By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer

I have read every novel by Randy Singer, and I do believe he has finally outdone himself. "By Reason of Insanity" is by far the most complex and captivating legal thriller I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Newspaper reported Catherine O'Rourke covers the compelling courtroom trial of Annie Newburg Hofstetter, accused of murdering her husband in premeditated and cold blood. Defending her is hotshot attorney Quinn Newberg, a lawyer who specializes in the insanity defense.

Covering the trial raises some powerful emotion for Catherine, and it is reflected in her articles. When a series of seemingly connected kidnappings and murders take place in Virginia Beach, Catherine goes to jail to protect her anonymous source. While in jail, she begins to have disturbing visions of these crimes.

And that is when things begin to go horribly wrong for her. Suddenly she isn't reporting the news...she IS the news. After confiding in her confidential source, she finds herself accused of one of these heinous crimes.

Caught up in a legal battle that takes her breath away, Catherine insist on hiring the attorney she witnessed in action in the courtroom months prior to these events.

But by hiring Quinn, is this an admission of guilt on Catherine's part? Can Quinn work his courtroom magic and get Catherine acquitted, or at least off by reason of insanity? And how can he juggle two high profile cases at once?

With skill and finesse, Randy Singer takes us on a ride like no other. How he keeps all the individual details of each aspect of this tale in order is unimaginable to me. If writing is an art, Randy Singer is the Picasso of the legal thriller.

He has the ability to throw a shocker and make it seem so real (the first one comes in the First. Chapter.--how cool is THAT?!), only to have you catching your breath as he spins you in another direction a split second later.

Each element of the storyline is carefully introduced and is woven together so neatly, you're left wondering "Why didn't I see it coming?"

Masterfully written, "By Reason of Insanity" is Randy Singer's best work to date. No matter how much I love his writing, each novel gives me more reason to call him the master of the legal thriller. There's only one problem with reading a Randy Singer novel...

it leaves you wanting more. And that is actually a very good thing.

I'm giving "By Reason of Insanity" six out of five bookmarks, with a legal pad as a charm...he must have notes all over the place when he writes in order to keep his story straight! But keep it straight he does, and it shoots right to the top of my list.

I'm voting "By Reason of Insanity" the "Best Legal Thriller of 2008"...I honestly doubt anyone will be able to top this one in my opinion. "By Reason of Insanity" releases May 2008 from Tyndale.

Happy Reading!

Deena