Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: Due Justice by Diane Capri

Due Justice by Diane Capri (AugustBooks, 2014) is the first of eleven mysteries about Wilhelmina (Willa) Carson, a cigar-smoking federal judge in Tampa, Florida. This revised book is the most recent version of Silicone Solutions published by Sterlinghouse in 1999 under the author name Diane Vogt. It was also released with the title Carly’s Conspiracy in 2011.

Dr. Michael Morgan, a local plastic surgeon and recognized medical genius, has disappeared. Willa Carson’s stepsister Carly confides to Willa that she thinks the unidentified homicide victim pulled from Tampa Bay is Morgan but she’s reluctant to contact the police. Since they are both lawyers, and Willa is a judge, they have ethical requirements to observe and Willa is anxious for Carly to report what she suspects to the police.

In the meantime Willa’s presence is required at her husband’s restaurant where he is hosting a huge fundraiser for AIDS research. She uses the opportunity to discreetly ask questions about the missing Dr. Morgan. Everyone assumes he’s present somewhere, they just personally haven’t seen him. The conversation is largely focused on breast implants, who has had them, who hasn’t, and who is involved in the high-profile litigation for damages caused by the silicone.

Eventually the missing plastic surgeon and the body are connected, then the investigation goes into overdrive. The range of suspects is significant between the women the victim loved and left and the women who believed they’d suffered permanent damage from the implant surgery he performed.

With aspects of both legal and amateur sleuth mysteries, this story is a deep dive into the mechanics of class action product liability lawsuits, using the boom in implant litigation from the mid-1990s as an example. Law firms borrow money to support filings and court room presentations as well as to keep operating while waiting for legal decisions and monetary awards. Not surprisingly, these years-long cases can bankrupt a legal firm as well as the companies producing the item under contention.

Well-constructed plot and some original characters. The tuxedo-wearing female cardiologist who can name the plastic surgeon by looking at a rebuilt nose is hilarious. Willa herself and her complicated family relationships are far from run of the mill. I was entertained to see the Vinoy, the site of the 2018 Bouchercon, mentioned. The story would have been improved by tightening the sometimes rambling text but the premise is promising for further adventures of Willa in the Tampa legal system.

 

·         Publisher: ‎ AugustBooks (September 5, 2014)

·         Language: ‎ English

·         Paperback: ‎ 316 pages

·         ISBN-10: ‎ 1940768101

·         ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1940768106

 

Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2021

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.