MY REVIEW:
I have seen Robert Whitlow’s books compared to those by John Grisham but I personally prefer Whitlow’s. Their books are similar in that many of them focus on legal cases and trials but when I read Grisham’s novels, I found myself bogged down in too many legal details that detracted me from the actual story. Robert Whitlow seems to include just enough facts to keep his story plausible but tends to focus more on his characters (at least that is my opinion).
In “A House Divided” the reader meets the Gage family. Corbin, the father is a lawyer as are both his children, Ray and Roxy. Although they share careers, their family is broken mostly due to Corbin’s long history of alcoholism. Corbin accepts an extremely risky case that has far-reaching effects that changes the lives of his entire family.
There were times that the storyline seemed to move slowly and it was difficult for me to keep reading. I did persist and I was glad I did because this book has a wonderful redemptive theme. I particularly liked the way the two most resistant characters turned their lives around and turned to the Lord. In fact, both of them had experiences where they felt they had received direct revelation from Him. The details about Alcoholics Anonymous were interesting and Corbin’s experiences were quite believable. I also liked the way the case was resolved which made it more realistic than a huge victory might have been.
Once again Whitlow proved to me how well he understands people and how skillfully he is able to express himself. I recommend “A House Divided” to all who enjoy a good legal novel.
This book was provided for review by the BookLook Blogger Program of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A father’s mistakes nearly cost his children everything. Now his children must unite to take on the most important case of their respective careers.
Corbin Gage is slowly drinking himself into the grave while running a small law practice in a small Georgia town. The assistant DA in the same community is his son Ray, poised for a professional breakthrough based on a job offer to work for the best law firm in the area. Roxy is Corbin’s daughter, a rising star associate in Atlanta for an international law firm that specializes in high stakes, multi-million-dollar litigation.
Against the advice of everyone in his life, Corbin Gage takes on a toxic tort case on behalf of three boys who have contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to an alleged chemical exposure. The defendant, a herbicide/pesticide/fertilizer company, is the largest employer in the area. Because of the lawsuit, Ray’s job offer evaporates, forcing him to go to work with his father. Roxy’s expertise in complex litigation draws her into the drama.
As their investigation uncovers an audacious conspiracy to conceal dangers to their community, Corbin, Ray, and Roxy come to a personal treaty in their pursuit of justice. But they soon discover that burying a problem can have explosive results.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robert Whitlow is the best-selling author of legal novels set in the South and winner of the prestigious Christy Award for Contemporary Fiction. A Furman University graduate, Whitlow received his J.D. with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served on the staff of the Georgia Law Review. A practicing attorney, Whitlow and his wife, Kathy, have four children. They make their home in North Carolina.
