Reasonable Doubts

By: Gianrico Carofiglio, Howard Curtis (translator)

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 6 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

Guerrieri is asked to handle the appeal of Fabio Paolicelli, sentenced to 16 years for smuggling drugs. Paolicelli intially confessed to the crime, and everything seems stacked against the appeal. Guerrieri's reluctance to take on the case is intensified by the fact that he knows Paolicelli, and it is only the intervention of Paolicelli's beautiful wife, Natsu, that finally overcomes Guerrieri's reluctance.

©2007 Gianrico Carofiglio (P)2011 Audible Ltd

Critic Reviews

"At one level an exciting courtroom thriller, but what places it in a superior league is the portrayal of a slice of Italian society not normally encountered in crime fiction and an immensely appealing flawed hero.'' (The Times, London)

"Hard-boiled and sun-dried in equal parts. Where Philip Marlowe would be knocking back bourbon and listening to the snap of fist on jaw, Guido Guerrieri prefers Sicilian wine and Leonard Cohen. The role of Guerrieri is to take on impossible cases that have little chance of success. His efforts to prove his client's innocence bring him into dangerous conflict with Mafia interests. Everything a legal thriller should be." (Financial Times)

A Convincing Voice in Criminal Procedural Fiction

I heard Gianrico Carofiglio interviewed on public radio and was intrigued enough to buy my first audio version of his book. I liked it so much that I bought another one this month. The vividly depicted internal monologue of this brilliant, but damaged attorney successfully blends the story of his psychological struggles with the legal mazes he maneuvers. The "voice" of the author is well served by the narrator, Sean Barrett, whose performance is outstanding - giving the listener the sensation of being inside this lawyer/sleuth's head!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Guerrieri loves Leonard Cohen and old movies.
By no meams does a person have to have read the earlier books to enjoy this well written story, so well interpreted by Sean Barrett.

While there is implied threats of violence because of Mafia involvement in drug running, the story needs no graphic descriptions of violence. There is a lingering desire for revenge for past events that Guerrieri has to confront, he thinks, to represent his potential client.

The story walks us through a story of the city of Bare using the very personal and professional experiences of Guerrieri. At times humourous and at times visually 'poetic' this is a good story from start to finish.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A very special kind of procedural whodunit

This is the second Carofiglio novel I've listened to and I loved every moment. The main character is an honest defense lawyer in the city of Bari who makes a living defending all sorts of low lifes who walk into his office. But once in a while he gets a client he can really believe in, and this restores his love for the law and brings out his talents in court. This is no run of the mill "procedural" whodunit. Sean Barrett, as always, does an outstanding job.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Revisiting Carofiglio and Barrett . . . Book 3

Yes, Italian novelist, Gianrico Carofiglio and narrator, Sean Barrett. How could you go wrong? I listened to the first two books in this four part series and really enjoyed them. In this third book, Barrett did his usual impeccable narration and interpretation of attorney, Guido Guerrieri. Barrett elevates any book at least by one star. However, I did not find this book as compelling as the first two and have been left with alot of random thoughts and questions as to what I found lacking.

Is it obligatory that all of these books have sex in them even if it is not in character with our protagonist's usual (ethical) behaviors? Do we the readers demand sex? Because it is fiction and we like him, do we ignore his unethical behavior related to the practice of law? Are ethics not important because it is fiction? Do attorneys and detectives have to have crumbling personal lives just to make them interesting to readers? Do any of them have good relationships? Would Guido's girlfriend have left him if he wasn't so introspective? Is he just a depressive character that would drive any woman away or was he depressed because his girlfriend left him? Or, would he really be more boring to us if he kept a romance going through two books? Could the story have been more interesting (to me) if there was a bit of local color (Bari) or more action?

I finished this book in two days. It was an easy listen . . . but not so memorable. I am not sure I will be getting the last book, but I probably will. If you are at all interested after my less than rave review, definitely start with book one and then two. I found those stories much more enjoyable. They made me feel light and happy. This one just took the wind out of my sails. Not a bad book at all. Just not up to my expectations.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Italian Criminal Defense Hero

If I was in serious legal trouble, I would want Guido Guerrieri to defend me. He accepts cases that have no obvious solution, yet he finds alternatives and fights to the end. If you enjoy intriguing legal stories, you will enjoy this series. I can honestly say that the closing arguments between the prosecutor and Guido in this story is one of the best listens I have had with Audible. I am still thinking about those words several days later. The narrator, Sean Barrett, did his usual outstanding job.

I am glad I got to know Guido better. His life in Bari, Italy is just so fascinating to me. He loves his music, wine and bicycling to work or walking the streets during the evenings. Due to recent events, he is very vulnerable and makes bad decisions that he genuinely regrets and tries to fix. Imperfect as he is, I wish there were more people like Guido in this world.

I am nervous that it appears the next book (4th) in this series is the end. I hope that Mr. Carofiglio will publish again soon. It will be a sad day when I have read the last story with Guido.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Carofiglio is the best!

Would you listen to Reasonable Doubts again? Why?

Worth a second listen

Who was your favorite character and why?

guerrieri (main character) - you are in his head - his soul and his inner life is so rich
you live & laugh thru him

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

everything - character voices - timing

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

laughed

Any additional comments?

this author is fabulous!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Book #3: This series gets better and better

Again, I say what an incredible writing and performance combo. It can't get any better than this. And, nothing seems to be lost in the translation! Superior deep introspection, plot, and performance beyond the normal good performance.

Meaningful Ruminations

Very skillfully constructed legal thriller with entertaining insights into the similarities and differences between Italian and American courts.
What makes this series is Guido's internal dialogue. His self-effacing insights into his own life and into the case at hand keeps the series fresh.
This is the first series I have found translated to English that holds my interest. The English accented narrator somehow works perfectly.

A treat of a book

As wonderful -- with as much depth and substance -- as his other books. What a beautiful writer he is! Perfect narration, too. Reasonable Doubts is a treat and I will remember it for a long time.

Excellent thriller

Great intimate thriller that brings all the details together. Brings you to the Italian city of Bari& appreciates the local color, culture, cuisine of the tough coastal city.

I just love this series

As with the previous 2 books in the series, I have listened to this at every possible opportunity over 48 hours. This is a lovely, thoughtful series strong on both a personal storyline and also perceptive courtroom arguments. I like Guido Guerrieri - who Sean Barrett reads to perfection - and am just about to download Book 4.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good story

I thought this was a well told crime novel, but although generally I like the main character, he is a bit depressing with his moaning and also his behaviour towards the defendant's wife left a lot to be desired.
Apart from that I thought it was an interesting book, Sean Barrett is a delightful narrator and the legal arguments were well put.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A gem of a read!

Guido Guerrieri takes on a case which on the face of it has very little hope of being successful. With the help of a friend who works on the police force he is able to uncover evidence which can help him in the preparation of his case. Guido is 42, unmarried and recently separated from his great love with whom he thought he would at last become a father.
Before you turn away thinking the story will be yet another melodramatic soul searching tale be reassured! Guido cuts a very socratic figure - his self-deprecation is hilarious at times. The most remarkable part of the book is about the construction of truth and the power of words. I find his prose concise and incisive and elegant. The translator has done an excelent job and the narrator is excellent. Although it is quite a short book, it is one you would want to reread at leisure to think over the concepts it deals with.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Satisfyingly complex story

Consistently interesting and engaging court room story. Excellent narration. This protagonist is gloomy but well drawn and believable. Highly recommended.