Rock Bottom    by Erin Brockovich & C. J. Lyons Order:  USA  Can Vanguard, 2011 (2011) Hardcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth We all recognize the name Erin Brockovich – remember the whistle blower who almost gave her life to correct a disastrous wrong? I hadn't connected her name to writing. The back of this book tells us that 'In Rock Bottom, Erin Brockovich combines passionate intensity, first-rate storytelling, and her real-life experiences in a novel that will leave you breathless.' How true these words are. As a seventeen year-old, Angela Joy 'AJ' Palladino left home pregnant and in disgrace. Ten years later she returns to her home town to discover her parents won't welcome her. She and her son, who has cerebral palsy, move in with her grandmother. AJ has returned to work for a lawyer who is taking on large mining corporations, hoping to stop them destroying the environment of West Virginia. Unfortunately, the lawyer suddenly dies and AJ starts working for his daughter. Together they face threats, abuse, and gunshots. Rock Bottom is hard hitting, with a totally believable plot, full of people who are fighting to save their jobs, even though they know in the long run they will lose. Back someone against the wall and they will strike back - as both AJ and her employer find out. AJ is not surprised when her past is thrown up to her. Reputations are flimsy to start with and can go downhill fast, especially where those with long memories are concerned. Brockovich writes with conviction. Rock Bottom is fiction but could easily be non-fiction. Well-written, it is not to be missed. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews