Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (2008), Edition: 1, 400 pages
Original publication date
2008
Description
2009 Christy Award finalist!After a series of kidnappings and murders in Virginia Beach, newspaper reporter Catherine O'Rourke experiences disturbing dreams that detail each crime. In an effort to aid the investigation, she shares them with her confidential source--a detective working on the case. Catherine's intimate knowledge of the crimes immediately makes her a prime suspect. When scientific evidence corroborates her guilt, she's arrested and charged with murder. As she begins to doubt her own innocence, Catherine turns to Las Vegas lawyer Quinn Newberg, a high-priced specialist in the insanity defense. Quinn believes in justice, Vegas-style. But he doesn't believe in the supernatural, or that Catherine's dreams are anything other than the result of a fractured personality disorder. Who can understand the human mind?Quinn knows that insanity cases are unpredictable, but nothing had prepared him for this!To win, or even survive, Quinn will need more than his famed legal maneuvering and biting skepticism. On this case, he needs a miracle.… (more)
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
400 p.; 9 inches
ISBN
141431633X / 9781414316338
User reviews
LibraryThing member onejan84
Attorney/novelist Randy Singer brings readers an interesting twist on the legal thriller genre with his latest release, By Reason of Insanity.
Trial lawyer Quinn Newberg is becoming famous as he presides over the defense of a woman who is charged with the murder of her husband. Meanwhile, Catherine
This was the first novel of Singer's that I've read and I was privileged to read an advanced reader copy before publication. I was familiar with the author, just never gotten around to reading him. Boy, was that a mistake. By Reason of Insanity is one of the best novels I've read this year. And I've read a bunch. What I liked most about it was the twist of adding the supernatural/paranormal concept of visions to this genre. And the way the two main characters (Quinn and Catherine) separate storylines intersect will not disappoint.
Singer's writing is fast paced, page-turning suspense at it's best. He gives good attention to detail and along with the joyride you just might learn a thing or two about the law.
This may have been my first Randy Singer novel, however, I can guarantee it won't be my last. I've read lots of comparisons of Singer to Grisham. Umph. I say move over Grisham and share the throne before you're removed from it completely.
Trial lawyer Quinn Newberg is becoming famous as he presides over the defense of a woman who is charged with the murder of her husband. Meanwhile, Catherine
Show More
O'Rourke, a Virginia Beach reporter covering the trial for her employer, begins having strange visions that make no sense to her. Then she discovers that her visions are the exact details of a series of kidnapping and murders in the Virginia Beach area. The details of what her mind's eye sees is so exact that she soon becomes a suspect when she offers to help. Quinn Newberg is brought in to represent Catherine at trial because of his expertise in the much maligned insanity plea.This was the first novel of Singer's that I've read and I was privileged to read an advanced reader copy before publication. I was familiar with the author, just never gotten around to reading him. Boy, was that a mistake. By Reason of Insanity is one of the best novels I've read this year. And I've read a bunch. What I liked most about it was the twist of adding the supernatural/paranormal concept of visions to this genre. And the way the two main characters (Quinn and Catherine) separate storylines intersect will not disappoint.
Singer's writing is fast paced, page-turning suspense at it's best. He gives good attention to detail and along with the joyride you just might learn a thing or two about the law.
This may have been my first Randy Singer novel, however, I can guarantee it won't be my last. I've read lots of comparisons of Singer to Grisham. Umph. I say move over Grisham and share the throne before you're removed from it completely.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Definitely a case of look before you leap. Had I done another 2 minutes of research I would have discovered that this book, while done by Recorded Books for Audible.com is part of an “imprint” called Inspirational something or other. It’s also tagged as Christian lit. Oy vey.
So plot-wise
I will admit to the light hand with which Singer feeds us his message (from God…I can’t help it, but do you hear Elwood Blues, too?) and it didn’t grate as much as it might have. Still, that’s what this novel is for, to see if our minds are open enough to the spiritual possibilities of God speaking to us in his usual oblique way. You’d think for an all powerful deity, he’d be more direct. Anyway, only at the end, when Quinn is nobly falling on his sword and Cat is understandably falling for him does the message get more forced. Luckily it was the end.
So why did I give this only 2 stars out of 5? Because the sanitized fantasy world given to us in the guise of a legal thriller was laughable. African Americans abound. I guess Black is not PC enough. PC rules in this book. No one shall think, much less say, anything slightly offensive to anyone. Ever. Even in prison. Yep, the toughest language these hardened criminals can come up with to insult each other is jerk. Oooh. That’s so chilling. She called her a jerk. Did you hear that? Gonna open up a can of Whup-Ass on her! It is so bland and safe that it can hardly be called a thriller. It’s a paint-by-numbers picture of Jesus with a lamb or something. Yawn.
Even people’s vices are wrapped in a gauzy film of righteousness. When not outright condemned and painted in extremes that is. Take Quinn, our fancy, smooth-talking Vegas attorney. He’s our token sinner who shall be reformed because he is, at heart, a good guy. His high stakes gambling is only one of his addictions. He also cheats. But this is to fund his destitute sister’s legal fund so it’s ok. That heart of gold is just peeping through that hard exterior (laugh…Quinn is a marshmallow inside and out, what the author thinks is a hard shell is really funny). And then there’s the drinking. Each and every time Quinn so much as raises a glass he ends up stinko, which we all know is unattractive and inevitable. What, you didn’t know that NO ONE can drink in moderation? It’s either all or nothing, bucko.
Oy vey. Such a sanitized and careful little world does not convey anything like reality. Do Christians really like it like this? Are they really that soft that they must insulate themselves from anything that might upset their beliefs about the way things should be? Seems very strange and does NOT make for an effective genre thriller. Squeaky clean crime for the faint of heart who dwell inside the bubble with Glinda the Good Witch.
So plot-wise
Show More
it’s OK. Nothing stellar. It hangs together in a work-a-day fashion, but doesn’t do anything innovative or surprising. Unless you count Cat’s visions. Yeah, visions. From God. Oh man.I will admit to the light hand with which Singer feeds us his message (from God…I can’t help it, but do you hear Elwood Blues, too?) and it didn’t grate as much as it might have. Still, that’s what this novel is for, to see if our minds are open enough to the spiritual possibilities of God speaking to us in his usual oblique way. You’d think for an all powerful deity, he’d be more direct. Anyway, only at the end, when Quinn is nobly falling on his sword and Cat is understandably falling for him does the message get more forced. Luckily it was the end.
So why did I give this only 2 stars out of 5? Because the sanitized fantasy world given to us in the guise of a legal thriller was laughable. African Americans abound. I guess Black is not PC enough. PC rules in this book. No one shall think, much less say, anything slightly offensive to anyone. Ever. Even in prison. Yep, the toughest language these hardened criminals can come up with to insult each other is jerk. Oooh. That’s so chilling. She called her a jerk. Did you hear that? Gonna open up a can of Whup-Ass on her! It is so bland and safe that it can hardly be called a thriller. It’s a paint-by-numbers picture of Jesus with a lamb or something. Yawn.
Even people’s vices are wrapped in a gauzy film of righteousness. When not outright condemned and painted in extremes that is. Take Quinn, our fancy, smooth-talking Vegas attorney. He’s our token sinner who shall be reformed because he is, at heart, a good guy. His high stakes gambling is only one of his addictions. He also cheats. But this is to fund his destitute sister’s legal fund so it’s ok. That heart of gold is just peeping through that hard exterior (laugh…Quinn is a marshmallow inside and out, what the author thinks is a hard shell is really funny). And then there’s the drinking. Each and every time Quinn so much as raises a glass he ends up stinko, which we all know is unattractive and inevitable. What, you didn’t know that NO ONE can drink in moderation? It’s either all or nothing, bucko.
Oy vey. Such a sanitized and careful little world does not convey anything like reality. Do Christians really like it like this? Are they really that soft that they must insulate themselves from anything that might upset their beliefs about the way things should be? Seems very strange and does NOT make for an effective genre thriller. Squeaky clean crime for the faint of heart who dwell inside the bubble with Glinda the Good Witch.
Show Less
LibraryThing member debs4jc
Catherine O'Rourke is just as suprised as everyone else in her life when she starts having visions that reveal details about a series of serial kidnappings/murders. Catherine is no stranger to police investigations, having even gone to jail to protect the identitiy of her inside police source. But
I loved listening to this book, I could hardly wait to get into my car each day and see how the author was going to get Catherine out of the deep hole of incrimanating evidence against her. The twists and turns were fantastic and the narrator does a marvelous job of capturing the right voice and inflection for each character. Fans of legal or other thrillers should pick this one up--don't be put off by it being from a Christian publisher, the faith content is not preachy at all but is woven into the story in a believable way. Two thumbs up for this one.
Show More
her ties with the police can't keep her out trouble when the cops decide that the only way she could know these details about the killings is that she is the serial killer herself. Soon is seems the only one who can save her--besides God himself--is Quinn Newburg, her high profile attorney known for using the insanity defense to keep his sister out of jail after she killed her abusive husband.I loved listening to this book, I could hardly wait to get into my car each day and see how the author was going to get Catherine out of the deep hole of incrimanating evidence against her. The twists and turns were fantastic and the narrator does a marvelous job of capturing the right voice and inflection for each character. Fans of legal or other thrillers should pick this one up--don't be put off by it being from a Christian publisher, the faith content is not preachy at all but is woven into the story in a believable way. Two thumbs up for this one.
Show Less
LibraryThing member chuewyc
almost gave up on the book after 50 pages but plugged through and found that i enjoyed the book.
LibraryThing member Lanetz
Good clean mystery thriller that I could not put down.
LibraryThing member Bettyb30
This book was so not what i thought it would be! It was fabulous! It was captivating! I had trouble putting it down.. Quinn is great and really gets you going! I would have given it a full 5 stars the the ending was just there, That is dissappointing for me. I still think everyone should read the
Show More
book though, regardless of how it ended it was fabulous! Show Less
LibraryThing member vintagebeckie
When you have the craving for a good legal suspense novel, the author to pick up is Randy Singer. He always delivers a book with twists, turns, and edge of the seat suspense. I found all that and more in By Reason of Insanity. The book opens in a Las Vegas courtroom where hotshot lawyer, Quinn
Singer does a great job presenting the ins and outs of the very rare, yet newsworthy insanity defense. He also shows the degrading and dehumanizing system surrounding our jails. Not an apologist for easy treatment, the book does show how quickly the need for survival usurps manners and morals. Singer also looks at how God may speak in visions and dreams, revealing truth. The dreams and visions Catherine experiences are so far out that even she begins to doubt her role in the murders. And if you like for a book to keep you guessing, By Reason of Insanity will have your puzzled up to the very end. A good book to take with you on vacation, I recommend By Reason of Insanity.
Recommended.
Show More
Newberg, is representing his sister for murder of her abusive husband. A top litigator, Quinn has quickly become a must have lawyer in insanity pleas (much to the chagrin of his law partners.) Although there is not very much money in insanity defenses, the notoriety brings business into his firm. What he can’t make in billable hours, he tries to supplement at the high stakes poker tables. A young reporter from Virginia Beach covered this trial and when Catherine finds herself in the middle of a serial kidnapping and killing spree, she insists Quinn second chair her local lawyer’s strategy.Singer does a great job presenting the ins and outs of the very rare, yet newsworthy insanity defense. He also shows the degrading and dehumanizing system surrounding our jails. Not an apologist for easy treatment, the book does show how quickly the need for survival usurps manners and morals. Singer also looks at how God may speak in visions and dreams, revealing truth. The dreams and visions Catherine experiences are so far out that even she begins to doubt her role in the murders. And if you like for a book to keep you guessing, By Reason of Insanity will have your puzzled up to the very end. A good book to take with you on vacation, I recommend By Reason of Insanity.
Recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sparkleandchico
My second attempt at reading this author. It is marked Fiction/Suspense. I picked up another Randy Singer book a while ago and was disturbed by the graphic violence. However, I was assured by other readers that Singer is usually very careful to ensure his books are suitable for the Christian
The story itself was intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep my attention. It was unpredictable--I could not have worked out the ending.
However, I have a lot of issues with this book
1. Once again, there is a lot of graphic violence--detailed descriptions of people being executed by lethal injection and via the electric chair!? Murders at point blank range. A rape scene.....I won't continue.
2. The main character has supernatural visions that initially lead to her prosecution for a series of murders. In the latter part of the book it is confirmed that they are from God despite the character not being in any way religious. She was apparently given revelations of these graphic crimes, some of which had yet to happen, in order that she might use her knowledge for good. The visions totally terrified her and made her question her own sanity, she even considered suicide. I appreciate that this is fiction but I don't believe the God of the Bible operates like this--scaring someone out of their wits in order to see that justice is served?
3. There is a scene where one character pleads guilty to murder and takes the rap for someone else. The author likens this to Jesus taking the penalty for our sin. This is a big leap--the character lied under oath, he admitted to a crime he didn't commit. The author even quotes the verse "Greater love hath no man than this that he laid down his life for his friends," in connection with this character. But in actual fact, justice was not served in this instance and further sin was committed by the lie and perjury that took place.....The Bible shouldn't be used to support this kind of deception and it definitely shouldn't be compared to Jesus' sacrifice.
4. There are various references to occultic and demonic versions of visions or attempts to communicate with others via the mind--telepathy, ouija boards, fortune tellers etc. Although the author makes it clear that this is not the reason his character is having the visions, there appears to be little difference in the practical outworkings. The character herself questions the source because she is not religious. It is dangerous even in fiction to blur the lines when dealing with the supernatural. The author doesn't make the consequences of dabbling in these things clear enough.
5. The main defence used in the trial is for DID--a personality disorder resulting from a traumatic event in someone's past. The author suggests that the character is then split into multiple personalities due to a rape she experienced at college. One persona commits the murders with the other seemingly completely unaware of what she is doing. Despite the final outcome and the fact it is fiction, I think it is unwise for a Christian author and lawyer to be advocating this type of defence for such a serious crime.
I was disappointed by this book. There is nothing that distinguishes it as a Christian book apart from a few vague references to God towards the end and the seriously flawed attempt to make the comparison to Jesus' death on the cross. Randy Singer would do better to write for the secular market. He is said to be the Christian version of John Grisham, but having recently re-read a John Grisham book, I would suggest that Grisham's book was less offensive and had just as many references to God as Singer's.
I don't recommend this book for Christian readers and I won't be attempting to read any further books by Singer.
Show More
market....so I decided to try another. That was a mistake.The story itself was intriguing with enough twists and turns to keep my attention. It was unpredictable--I could not have worked out the ending.
However, I have a lot of issues with this book
1. Once again, there is a lot of graphic violence--detailed descriptions of people being executed by lethal injection and via the electric chair!? Murders at point blank range. A rape scene.....I won't continue.
2. The main character has supernatural visions that initially lead to her prosecution for a series of murders. In the latter part of the book it is confirmed that they are from God despite the character not being in any way religious. She was apparently given revelations of these graphic crimes, some of which had yet to happen, in order that she might use her knowledge for good. The visions totally terrified her and made her question her own sanity, she even considered suicide. I appreciate that this is fiction but I don't believe the God of the Bible operates like this--scaring someone out of their wits in order to see that justice is served?
3. There is a scene where one character pleads guilty to murder and takes the rap for someone else. The author likens this to Jesus taking the penalty for our sin. This is a big leap--the character lied under oath, he admitted to a crime he didn't commit. The author even quotes the verse "Greater love hath no man than this that he laid down his life for his friends," in connection with this character. But in actual fact, justice was not served in this instance and further sin was committed by the lie and perjury that took place.....The Bible shouldn't be used to support this kind of deception and it definitely shouldn't be compared to Jesus' sacrifice.
4. There are various references to occultic and demonic versions of visions or attempts to communicate with others via the mind--telepathy, ouija boards, fortune tellers etc. Although the author makes it clear that this is not the reason his character is having the visions, there appears to be little difference in the practical outworkings. The character herself questions the source because she is not religious. It is dangerous even in fiction to blur the lines when dealing with the supernatural. The author doesn't make the consequences of dabbling in these things clear enough.
5. The main defence used in the trial is for DID--a personality disorder resulting from a traumatic event in someone's past. The author suggests that the character is then split into multiple personalities due to a rape she experienced at college. One persona commits the murders with the other seemingly completely unaware of what she is doing. Despite the final outcome and the fact it is fiction, I think it is unwise for a Christian author and lawyer to be advocating this type of defence for such a serious crime.
I was disappointed by this book. There is nothing that distinguishes it as a Christian book apart from a few vague references to God towards the end and the seriously flawed attempt to make the comparison to Jesus' death on the cross. Randy Singer would do better to write for the secular market. He is said to be the Christian version of John Grisham, but having recently re-read a John Grisham book, I would suggest that Grisham's book was less offensive and had just as many references to God as Singer's.
I don't recommend this book for Christian readers and I won't be attempting to read any further books by Singer.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stampfle
An interesting book until about Chapter 97 when the author contrived an ending that was difficult to believe -- moving the reader from fact to fiction and the supernatural. What a pity that this could have been an interesting look at the insanity plea as a strategy in law cases.