| An author that sets out to write a | | | | adversary. Dr. Hawke is researching a |
| trilogy, is to say the least ambitious, | | | | new drug that can treat, and even |
| to maintain key characters over three | | | | reverse the ravages of Alzheimer's. This |
| books requires some very intricate plot | | | | could be the single most important |
| manipulations. Mary Martin has succeeded | | | | breakthrough in medical science in many |
| in grand style. A Trial Of One wraps up | | | | years. Research takes money though, and |
| The Osgoode Trilogy. In book one we meet | | | | Dr. Hawke contends that the money Harry |
| our intrepid, yet unlikely hero Harry | | | | Jenkins seeks was legally raised, and |
| Jenkins, a very average lawyer, | | | | was specifically for research into |
| practicing in a very small and very | | | | Alzheimer's. Harry Jenkins must also |
| nondescript law firm. When his partner | | | | deal with the distraught widow of his |
| dies suddenly he finds himself captain | | | | dead partner. Dorothy Crawford is |
| of the ship, but where is the ship | | | | convinced that her husband Richard was |
| headed? It is now his alone to make | | | | poisoned, and the fatal Stroke, was |
| work. | | | | merely the result. And the murderer is |
| Book two Final Paradox continues Harry's | | | | someone just know by the initial 'Q.' |
| saga, he discovers that a huge fraud was | | | | A Trial Of One is a cracking read, to |
| perpetrated years before, millions of | | | | call it a page turner does not do it |
| dollars disappeared in a medical | | | | justice. What I really liked was that |
| research scam, and his elderly client | | | | even through it is part of a trilogy it |
| Norma Dinnick exhibiting the tell tale | | | | stands on its own. You do not need to |
| signs of dementia confuses Harry. Is she | | | | have read the previous books to |
| victim of the fraud, or a partner to the | | | | understand the plot, or the characters |
| crime? | | | | involved. The characters are well |
| In A Trial Of One these mysteries, and | | | | developed,and rich in texture. |
| there are several interwoven and | | | | The story moves from Toronto, to Vienna, |
| cleverly executed plot twists, all | | | | to London, each step becomes more |
| gradually come together. Our hero Harry | | | | dangerous for Harry. |
| finds himself once again caught up in | | | | This is an interesting book and operates |
| the needs of his clients. Norma Dinnick | | | | on several different levels. This is not |
| has been incarcerated in a mental | | | | your standard action/adventure by any |
| institution having been found not guilty | | | | stretch of the imagination. One of the |
| by way of insanity due to the onset of | | | | subplots involves sex, well actually |
| Alzheimer's for murder. In her rare | | | | that is not quite true, it involves |
| trips into lucidity she talks of a huge | | | | sexuality, and it certainly is thought |
| fortune that rightly belongs to her. | | | | provoking. |
| Harry acting as not only her lawyer, but | | | | Maybe a trilogy is the ideal number of |
| also legal guardian feels obliged to | | | | books to work a character, and then move |
| investigate. The fortune itself seems | | | | on. Even famous best selling authors |
| real, but is it the ill gotten gains | | | | have fallen into the trap of wearing a |
| from a fraud, or money that was justly | | | | character out, one example is author Tom |
| earned? A shell company called Elixacorp | | | | Clancy who worked his character Jack |
| raised over $30 million dollars, but | | | | Ryan until he became a joke. Mary Martin |
| where is the money now? | | | | has not done that, in fact I am sure |
| Although all of the original | | | | that she could use him a couple more |
| protagonists in the fraud scheme are | | | | times. Certainly if I was her, I would |
| dead, there is one man who still has a | | | | be giving serious thought to it. |
| driving interest in the loot, Dr. Robert | | | | This is a great book, and you can get |
| Hawke. Is he medical genius, or maniacal | | | | your own copy from Amazon, there is also |
| madman? That is the question that we are | | | | an interesting web page, The Osgoode |
| faced with. It does not take Harry long | | | | Trilogy, supporting the trilogy. |
| to realize that Dr. Hawke is a dangerous | | | | |