A Conflict of Interest: A Novel

(If you want a good laugh and good review--read Audible reviewer 'Richard from San Anselmo's' review--it's worth looking up. Also, looking at his library, an excellent source for the kind of read this book was marketed as...actual thriller/crime novels.)

Not a thriller, not a page turner, not a plot-twister, as claimed by page after page of 5 star reviews and press releases. I have people on my very mainstream block that live as conflicted and interesting lives as the people in this book. It's great that readers are excited about Mr. Mitzner's debut, it is an admirable debut and I hope we see more from this new author--it just isn't 5 stars. Conflict was average; written well enough, and with an easy pace that kept it just one step ahead of the termination gong. One reviewer stated this was a "character study" more than a thriller; agreed...but when the package says "thriller", you want a few thrills.

This is a tautly-written story with absolutely nothing gratuitous. Besides an engrossing plot, it has captivating commentary on the legal system, well-developed, believable characters and a refreshing absence of vulgarity. I hope the author writes a sequel; if not, I anxiously await his next book. It was a pleasure to listen to.

I was engrossed from beginning to end.

David LeDoux was the perfect choice for this book, as it was written in the first person and LeDoux used subtle variations in his delivery to depict the various young, older, male and female characters as though the main character was, indeed, simply telling his story.

Yes, the ending was poignant and provocative.

I wish all novels were as well-written.

I feel like suing Audible for false advertising. This book is dull as dirt. It's about some sleazy corporate lawyers defending an investment banker for running what is called in the financial world a "pump and dump" operation. The firm is, unbelievably, called OPM, which is an acronym for Other People's Money. This was actually the title of a movie about twenty years ago, with Danny Devito, on a similar topic. I have listened for hours hoping to hear anything thrilling in the plot: a romantic twist, a fast pursuit other than the Feds indicting the sleazy guy in the legal case, some surprising courtroom action: anything. Nothing. The narrator has a pleasant voice. The attorneys and associates read giant boxes of documents and millions of pages of buy/sell tickets. Doesn't it make you want to hear more? The lead character almost has an affair with his associate lawyer. Doesn't it make your spine tingle? He and his beautiful stay-at-home wife, an artist who hasn't done anything creative since becoming a mother, have a darling daughter named Charlotte. They live in the upper class suburbs. His office is in Manhattan and is full of lawyers inflating their bills. He stays at the Four Seasons when he travels. His client has a mansion. Aren't you sitting on the edge of your chair in suspense?
BORING!

The plot and the way the story unwound made it interesting from beginning to end.

I enjoy books that continue to unravel a story without giving away the end.

Definitely enjoyable escape and would enjoy more from this author.

I'm not much into fiction books but this one popped up on the front page of audible.com so i read the review and bought the book. Two days later a I was done with the 10 or so hours of audio. This is quite an accomplishment since it typically takes me around a month to finish any book. The plot kept me tuning in at any chance I got. The guy that read it did a very good job, I wish I could have him read all the audio books that I buy. It was well written too. All around a very good buy.

Thank you, Audible, for recommending this debut thriller. It was well written. Full of unexpected but mostly believable twists. Amusing without the humor getting in the way. Excellently read. Hope Mr. Mitzner is a fast writer.

It was a pleasantly written story with enough technical information to keep it interesting but not too technical. It was a good story. I found it entertaining yet real from a legal standpoint, with enough twists to keep the listener on their toes! Will watch for this authors next one!

Lots of writers write about courtroom drama, but this is by far one of the best I've read in a long time. I can't write about my favorite part, but I'll just say this... exposure rocks.

The wife.

He nailed it.

Exposure-the price we pay.

Loved it!!!!!

I'll admit I give up on so many audiobooks due to my tendency to allow my mind to wander. If a story doesn't grab me in the first 10 minutes, I am done with it. Not so with A Conflict of Interest. It got me right away and held my attention until the very end. The narrator was great but it is the author that deserves the praise. I look forward to Mr. Mitzer's future work.

Probably. I haven't looked at the print version; but, unless a book has illustrations, I usually prefer the audio version ... always assuming that it has a good narrator.

The ending offers a couple of satisfying -- although somewhat predictable -- surprises. Pay attention to the "Scary Lady" painting that keeps weaving its way through the story.

I didn't like any of the main characters very much. The protagonist -- Alex Miller -- seems emotionally weak. His wife, Elizabeth, doesn't behave believably in the face of her husband's affair; and his lover, Abby, demonstrates poor scruples in pursuing a married man. The antagonist, Michael Ohlig, is supposed to be unlikeable, and is, accordingly, unlikeable. He behaves like a spoiled rich person, hiring a lawyer -- Alex -- to defend him, then refusing to listen that lawyer's advice.

Don't forget your family ...

"A Conflict of Interest" has a pretty good plot for a first novel; but the characters lack some credibility. I think that Mitzner shows potential, and will probably improve in future outings. David LeDoux has a nice voice and reads the book well, but doesn't always distinguish the characters from one another in dialogue. If you like legal thrillers, you will probably like "A Conflict of Interest" ... even though it doesn't actually qualify as a thriller. By the way, the title definitely has relevance: Alex should never have taken the case!