Expert Witness: A Josie Bates Thriller

Witness Series, Book 4

By: Rebecca Forster

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

It's two in the morning when Hannah Sheraton slips into Archer's Hermosa Beach apartment to see if Josie Bates sleeps in his bed. But Josie isn't there. In fact, Josie isn't anywhere. When her Jeep is found abandoned in a parking lot near the Redondo pier, the only clue to her whereabouts leads Archer to Daniel Young, an expert witness for the prosecution in the case that made Josie's reputation as a defense attorney 10 years earlier.

Fighting to keep Hannah from being taken into custody by child protective services, racing against a clock ticking off the minutes of Josie's life, Archer reluctantly partners with Daniel Young and a rogue Hermosa Beach detective, Liz Driscoll, to race down a winding road of intrigue.

From the Hollywood Hills to the glitzy evangelical enclave of Orange County; the seedy side of Los Angeles to the pristine and remote California mountains, Archer bores into the past. What he finds is that the woman he loves was once a ruthless and hated defense attorney, that the system he believes in has released a double murderer, and that there is more than one person who would be happy if Josie Bates was never seen again.

©2011 Rebecca Forster (P)2018 Tantor

ABSOLUTELY captivating and creative.

ABSOLUTELY captivating and creative writing that draws you in and keeps you entertained for hours and the characters are realistic and diverse. I highly recommended this novel, wonderfully written and narrated. The characters are well established and you can't help to be on the edge of your seat. The narrator's toned it down now where she isn't screaming at every turn. Alot more enjoyable and the passion is intense where it calls for it. Kudos to both Writer and Narrator.

Well written

Narrators voice was alternately low and loud seemingly in wrong spots. otherwise she’s very good.

Not aging well

I like legal thrillers and have liked these book in the past, but I can’t stand things being told from Archers prospective. Moreover, I can’t believe a woman would write this way. Every woman he comes in to contact with he makes really insulting observations and judgments based on their appearance. Not to mention the thoughts he has about Hannah, the 16 year old girl.

He’s being portrayed as being so manly he can’t control his aggression, and the fact that this toddler-like lack of control is intended to make him more sexy and desirable to the reader, makes me a little bit sick. I’m usually not super sensitive to these types of issues, but for whatever reason, in this book it’s rubbing me the wrong way. Maybe because he’s supposed to be the good guy? I usually never skip books in a series, but this is the third time I’ve tried to read this one and the absurdity of Archer’s inner thoughts and voice are too much. I just can’t even.