Review of Paul Levine's Latest Novel, The Deep Blue Alibi: A Solomon vs Lord Novel.

ISBN: 0440242746

The following review of the advanced review copy was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW Norm Goldman's Reviews

Steve Solomon is the kind of a lawyer you would like to have on your side whenyou believe you are in serious trouble with the law. Solomon believes that ifthe facts don’t fit the law, bend the facts. On the other hand, his law partner,Victoria Lord, brings a certain amount of ethical respectability to theunorthodox Miami law firm of Solomon & Lord. These two lawyers originally teamedup in Paul Levine’s previous novel, Solomon vs. Lord and are now once againputting their unconventional lawyering skills to the test, as evidenced in theauthor’s latest novel, The Deep Blue Alibi: A Solomon vs Lord Novel.

The opening chapter of Levine’s recent novel has Steve trying to seduce his ladyfriend and law partner Victoria into making love in the Ocean. While theseshenanigans are going on, the couple watch in horror as a yacht washes up on theshores of Sunset Key in the Florida Keys with a hundred thousand dollars. Twomen are found on the boat, one of whom, Ben Stubbs, has been badly injured witha metal spear protruding from his chest. The other, Hal Griffin, turns out to bea close family friend of Victoria, whom she had not seen in years and whom sherefers to as her uncle Grif.

Stubb does not survive and uncle Grif is now on the hot seat, accused of murder.Motive or lack of one seems to be a factor here, as Grif was involved in a hugemulti-million dollar project called Oceania, wherein a hotel and casino were tobe built on coral reefs. Stubbs was an employee of a government environmentalagency, and he was supposed to have agreed to write up a favorable report givingthe go ahead for the project. Could it be that he changed his mind, doublecrossing Grif, or could it be that someone wanted to sabotage the entire projectdue to the environmental harm it would cause?

To add a little more spice to the novel, Levine works in family secretspertaining to Steve and Victoria. Apparently, many years ago Steve's father hadresigned as judge in the Florida courts and had also lost his license topractice law. This occurred when his friend Peter (Pinky) Luber fingered himduring a corruption probe. In order to save neck and reduce his own prisonsentence, Pinky told the Grand Jury that Solomon Sr. had taken bribes to rezoneagricultural property to commercial use. Steve now wants to set the recordstraight and get his father's license back.

Victoria has her problems when she reveals that her father had committed suicide without even leaving a note to say he loved her. This is something she never could come to terms with and has been a part of her psychological baggage she has been carrying around for several years. However, in both secondary themes, all is not what it appears, as revealed in the headlong rush in the final chapters of the novel, where there are some shocking and interesting denouements.

Levine can clearly write a good easy-to-read mystery narrative with eccentric characters and an intentionally convoluted plot that at times is over the top. However, it does keep you coming back for more of the same, as we follow the careers of Steve Solomon and Victoria Lord through the halls of justice.