogue. Her interactions with her office manager and longtime friend, Michelle, and her investigator, Alex, a clever ex-con, were fun. However, it was the legal elements of this thriller and the courtroom action that were particularly strong. But I found some of the action stuff a bit over the top. The story moved along at a good pace, provided a few nice twists, and it held my attention. But I think I would have enjoyed this more if I had read it rather than listened to it.

While the narration suited the protagonist’s character to a certain degree, it was too theatrical for me. I had to pause it several times because the melodramatic – at times almost hysterical – delivery actual made me jittery and made me want to shout at “Samantha” to freaking calm down.

This was my first book by Marcia Clark, lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case, and I enjoyed her style of writing. The second Samantha Brinkman novel, Moral Defense, was recently released and as there is a different narrator, I will definitely check it out.
There were no issues with the audio quality of the production.

I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys legal thrillers with a humorous undertone and a strong female protagonist. 4 stars for the story, but I really couldn't give the narration more than 2 stars, sorry.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com