Fatal February
Barbara Levenson
Oceanview, $22.95, 254 pages, ISBN: 9781933515526
reviewed by Barry Hunter

Mary Magruder Katz is having a bad month. Her car is rear ended at the car wash, she has a questionable real estate transaction, she gets caught in a compromising position with a client, loses her job, faces disbarment and takes a very high profile murder case. Of course there are some high points. She meets the man of her dreams, finds a great office and assistant, and starts to enjoy life more than ever before.

Lillian Yarmouth is accused of murdering her husband, but she is a timid woman who was devoted to him and the police only do a cursory job before she is charged. Mary’s old firm sues her for taking clients, and apparently started an ethics complaint against her. Her wins against the old firm do not stop other problems arising in the case due to the DA not wanting to play by the rules.

Levenson has been a trial layer and judge, so I’m sure a lot of her writing is from experience. She knows the territory and has written this book with her tongue in cheek during certain parts. It is a delightful read and I hope she has some more of these waiting in the wings. These are well crafted characters that deserve to be let out on other adventures.