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The Bad Witness
Laura Van Wormer Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Bad Witness
"

Mira, Nov 2002, 23.95, 352 pp.
ISBN: 1551669528

NY TV news reporter Sally Harrington is in Santa Monica to testify as a defense witness in the “Mafia Boss Murder Trial”. Hollywood producer Jonathan Small stands trial for killing mobster Nick Arlenetta. While the prosecutor screams murder one, the defense team insists self-defense as they claim that Jonathan shot Nick before the mobster could kill his sister. Sally who has done a documentary on the East Coast mob families plans to testify that Nick tried to kill her also.

Following attempts on Sally's life, her boss and mentor at DBS News Alexandra Waring coaxes the police to provide her reporter with protection around the clock. Officer Paul Fitzwilliam and Sally feel an immediate attraction, but her safety comes first especially when she is hurt in a hit and run incident. As Sally becomes the news rather than reporting it, the trial takes center stage, but will she live long enough to provide her “expert” opinion?

Though shifted to the West Coats, the fourth Harrington novel reads similar to the previous three tales as she once again makes for a good novel when Sally is in center stage. The problem is the trial that goes on and on and on, etc. while keeping Sally on the sidelines for the most part as a mere observer. Not as powerful as tales like TROUBLE BECOMES HER, HE BAD WITNESS contains enough of Sally's brand of shtick to satisfy her fans.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Bad Witness
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets: - escape/rescue from kidnappers
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - breaking up mobsters
If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - journalist
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 0 (not a murder mystery)
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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