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Reckless Disregard: A Parker Stern Novel    by Robert Rotstein Amazon.com order for
Reckless Disregard
by Robert Rotstein
Order:  USA  Can
Prometheus, 2014 (2014)
Softcover
* * *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Wow! Reckless Disregard by Robert Rotstein is a very different take on the mystery story. Delightfully so. Refreshingly new.

Top-notch attorney (once a child movie star) Parker Stern has developed stage fright in the courtroom and so has given up that part of his job. He happily works behind the scenes now. But a video game designer insists that Stern take on a case that will be highly visible.

The gamer refuses to give Stern his name, using only the word Poniard to identify himself. Poniard is the designer of a very popular and difficult video game in which he accuses a real-life movie executive of kidnapping and murdering a lovely actress in the 1980s. Of course, the mogul brings suit against Poniard. Poniard will only have Stern to represent him and they talk through the Internet.

Stern finally relents, agreeing to represent Poniard, against his own better judgment. The thought of the courtroom trial terrifies Stern. He hires an assistant who proves to be a very valuable member of his team. Stern follows any clues he can to who Poniard really is, but is unable to identify his flesh and blood client. Depositions follow depositions and then the trial begins.

I wasn't too sure I was going to like this different slant on a mystery plot, but without realizing it I became entranced. Robert Rotstein is an experienced entertainment attorney who has represented well-known writers and producers and musicians as well as major motion-picture studios. This is his second novel. And a fine one it is. Don't miss Reckless Disregaard.

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