From Publishers Weekly
Rosenberg (Buried Evidence) rolls out a new character but not much more in this crime drama about the manipulation of a developmentally disabled young man accused of robbery. The latest in the New York Times bestselling author's string of female crime stoppers is Joanne Kuhlman, a prosecutor in Southern California trying the case of three childhood buddies who held up a 24-hour market. One of the men, Ian Decker, has a learning disability that makes it questionable whether he even knew that his friends, the rough-and-tumble Rubinsky brothers, were committing a crime. Decker's attorney finally convinces Kuhlman that justice would be better served by having the young man testify against the Rubinskys. By that time, however, Decker has not only disappeared but an anonymous caller to his mother says her son has been killed and buried in the mountains outside Los Angeles. As Kuhlman struggles with the case, she's also dogged by personal problems: her 15-year-old daughter gets pregnant, her son is feeling abandoned, her former husband is in jail on charges of child stealing and embezzlement and she longs for the steadying touch of a good man. Unlike some of her better work, like Interest of Justice, Rosenberg's latest never catches fire. Kuhlman is not a particularly memorable protagonist, and many of the other characters are prone to unrealistic behavior and clunky dialogue. Rosenberg's portrayal of Decker as a young man without the intellectual armor to make it in the world is touching at points, but it can't carry an otherwise lackluster plot. Agent, Peter Miller. National print and TV advertising. (Feb. 6)Forecast: Rosenberg might sell even more books if she settled on a single, better-developed protagonist, but six million books in print already is nothing to sniff at, and her fans can be counted on to snap up her latest.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Assistant district attorney Joanne Kuhlman doesn't need to be embroiled in a homicide case-her life is complicated enough. Her two troubled teenagers, Leah and Mike, have been recently returned to her after her former husband, their father, is arrested for child stealing and embezzlement. While Joan struggles with her angry, rebellious children, she learns that a seemingly simple case of robbery may involve the murder of Ian Decker, a developmentally disabled young man. The na‹ve Ian is suspected of holding up a convenience store with the Rubinski brothers, childhood friends turned thugs. When Ian disappears, Joanne worries that he has been killed because he knows too much. Rosenberg, author of six best-selling legal thrillers, including Buried Evidence, writes with fast-paced energy but little depth. Her plot relies too much on coincidence, especially the feel-good conclusion. As a protagonist, Joanne seems weak and distracted, not positive qualities for a successful prosecutor or crime fighter. Laural Merlington reads competently, with a pleasant, clear voice and intonation. The tape quality is excellent; recommended for Rosenberg's loyal fans and popular fiction collections.Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at GeneseoCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
This is an implausible yet likable mystery about a criminal investigation that takes a sinister turn as we learn more about the suspects. The personal lives of the lawyers and the criminals are much more the focus of the novel than any kind of crime-solving. Laural Merlington has a good understanding of the characters and brings them to life. She is particularly adept at conveying a sense of evil and menace. One wishes for a novel with more substance, but this pseudo-courtroom drama will keep listeners engaged. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Even though Joanne Kulman's personal life is a mess--she's on the verge of divorce from a computer genius in jail for embezzling, and her two teenagers are more than she can handle--at least her career is stable. As a Ventura County prosecutor, Joanne is a well-respected player in the Southern California judicial system. Her latest case starts out in typical fashion: a group of young thugs hold up a convenience store; witnesses identify them; the boys are apprehended and arraigned. But the case turns out to be anything but typical. One of the boys, Ian, is developmentally disabled, and it's apparent that he was manipulated into taking part in the crime by the other ne'er-do-wells. When Ian goes missing, Joanne suspects there's more to the boys' crimes than a simple holdup. Her obligation to try the case at hand as well as her growing fondness for Ian's handsome lawyer tug at the nebulous corners of ethical conduct. Not knowing whom to trust, Joanne turns to herself to find the strength to persevere through 10 days of heart-stopping action. Without sinking into formula, Rosenberg's legal thrillers make the most of breakneck pacing and high-energy plotting. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The much-anticipated return of one of the original masters of the legal thriller — author of six New York Times bestsellers with six million books in print — in the follow-up to Buried Evidence.

While trying three defendants for robbery, Joanne Kuhlman discovers that a far more serious crime may be unfolding. One of the defendants is developmentally disabled. His attorney and mother insist he was cruelly exploited by his crime partners. When the young man disappears, Joanne fears he may have been murdered in a ruthless act to silence him. Her sympathies for this defendant lead her to entangle herself with his attractive attorney and compromise her career so the truth may be revealed.

Filled with extensively researched detail, breathtaking plot twists, and front-page legal drama, Conflict of Interest provides irrefutable evidence that Nancy Taylor Rosenberg, one of the pioneers of the legal thriller genre, is still writing at the top of her game.

Nancy Taylor Rosenberg is a former police officer. She has worked for the Dallas Police Department, the Ventura Police in California, and served as deputy probation officer in Ventura County, where she was assigned to court services. She lives in Southern California.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Rosenberg (Buried Evidence) rolls out a new character but not much more in this crime drama about the manipulation of a developmentally disabled young man accused of robbery. The latest in the New York Times bestselling author's string of female crime stoppers is Joanne Kuhlman, a prosecutor in Southern California trying the case of three childhood buddies who held up a 24-hour market. One of the men, Ian Decker, has a learning disability that makes it questionable whether he even knew that his friends, the rough-and-tumble Rubinsky brothers, were committing a crime. Decker's attorney finally convinces Kuhlman that justice would be better served by having the young man testify against the Rubinskys. By that time, however, Decker has not only disappeared but an anonymous caller to his mother says her son has been killed and buried in the mountains outside Los Angeles. As Kuhlman struggles with the case, she's also dogged by personal problems: her 15-year-old daughter gets pregnant, her son is feeling abandoned, her former husband is in jail on charges of child stealing and embezzlement and she longs for the steadying touch of a good man. Unlike some of her better work, like Interest of Justice, Rosenberg's latest never catches fire. Kuhlman is not a particularly memorable protagonist, and many of the other characters are prone to unrealistic behavior and clunky dialogue. Rosenberg's portrayal of Decker as a young man without the intellectual armor to make it in the world is touching at points, but it can't carry an otherwise lackluster plot. Agent, Peter Miller. National print and TV advertising. (Feb. 6) Forecast: Rosenberg might sell even more books if she settled on a single, better-developed protagonist, but six million books in print already is nothing to sniff at, and her fans can be counted on to snap up her latest. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile

District Attorney Joanne Kuhlman faces personal crises and ethical dilemmas as she prosecutes three young robbery suspects. Narrator Laural Merlington skillfully depicts characters ranging from Joanne's troubled teenaged daughter to a seasoned CIA agent. She shines in vocalizing developmentally disabled Ian Decker, who unwittingly is drawn into the criminal activities of the Ramirez brothers. Joanne risks her career as she gains sympathy for Ian's plight and is drawn to his attractive attorney. Merlington delights in her character-ization of Trudy, a wanna-be actress, and leaves hanging the life-or-death question: What role is Trudy really playing? J.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews