Plea of Insanity

By: Jilliane Hoffman

Narrated by: Karen White

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Julia Valenciano is a young, ambitious Miami prosecutor. Assigned to a hectic trial division with an ornery judge, just getting through the day can be a challenge. When Julia is asked to second chair a case that could very well make or break her career, she doesn't hesitate to jump on board. The defendant: a successful Miami surgeon. The victims: his own wife and small children. The plea: Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity. The perfect father. The perfect husband. Dr. David Marquette seemingly just snapped one night. Or did he? His defense team claims paranoid delusions caused by schizophrenia drove him to slaughter his entire family. But the state suspects that Marquette's insanity defense is being fabricated to disguise murders that were cold-blooded and calculated. And the evidence appears to be mounting that Marquette may be responsible for other unsolved murders around the state as well---murders that bear the frightening signature of a serial killer. It's Julia's first murder trial and her first insanity defense, and the stakes are incredibly high. If convicted, Marquette faces the ultimate penalty---death. If found insane, he could walk free. To bring a killer to justice, Julia will have to journey into the mind of madness herself. For her, the trial of Dr. David Marquette will mean more than just disarming a legal defense; it will take her on a personal journey back into her own past---a past she has struggled for fifteen years to forget. And it will bring her face to face with a future that is so frightening, she's not sure she ever wants to see it.

©2007 Jilliane Hoffman (P)2009 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"[A] gripping legal thriller." ( Publishers Weekly)

A very good listen

The story is very interesting and the reader is very good. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more by this author.

Wow a Cop on a Harley!

Would you listen to Plea of Insanity again? Why?

Yes, just to check the clues I missed. This was so well done.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Oh boy did it! Right from the start to the end

What about Karen White’s performance did you like?

I purchased this book only because ms white read it. I love the way she can make the characters come to life.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it in one sitting and oh what an emotional roller coster it was.

Any additional comments?

I do not know if I will buy the author other listing as I do not know the reader. I have been badly burned on the newer crop of readers...some are just plain awful. Ms White will not disappoint. Enjoy

Too much schizophrenia

Starts fine with mystery and suspense, but then the last half just completely over does the schizophrenia - ad nauseum - over & over & over again. Had to fast forward through portions of the trial as it was a complete repeat - verbatim, in fact I thought I had skipped back by mistake. OMG, enough already! Take away all the repetition and preaching and it would be 2 hours shorter and a 4 star novel.

Wow

This one really made me think what a way to get to the reader or listener... I really had a hard time turning this one off and I even found myself yelling at the characters on occasion.

great read

a little hard to follow when listening to it, but the store is great. enjoy

Great story line

This book offers a great and excited story line. It highlights the complexity of mental illness and the criminal justice system. I was engaged throughout the book and never felt like it was dragging on. I would definitely recommend it!

Too Much Plot, Not Enough Substance

I really love the premise of this story and without wanting to sound too critical, I think there was too much going on and therefore the characters are very one dimensional.

Rather than flesh out all of the main characters, so that one can fully appreciate their actions, the author seemed to wish to put as many different strands to the story, mostly around the central character, without ever really investing in any strand..

One gets the feeling of watching a rushed TV show where everything that happens over a 10year period is crammed into 45 minutes! One is left with more questions than answers at the end of it!