HOSTILE WITNESS audiobook

this is an excellent work. I literally relished every word as I plunged into the depths of the brilliance of William Lashner. I am amazed that it took so long to hear about him. this is top-notch in every way. IF you like to read, I heartily recommend Hostile Witness. if you like deep character development, logical plots, and justice, I recommend Hostile Witness. I cannot say enough good about this.

Can you really trust anyone with two first names?Victor Carl is a weaselly lawyer of no repute who digs his own legal grave by getting involved with people he shouldn't. Never much to begin with in his ratty office on 21st st. in Philadelphia, by the end he's forever disgraced in his first major courtroom appearance.So why should we care? Because Carl's a better man than he ever admits to himself, and in most things his instincts and intuition lead him to a level of truth that his more cerebral (and ethical) counterparts never reach. And though he'd hate to admit it, at heart his not only a decent human being but a deeply caring one.The other reasons to love Carl are Lashner's writing style, full of humor and sideways comments on life, a wonderful sense of complicated plot, and a man who knows and uses his city superbly (unlike Lisa Scottoline, who has no sense of Philadelphia at all and an almost total inability to make lawyers sound real). As a Philadelphian myself, I know well the block where Carl has his office, and Lashner's pinned it to the wall.This is the first of the Victor Carl series by Lashner, and my second favorite of the lot. By every one is worth reading.

The 1st in the Victor Carl series...a down-on-his-luck Philly lawyer picked to "go along to get along" in a headline trial whose lead attorney has a hidden agenda...sex, violence, mystery & the ins & outs of "big city" politics...great characters & plenty of twists to keep pages turning...excited to find out the author is a grad of Iowa's Writer's Workshop...good stuff!!!

I enjoyed this. It was pretty obvious that the mc was being used, at times I thought it was too obvious, but overall I liked it. Very solid legal thriller.

A LAWYER HANDBOOKThis very long book masterfully written with some sense of humor and fine prose, portraits one situation any lawyer may confront any point in his working life, to decide to follow ethic principles and be financially strained or grab the opportunity that comes once in life, quick career advancement and social prestige working in association with the top company of the city in the litigation field performing dishonest maneuverings in order to protect the shady deals of the powerful bad guys.The main character and hero, attorney Victor Carl, is very likeable, speaks in first person and probably reflects the experiences collected in the working life of the author who exhibits a proven track record as a lawyer according to what is mentioned in the back cover of the book. Throughout the intricated plot Victor explores the underworld of Philadelphia, coming in contact with corruption, scandals, organized crime, embezzlements, scams, bribes, drug abuse and all kind of crooks.A must read for every junior lawyer fresh off from graduation, far different from any Grisham or Turrow thriller, this story besides entertaining, teaches lessons.

This was a long book filled with an incredible amount of detail. A struggling young lawyer with resentment abounding thinks he's just landed his first opportunity with a noted blue blood firm. As it slowly dawns on him that he's been set up to represent the guy taking the fall, he comes to life. His adventures are many and varied in this new world of gangsters, drug dealers and murderers. Lashner writes a few powerfully sensual sex scenes in the course of these adventures. All in all, this is a good book well worth reading. I'm pretty sure I read it twenty years ago when it was first published. I hope I enjoyed it as much then.

A very good legal thriller Good on the law, but Hemingway he ain't. Like some in this genre, some descriptions are overwrought, but stick with it.

Great first Victor Carl novel - I plan on reading them all.In Hostile Witness, Victor Carl has a golden opportunity land in his lap. A big law firm calls on him to represent a councilman's aids on trial for arson and murder. The aide's boss is also on trial. All Carl had to to is show up and do as he's told.However, he figures out that his client is being set up, and decides to fight back.I'm not a fan of legal thrillers, ever since they flooded the market on Grisham's coattails, but Lashner does it differently and better. Much more entertaining, in my opinion.

Jostle witness a good start for Victor Carl series.I've never been good at reading out of order series so, after reading a it of the stand alone works of Wm. Lashner, I went back to the beginning a Victor Ca rl. Though the writing was less refined, it was a good start for Mr. Lashner and I have to catch up as I know the author does since I have read a lot of his recent stuff.👍👍👍👍

My new favorite authorI was worried when I read through series by Louis Penney, Karin Slaughter and several others. What to read next?? Then, in my tiny local library, I found William Lasher and his main character- Victor Carl. Thank Gawd! A new series, and a good pne!

A very well written legal thriller.The characters are brilliant, the story very believable and the ending as not what I expected. I will probably find my ending in the next book. Buy it you will like it.

I procrastinated reading this book because of its length, but I enjoyed all 501 pages. I couldn't help but like Victor, even though he needed a swift kick in the posterior for most of the first 300 pages. I'll read more Lashner after this.

great bookI have never wished that a fictional character was real and that I could meet them before encountering Morris Kapustin in this book. Gifted dialogue made this book special.

Good book and especially for people who know Philadelphia PA. You will recognize places mentioned in the book

A very good story about attorneys, mobsters, politics, and drugs. It had me guessing up to the end on what would happen. Highly recommend this book if you like this genre.

Good legal read. Like that it is set in Philadelphia.

Fast-paced, intelligent, suspenseful. Colorful characters. Fun read.

It was a good story, with a lot of twists and turns. I liked the action interspersed with the court room drama. Good characters.

Very enjoyableVictor Carl, esq. is offered the kind of job with a big law firm he has always wanted and expected. But it turned on him like bad canolli.Enjoy